Sherri's Helpful Hints

Furniture and Wood Care Tips

Remove Water Spots from Polished Wood

Water makes a filmy gray spot. If not too deep, rubbing with the fingertip will remove the spot. Otherwise, use a small piece of cheesecloth tightly wrung out of hot water with 2 or 3 drops of household ammonia in it. Rub lightly and quickly with the cloth; then instantly rub with a soft oiled cloth. Finally go over the whole surfact with oil. Rub until all extra oil is used. Keep coasters under glasses and guard wood floors from dripping umbrellas! Other ways to repair: Try wiping with mayonnaise; Make a paste of wood ash and salad oil; hunk of raw potato with wood ash rubbed on it. Rub over the area.

Wash Varnished Wood - Mahogany, Walnut, Maple, Oak and Pine

Remove all dust first. Use cheesecloth for washing and wiping woods. Prepare 1 quart boiling water, 3 ablespoons lemon oil and 1 tablespoon turpentine. ..Dip cheesecloth in this solution and wring out well. Wash a small space at a time. Wipe immediately with dry cheesecloth. Carvings may be cleaned with soft brush and this solution. This wash polishes because it cleans. Protect wall paper and cushions with folded paper so the oil doesnt splatter over them.

Remove stuck paper off of wood furniture?

Do not try to scrape the paper off. Dab some linseed or sweet oil on the paper. Let the oil soak for a bit, and then remove the paper by rubbing it with your fingers.

Cleaning Wicker

To Preserve wicker, spray with water. This will remove dust and keep reed from drying and cracking. Cold water will not harm real wicker, varnish or paint. Wicker furniture may be brightened with furniture wash and wiped dry. Clean with soft brushes in deepr cracks and wipe dry. You may put the furniture in the bathtup for spraying!

Piano Polish

Use equal proportions of turpentine, linseed oil and vinegar. Mix well. Rub in well with a piece of flannel cloth. Polish with a piece of Chamois cloth. This treatment will remove the dingy appearance that age gives to fine woods! Try it!

Remove Alcohol Spots From Wood

Alcohol in spilled perfume, medicine, etc dissolves varnish. Rub at once with fingers and then rub with a soft non-linting cloth and lemon oil.

Remove Scratches from Wood

Oil and furniture polish darken scratches. If a scratch is deep, try to darken with wood stain or a cloth that bleeds a little of its dye. Rub with lemon-oil or boiled linseed oil. If it is very deep, try this: Rub lightly with steel wool and oil. Make a pad of folded soft non-lint cloth. Rub on paraffin oil and then a little shellac with very light pressure. Keep cloth down close to scratch to keep air from clouding shellac. When dry, polish by rubbing.. Note: Shellac clouds when air mixes with it. Do not lift pad when rubbing! You can also try removing scratches by rubbing the scratch with walnut meats! If you have scratches on dark wood, you can try and hide the scratches by painting iodine on the scratches.

Courtesy of Food Fun & Facts