I remember dusting for my mom with a can of Pledge and a rag back in the day. Then I went to college where money was tight. There was no way I was going to fork out money for Pledge when I could use it toward much-needed food or not-really-needed but oh-so-wanted clothing! So I used a spray bottle filled with water and an old rag. I've come a long way since then. Now I dust the house with my handy dandy microfiber towel. Microfiber towels are magic! They attract dust like no-other so dusting has never been simpler.
I had dusting under control but one day I noticed my newish dining room table was looking a bit dry. I needed some furniture polish. Finances are better since the college days but store-bought furniture polish is usually full of toxic and unnecessary chemicals. So I scoured the Internet looking for recipes until I found this simple one. I always have these ingredients on hand so I gave it a whirl. I've been using it for about a year now and love the results.
One Batch of
Homemade Furniture Polish
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
Put ingredients in a container with a lid. Shake vigorously to get thoroughly mixed. I just dip my rag or paper towel in the container and wipe the surface of the wood. A little goes a long way. If you use too much, your furniture might feel a little greasy until it is absorbed.
The oil keeps the wood from drying out while the lemon juice/vinegar pulls dirt from the wood. Since I don't polish my wood furniture very often and the furniture polish can spoil, I make just enough for that day. I've made it both ways, with vinegar and with lemon juice. The lemon juice concoction smells better of course, but the vinegar is cheaper and comes in handy when I don't have a lemon on hand. My kitchen table has never looked better.
Boo-yah, Pledge!
Do you have any wood cleaning tips or a favorite wood polishing recipe to share?
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I am loving this series!
ReplyDeletePaige
Have you heard of the company Norwex? Lots of girls are having parties in my neighborhood & I'm very intrigued. They use a cloth woven with silver as a one-stop cloth cleaning system. No cleaners, just the cloth & water!! They have a dusting mit, bathroom scrubber, & a regular cleaner. (Ok so it doesn't stop at just one cloth! LOL) I really really love your "green cleaning" posts. Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteI made this with a cheap olive oil and about 15 drops of lemon scented essential oil.
ReplyDeleteI once read an article that expired yoghurt good for wooden floor or furniture !! My daughter did not allow me to do so as she had a baby at home that time!! Afraid ants or insect would visit us !! As the yoghurt was a plan one, so when she left the house I added 2 spoonful of yoghurt in a pail of warm water to mop the floor !! My goodness the floor shine !! Then I used some to rub the furniture and they shine too !! No insects found that week !! So it is safe to use !!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Lee, along those lines: I've read that in times long ago, women would wash their wood floors with skim milk. So I guess dairy does something good to wood!
DeleteOh yes, if you have antique furniture which is black or dark brown in color and the color has faded, try this :-- Take some same color shoes polish wax ( harden type also can ) and mix with some cooking oil, mix well and use a old cloth to rub this mixture onto the furniture !! This is the way I polish my color faded furniture !!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your tips with us, Mrs. Lee!
DeleteMy son left me an empty can of Pledge in my cleaning caddy. LOL
ReplyDeleteOver time I have replaced all my store bought cleaners with homemade versions, but wondered what to use on the furniture. Just tried this on my coffee table & it looks so good! Everything else in the house will get the same treatment tomorrow.
Thanks Kendra!
I'm glad it worked Landon! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI love this, so simple! Definitely going to try it.
ReplyDeleteLove it - so simple!! I'll definitely try it out.
ReplyDeleteJust shared on my FB page - thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a question now = doesn't the olive oil go rancid and then affect the smell of your wood? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Adrienne, I've been using this wood polish for over a year now and have never smelled any rancid smells. If you are worried, you can use jojoba oil, which has an indefinite shelf life. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteTo darken nicks and scratches in wood, rub over with a walnut (the part you eat)the color will soon match again. Lemon juice is good for removing stains.
ReplyDeleteTo answer Adrienne's question, I read that wood has natural antibiotics that protect it so the olive oil shouldn't go rancid.
Thanks for the great tips!
DeleteGreat!!! How easy is this, thanks I was just looking for something to naturally clean our wood. Stopping by from Living Natural Link Up, new follower.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I do not like pledge. I thought it was fun as a child, but do not want it anywhere near me now. This recipe is very simple, I have heard of using straight oil but it never seemed like a good idea I could see it working wonderfully with some acid though. Hey you could even dress your salad with leftover...
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to Healthy 2Day Wednesday, hope to see you there Wednesday.
I have been using this for about six months and I absolutely love it! I put mine in a spray bottle, and am amazed at how much dirt the vinegar pulls out.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear that it works for you too. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteJust made a small batch and LOVE this!! I am curious about something though...this may be a dumb question, but do you only make this "as needed" or can you store it? Would it need to be refrigerated and how long would a batch last on the shelf? Thanks so much for all you share!
ReplyDeleteI would not refrigerate if using the olive oil, as it may tend to to solidify. I just tried this recipe this evening and it works wonderfully, just made a small batch for now. I think I would only make small batches anyway..
DeleteI am a bit scared to try this on some High End pieces I have purchased, can you just use Olive oil only, I think its the vinegar or lemon that scares me :) I was thinking a wet cloth maybe with a dab of soap and then olive oil. Any thoughts on that ?
ReplyDeleteSounds like it might work. Let us know.
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