Furniture and flooring made of reclaimed wood give unique character and charm to our homes. No wonder that recycled timber is getting more and more popular. However, to keep them in good condition, we need to clean them properly.
Bringing history to our homes, this is what old furniture is about. Beautiful cupboards, beds and other pieces can emphasize the special character of our interiors` design or help us to uncover the narration about our family`s past. That is why, keeping them in good condition is a duty we simply cannot neglect. Old timber without cleaning looks terrible so let`s not allow for that!
Cleaning old wood
In order to answer the question on how clean reclaimed wood, we have to divide this article into two sections: one of them will be devoted to the timber exposed weather conditions, like the one coming from fence or wooden cabins. The second one will characterize the sanitizing process of recycled wood furniture.
To start with the cleaning of old furniture that used to be exposed to sun and rain, you would need to have some free space and materials. The planks have to be carefully checked for some nails or any other obstacles that could damage your tools. If there are lots of tacks, you may consider to remove them: by hand or with the use of a tack puller. It is also good to sand the planks smooth – it will prevent you from getting slivers and help to dust them down.
To get prepared for the cleaning of your wood, you will need to have: a bucket, a tooth brush or a grout brush, and a dishwashing detergent. Probably some space and aids to fit your planks will be necessary too.
The cleaning will be processed faster on a sunny day – the wood will dry quicker and there is no risk of molds` appearance. So, now you just need to remove all the dirt from the planks with the use of your cleaning solution. If it is necessary, scrub it top to bottom and sideways. Finally, rinse the boards thoroughly a couple of times to make sure that all the cleaning solution has been removed.
How to sanitize your furniture at home?
In order to keep your recycled wood furniture clean, we need to make sure that their surfaces have been covered with some varnish. This layer should protect them from all the possible spills and stains. It is also helpful to remove all the stains immediately after the appear on the surface of the wood.
A number of specialist recommend natural timber cleansers. One of the most effective ones is a solution combining olive oil and a bit of vinegar with water, however, this mixture works the best on surfaces that are not treated. For those ones which have been covered with a layer of varnish, it is better to use some gentle soap with water.