The first thing you notice when you walk into our old farmhouse is all of the original thick wood trim and heavy, wooden doors. It’s beautiful now, but wasn’t quite looking that way when we arrived. It was dingy, scuffed, scratched and very worn. Because we wanted to move in without having to refinish the wood just yet, I chose another option: to clean it up and polish it myself with just a few natural supplies I already had on hand. The result is beautiful, clean wood and trim that stands out against our freshly painted walls. This simple mixture is easy to make and will leave your wooden trim or furniture shining.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- clean, empty spray bottle
- clean rags
How To Use It
Pour the vinegar and the olive oil together into the spray bottle. They won’t mix so you’ll have to mix as you go. To clean with the mixture, first shake the bottle and then spray onto your rag or onto the surface you want to clean and shine. Then wipe it down with a dry rag or towel. Very dirty wood or trim may need a little bit more of the cleaning solution before the grime comes off.
This solution can be used on most wood items, trim, doors, and furniture, but test it first on a small area to make sure that it won’t remove the finish. As you clean, continue changing out your towel so it remains dry, otherwise you may begin to get oily wood with residue left behind.
If you have dark-colored wood that has some of the color removed, steep a black tea bag into the vinegar before you make your mixture to give it a bit of color. Instant coffee grounds will also work for brown-colored furniture.
Repeat the cleaning process as necessary to keep your wood clean and shining. You may also find that some wood needs a bit more vinegar in the mixture (if it’s really dirty) or a bit more olive oil in the mixture (if the finish is wearing thin). Take into consideration the piece that you are about to clean before you make your mixture, and adjust the proportions as needed.
Get more of Merissa’s projects on HobbyFarms.com:
| About Merissa Alink Merissa Alink believes in making the most with what you have. She blogs about simple living, modern homesteading, and from-scratch recipes at Little House Living and joins us each month on The Craft Hub with sewing projects you can incorporate into your own home. |
