Dusting can take a few minutes or much more, depending on the number of wood surfaces you have.

Here’s how to clean wood furniture routinely and for a deeper clean.

Tip

Feather dusters brush off the dust from your furniture and send it into the air.

Wood furniture being cleaned with white rag

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Damp dusting with a moistened cloth keeps dust out of the air and captures it in the fabric.

Dampen a microfiber cloth by holding a corner and lightly misting it with clean water for best results.

Dusting will remove the tiny particles that can scratch the surface.

Materials and tools to clean wood furniture

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Warning

Do not touch the finish beyond weekly dusting if you have valuable antique wood furniture.

Overzealous cleaning can significantly reduce the furniture’s value.

Clean Away Spills

Clean food and drink spills away immediately.

Spilled water blotted with blue rag on wood furniture

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Pooling liquid can cause wood to darken, warp, or dull the finish.

Depending on how often you polish the furniture, it will eventually need a deeper cleaning.

Always wear protective gloves and gear when using the product and work in a well-ventilated space.

Disposable electrostatic duster removing dust from wood furniture

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

And, it’s significantly better for the environment to reuse or upcycle than discard.

If possible, treat them as soon as possible.

Furniture woodworkers charge about $30 per hour.

Heavy grime removed with sponge and solution of dishwashing liquid and water

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

A furniture repair professional can repair and restore wooden furniture, making it look new.

They can sand andfill gouges, dents, or unsightlyscratches or cracks in the wood.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Brewed black tea wiped on wood grain with blue rag

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Mineral spirits wiped on wood furniture with white rag and gloves for buffing

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Olive oil rubbed into wood furniture with water ring using white rag

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Ink marks on wood furniture rubbed with baking soda and soft cloth

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Credit card edge scraping off sticky residue

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Upholstery vacuum attachment removing mold from wood furniture

The Spruce / Sarah Lee