| • | DustingTipsFrequent dusting helps protect your furniture from airborn deposites that can scratch the surface. Soft, lint free cloths, such as cotton tee shirts and diapers work well. Slightly dampen them to help trap the dust and prevent it from becoming airborn again. Feather dusters work great on delicate surfaces such as glass and lampshades. Lambs wool dusters contain lanolin which attracts dust and makes it cling to the duster. They work well on carved wood and hard to reach areas. Never use all purpose cleaning sprays on wood furniture unless it has a plastic coating. |
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| • | PolishingCleaners, furniture oils and oil polishes help protect wood by making the surface slippery. Avoid polishing with pure olive oil and products containing large amounts of oil, as they tend to smear and leave fingerprints. The silicone oil found in most commercial sprays and polishes provides some protection, however, they can interfere with refinishing. You can clean and restore wood furniture using a mixture of equal parts olive oil, denatured alcohol, gum turpentine, and strained lemon juice. Use a soft cloth to apply and wipe clean with a dry cloth. |
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| • | WaxingWax provides long-lasting protection and a hard finish, won't smear, and is more durable than sprays or polishes. Paste or liquid wax made specifically for furniture should be used in light coats, rubbing into the surface with the grain. Let dry and buff with a soft dry cloth. Paste wax finishes may last as long as two years, where as liquid wax leaves a thinner coating and may need to be applied more frequently. A second coat of wax can be applied for a deeper shine. Liquid or aerosol furniture polishes can dissolve the wax and leave a hazy film, so do not use them to dust waxed furniture. Use a lambs wool duster. |
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