How to Clean Old Wood

Whether you want to clean old wood furniture, cabinets, a cutting board, wood floors, or any other type of old dirty wood, there are several similar methods you can use. No matter what method you decide to try, it’s important to always test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the wood you want to clean to make sure it doesn’t damage the finish or discolor the wood. Then, you can proceed to clean the whole wood piece to restore its shine!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Dirt with Dish Soap

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1
Wipe down the wood with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove dust.^{[1]XExpert SourceRaymond Chiu
House Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview. 15 October 2019.} This will get rid of regular amounts of dust so you can get to the stuck-on dirt underneath. Give the whole wood object you want to clean a thorough wipe-down with the cloth.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If there is a lot of dust on the wood and a dry cloth doesn’t do the trick, then you can wipe it down with a barely-damp microfiber cloth instead to get rid off all the dust.
Tip: Dish detergent and water works to clean off most stuck-on dirt and sticky spots from old wood. This is also a safe method for cleaning painted wood.
2
Test a drop of liquid dish detergent on a hidden area of the wood. Put a drop of mild dish detergent onto a corner of a clean microfiber cloth. Rub it onto an inconspicuous area of the wood and watch to see if it causes any discoloration or removes the finish.^{[3]XResearch source}
- If the wood looks the same where you test the detergent, then it’s safe to proceed with cleaning the whole piece.^{[4]XExpert SourceRaymond Chiu
  House Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview. 15 October 2019.}
- You will be able to see after a couple of minutes whether the detergent hurts the finish.
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3
Mix 2-3 drops of dish detergent in 1 cup (240 mL) of water.^{[5]XExpert SourceRaymond Chiu
House Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview. 15 October 2019.} Pour approximately 1 cup (240 mL) of water into a bowl or container of some kind. Squeeze in 2-3 drops of mild liquid dish detergent.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Don’t worry too much about the exact ratio, you just want to create a diluted dish detergent and water solution. A bit more detergent or less water won’t affect how it cleans.
- As an alternative to liquid dish detergent, you can use an oil soap. Mix the oil soap with water in the proper ratio according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
4
Soak a microfiber cloth in the solution and wring it out. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the water and detergent mixture and let it get completely soaked. Wring it out back into the container so it is just barely damp.^{[7]XResearch source}
- You don’t want to soak the wood while you are cleaning it, so it’s important that the cloth isn’t dripping wet.^{[8]XExpert SourceRaymond Chiu
  House Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview. 15 October 2019.}
5
Wipe down the whole wood piece with the wet microfiber cloth. Brush the damp cloth with light pressure over the entire surface of the wood. Scrub harder at any gummy or particularly dirty spots until they disappear.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Try to clean the wood as fast as you can so you don’t let it stay wet for too long. Water can warp wood if it soaks into it.
6
Dry off the wood with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Wipe down the wood again thoroughly to dry off all the areas you cleaned.^{[10]XExpert SourceRaymond Chiu
House Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview. 15 October 2019.} Buff it in circular motions with the clean, dry cloth to remove all moisture and shine it up a bit.^{[11]XResearch source}
- If you still see any dirty spots after you dry the wood, then you can repeat the process or try another method to get rid of it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Rid of Grime with Mineral Spirits

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1
Work in a well-ventilated area. Work outside if you can, or open up all doors and windows where you will work. This is to avoid breathing in the fumes of the mineral spirits.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Mineral spirits are also known more commonly as paint thinner.
Tip: Mineral spirits are good for cleaning wood when cleaning with dish detergent and water doesn’t remove all the dirt and grime. Never clean painted wood with mineral spirits or you will remove the paint.
2
Test the mineral spirits on an out-of-sight area of the wood. Put a few drops of the spirits on the corner of a clean cloth. Rub it onto a hidden area and check to see if it damages the finish at all.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Mineral spirits are safe for most wood finishes, but make sure to always test it on a hidden area and check for discoloration. If there is no discoloration, proceed with the cleaning.
- You will notice right away if the mineral spirits remove any of the finish.
3
Moisten a clean cloth with mineral spirits. Pour out enough mineral spirits to just moisten part of the cloth without making it dripping wet. Try to just dampen a corner of the cloth that you can use to wipe down the piece.^{[14]XResearch source}
- The more mineral spirits you use, the more fumes you will be exposed to as well. This is why it’s important to work in a well-ventilated area and not pour out too much of the liquid onto the rag.
4
Wipe down the whole wood piece with the damp cloth. Apply light pressure with the damp cloth and rub it all over the wood to wipe away dirt. Scrub any stuck-on dirt spots with your finger inside a corner of the cloth.
- If the wood has any carved parts or hard-to-reach bits, you can use an old toothbrush dipped in mineral spirits to get in them and scrub.
5
Wipe away residue from the spirits with a water-dampened cloth. Soak a clean cloth in water and wring it out firmly so it is just barely wet. Wipe down the whole wood piece to remove any residue from the mineral spirits.^{[15]XResearch source}
- If the wood is still wet to the touch after you wipe it down, then rub it with a clean dry cloth in circular motions to dry it off.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Vinegar Solution

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1
Create a 1/16 vinegar and water solution. Mix approximately 1 part white distilled vinegar with 16 parts water in a bucket or other container. This diluted vinegar solution will remove stuck-on dirt and grime from the wood you want to clean.
- It’s important to dilute the vinegar with water as concentrated vinegar can discolor some wood finishes.
Tip: Use a vinegar and water solution when soap and water doesn’t clean away all the dirt. It’s also an alternative to mineral spirits that is less harsh on finishes and is safe to clean painted wood with.
2
Test the solution on a hidden area of the wood. Dip the corner of a clean cloth into the solution. Rub it onto a small out-of-sight area of the wood and watch to see if it discolors the finish.
- If the wood looks fine after you test the solution, then it’s safe to proceed with using the vinegar solution to clean the whole piece.
- You will be able to see within a couple of minutes if the solution damages the finish at all.
3
Dip the cloth into the solution and wring it out so it is barely moist. Soak the cloth in the solution for a few seconds. Squeeze it out completely until no more drops of the solution come out.
- Alternatively, you can put the solution in a spray bottle and just spray it onto the cloth to moisten it.
4
Wipe the damp cloth all over the piece in circular motions. Wipe down the entire piece with light pressure. Scrub away at any sticky or particularly dirty spots with the corner of the rag and your fingers.
- If the rag gets visibly dirty, rinse it out with regular water and wring it out until it looks clean again. Repeat the process until you’ve cleaned the whole wood piece.
5
Buff the wood with a clean, dry cloth. Use circular motions to buff away moisture and shine the finish up. Make sure to cover all areas so you don’t leave any water sitting on the surface of the wood.
- If you notice any areas where it is still dirty, just go back over them with the vinegar solution and cloth. If there are any cracks, such as decorative carved areas, then you can use a toothbrush dipped in the solution to scrub inside them.

Expert Q&A

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Question
What mistakes can I avoid when cleaning wood?
Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.
Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Answer
One mistake is using too much solution and water, as that can seep into the wood and potentially damage it. Using a highly abrasive material or scrubbing too hard can also damage the surface of the wood. Finally, make sure to clean a test spot in an inconspicuous area before using a product on the entire area to avoid potential, irreversible damage to the wood.
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Tips

After you’ve cleaned the wood, then you can polish it to give it an even brighter, shinier finish.
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If the wood still looks dirty after trying several methods of cleaning it, then consider refinishing it to restore its shine.
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Warnings

Always test any solution you are going to clean wood with on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t damage the wood.
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