Position your wood furniture away from any hot air registers or other heat sources. This will keep it from warping or cracking. Also, keep your wooden furniture away from humidifiers or vaporizers. The dampness may cause mildew.
When moving a piece of wooden furniture, carry it by the frame, which is the strongest part of the piece. If a dresser is too heavy, take out a few of the drawers to make it lighter to carry. Never try to lift a bulky piece of furniture by the top board because it could separate from the frame. When you open drawers in a wooden dresser, always open it with two hands, and pull straight out.
When you clean your wooden furniture, you need to make sure that you are using the correct cleaner on the piece. To clean wooden furniture with a dull or discolored shellac finish, use a solution of equal parts of mineral oil, turpentine, and white vinegar. Rub the solution in with a sponge, and then wipe it off with a clean rag. To clean oily buildup resulting from polishing, rub the piece twice with turpentine on a clean rag. If the whole rag becomes soiled, get a new one. To remove wax buildup from the hinges of your furniture, use an artist brush to paint turpentine onto the hinges. Then wipe the hinges with a damp cloth. Cleaning the hinges will keep them working properly.
If you like to paint old furniture, but some of it appears a bit worn and you do not want to repaint or refinish the piece, rub a little mineral oil into it. This will get rid of the caked-on dust and brighten up the color. You can also wash a painted piece of furniture with a mild dishwashing liquid.
If you have tablecloth that has become stuck to your table, rub a liberal amount of mayonnaise over the flannel that has come off the back of the tablecloth. Let the mayonnaise sink in for about an hour, then wipe up the muck with a clean paper or cloth towel. If you have crayon marks on your wooden furniture, you can rub mayonnaise into the affected area. Let it soak in for a few minutes, then rub the area clean with a damp cloth.
Sometimes you can cover up a furniture scratch rather than actually removing it. Choose a wax crayon that matches the color of the finish on your scratched furniture. Rub a little into the scratch and the scratch will appear to blend in with the finish. If your scratched wooded furniture has a dark stain, use instant coffee to cover the scratch. Make a thick paste of coffee granules and water, and then rub the paste into the scratch.
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