Three Ways to Clean Your Wooden Furniture Without Ruining It -

Let’s face it: keeping up a clean home is much easier said than done. This is especially true when you’re juggling a family, full-time job and have pets running wild around the house. When it comes to modern family life, we understand the need to expect the unexpected.

So what happens when there’s an emergency mess that needs to be addressed immediately and you have no idea how to deal with it? What happens when we’re faced with a do-or-die situation where our choice of a cleaning solution is the difference between saving our furniture or ruining it forever?

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cleaning, especially on fickle surfaces such as wood. For example, consider the diversity of wooden décor, all of which may require a different cleaning product in order to keep fresh:

Hardwood floors, which are perhaps most susceptible to wear and tear over time
Wooden furniture such as our beds, kitchen tables, chairs, and cribs
Cabinets and other storage which are prime targets for food-related messes

Oftentimes, our wooden décor, especially our elegant bedroom furniture, represents an investment and cleaning such items shouldn’t be taken lightly. We’ve outlined four cost-effective methods to dealing with problem messes that will ultimately save your wooden décor and keep money in your pocket.

Removing Marker

It’s not uncommon for toddlers to go through a phase where they decide to draw on walls; however, what happens when your wooden furniture falls victim to an artistic attack? Your three options include the following:

Option #1 – Rub the stain with a cloth dabbed with isopropyl alcohol; rub the stain until it transfers and then dry with a clean section of the cloth

Option #2 – Use non-gel toothpaste; apply the paste over the stain, rub vigorously with a damp cloth and repeat as needed.

Option #3 – Apply nail polish remover to the stain and rub with a paper towel; you may want to test the remover on a smaller section of the wood before applying to see how the wood responds.

Chances are you have at least two of these cleaning solutions available at home right now. Naturally, the earlier you catch the stain the easier it will be to remove.

Cleaning Pet Messes

Pet urine is perhaps one of the most irritating messes to deal with due to its potency and foul, lingering odor. Thankfully, you can whip up a quick homemade solution to help take care of any pet emergency:

One cup of warm water
1/3 cup of dish soap (such as Dawn)
1/3 cup of vinegar
1/3 cup of baking soda

The vinegar in the solution works to neutralize the smell of ammonia in the urine; again, the sooner you catch such stains, the better.

Food Messes and Spills

Stains from leftover food are a pain but can be swiftly dealt with some relatively simple homemade concoctions without the harsh chemicals of conventional cleaning products. For example:

Water stains and spills can be removed with a solution equal parts vinegar and olive oil, rubbed off with a soft cloth and then dried by a separate cloth
Grease stains can be eliminated by a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water, which is then soaked with a sponge and applied in a circular motion as needed
Solid food stains can be removed by the aforementioned pet urine solution (minus the baking soda); simply wet a rag and wipe over the food particles until they disappear

Accidents are inevitable; however, it never hurts to be prepared. By knowing how to remove the various stains on wood using common household items, you won’t need to panic