Since distilled vinegar is a mild cleaning agent, it is safe to use it on most wood furniture. However, it's always best to test a small spot to be sure the vinegar won't damage the wood or its finish. You should also dilute the vinegar with water before using it on wood.
White vinegar works well with wood. It helps polish the wood and removes sand and dust. The result is a shimmering look that makes the wood appear more vibrant. You can use vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes to remove wine, milk, and other liquid stains from the furniture.
To thoroughly clean heavy build-up and grime from your wooden furniture or cabinets, you'll want to use microfiber and modern soaps. Most dirty wood furniture can be brought back to life with any basic neutral pH cleaner like Mr. Clean or Fabuloso, some warm water, and a stack of microfiber towels.
Say no to H2O.
When it comes to cleaning, skipping chemicals and going straight to plain water may seem like a safe bet, but environmental toxin expert Tonya Harris says you should never use water on wood.
Vinegar: Mix three tablespoons of white distilled vinegar with one cup of water. Dampen a soft cloth with the mixture and dab on a test spot. If it has no negative effect, continue cleaning. Buff with a dry cloth afterward.
Diluted vinegar can dissolve the finish that protects the wood and leave it looking cloudy, dull, or scratched. (The same goes for wood furniture.) Follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations or pick a cleaner that's made specifically for hardwood flooring.
Just like hardwood floors, vinegar can eat away at the wax finish on wood furniture, leaving it looking dull and cloudy. But, you'll frequently read that vinegar is ideal for cleaning all types of wood. If you would like to use vinegar on finished or waxed wood furniture, use it extremely infrequently and at your risk.
Try mixing a weak solution of water and dishwashing soap. Dip a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out and wipe the entire piece. You want a damp cloth, not a wet one. Don't saturate the wood, and rinse your cloth often.
White vinegar is an effective cleaning agent that will help loosen any dirt and grime from surfaces. Baking soda is also a great natural cleaner that helps absorb any odors and keeps surfaces free of residue. Finally, dish soap will help cut through any grease spots on wood surfaces.
Oil Soap: Unlike a typical household soap, oil soap will both clean and moisturize the existing wood finish. Pick up a bottle of something reliable like Murphy's oil soap. Cotton Cloths: You will need at least two clean cotton cloths.
Your sticky problem is more than likely caused by the finish itself failing. Drying oils in the varnishes eventually destroy themselves and the sticky surface you describe is the result. Lacquers can suffer a problem caused by plasticizers migrating through the resins. One way or another, your finish surface is done.
If pure water hasn't removed the stain, cleaning with vinegar is a great natural stain remover and is suitable for most types of upholstery. Begin by mixing equal parts water and vinegar and then blot the stain with a clean microfibre cloth before using gentle circular motions.
Make New Wood Look Old and GREY
In order to get the best aging effect, the iron acetate (what happens when you mix vinegar and steel wool) has to interact with the tannins in wood to oxidize and create an aged effect. To intensify this effect, I added a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to the vinegar/steel wool mixture.
Mixing together a solution of two parts olive oil and one part vinegar. The oil will help to restore and replenish dry wood and remove scratches, while the vinegar will help lift out stains. This solution can also help with removing water marks.
Rinsing is not necessary! If you're simply using a vinegar and water solution to wipe and disinfect, you won't need to rinse. However, if there's also plenty of dirt and grime you're wiping away, you may also want to rinse with some extra water.
Vinegar does not damage untreated wood when diluted with olive oil or water before applying it. Applying undiluted vinegar on untreated wood can damage the wood due to the acidity of the vinegar. Use white vinegar on untreated wood after mixing it with olive oil or coconut oil or water.
The only difference between cleaning vinegar and the distilled white vinegar is their levels of acidity. White vinegar is usually 95 percent water and 5 percent acid. By contrast, cleaning vinegar contains up to six percent acid and is around 20 percent stronger than regular white vinegar.
Hydrogen peroxide
If you are looking for an eco-friendly product to disinfect almost every surface in your home, your best option is hydrogen peroxide. Maybe vinegar is acidic enough to act as a sanitizer, but hydrogen peroxide is better at killing bacteria, fungus, and viruses.
Isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, is even better than vinegar for most things! While vinegar is a great acid that can clean build up like coffee makers, steam clean the microwave, or loosen up carpet stains, it is not a registered disinfectant.