How to clean used wood furniture from the thrift store when it is so dirty? In this blog, we will give you guides and tips to make your furniture look clean again!
People choose used wood furniture for many different reasons. First, used furniture is definitely more affordable than the new one, and it can still retain the same function or appearance.
For some people, choosing used objects, including furniture, is one of the ways to protect the environment.
As great as it sounds when you buy furniture from a thrift store, you might encounter some annoying problems with the smell and stains on your furniture.
In this case, how to clean used wood furniture? The instruction below will show you how!
Here are steps to clean wood furniture from Thrift Store:
Step 1: Prepare Cleaners
First, you need a bucket and a brush to clean the furniture. In case your wood has mold on its surface, make sure you use mold remover to get rid of it.
For cleaners, you can choose one of these three options:
#1. Option 1: Vinegar
Vinegar can clean up wood furniture effectively. To make the cleaner, mix vinegar and water with the 1:1 ration.
To avoid vinegar smell to stay on the wood, you can add some essential oil to the vinegar mixture.
#2. Option 2: Mild Soap or Mild Detergent
You can use a mild soap such as dishwashers to clean wood furniture from thrift store.
Pour some water and a reasonable amount of mild soap in a bucket to make a solution, then stir it carefully for next use.
#3. Option 3: Specialized Cleaners
A specialized cleaner that was designed for wood cleaning is one of the best choices.
Those cleaners normally include alcohol in its ingredients and can take care of the mold, grease, and dirty pretty well.
Step 2: Dry Clean the Dirt
Spider web and dirt might form on the surface of your furniture, so make sure you use a brush to clean them off first.
Step 3: Wash with Water
Pour or spray water on your wood furniture, and use the brush to remove as much dirt as possible.
For better results, you should clean all the parts of your furniture when it is standing up first, then turn it upside down to make sure its bottom is also cleaned up.
Step 4: Use Mold Remover
Dry off the furniture with a clean cloth, then spray mold-remover to get rid of the mold. If you do not have specialized mold remover, you can pick any all-purpose wood cleaner, too.
While spraying the cleaner, continue to use the brush to get rid of your furniture’s mold.
Repeat this step until you see all mold is gone, then leave the furniture outside until it is completely dry.
Step 5: Clean with Cleaner
Pick one of the cleaners we asked you to prepare earlier and rub it all over your wood furniture.
It is really important to clean all the corners and surfaces on your old wood furniture.
Please repeat this step until you see the piece is clean and then leave it outside with natural wind and sunlight for a few hours.
Step 6: Clean with Water Again
Pour or spray water on the wood furniture to get rid of the cleaning solution if you used too much of it.
Then, let the wood items naturally dry.
Tips for Removing Bad Smell and Pests
#1. Get Rid Of Bad Smell
After cleaning, if your furniture still smells bad, you need to remove it easily by baking soda. Here is what you need to do.
- Step 1: Sprinkle Baking Soda
Sprinkle baking soda on all parts of your furniture, including the cabinet and the bottom.
- Step 2: Clean the Whole Thing with Cleaner
Choose one of the three cleaners we mentioned in the previous section, then wash the whole thing with the cleaner while baking soda is still on the surface.
After cleaning, do not clean it off with water just yet. Leave your wood furniture outside to dry for a few hours.
- Step 3: Wash with Water
After your furniture is dry, clean it with water again, and you will see the bad smell is gone thanks to baking soda.
#2. Remove Pests
If the previous owner of your wood furniture had a pet, then the pet’s fleas or bugs might stay in the wood and procreate.
To remove the pests, you need to prepare a flea spraying or shampoo.
Grab a bottle of flea shampoo, then spray all over the wood furniture. After you are done, do not wash it right away, but leave your furniture outside overnight so the chemical can kill all the adult fleas and their eggs.
Conclusion
With the information we just provided in this blog, we hope you already knew how to clean used wood furniture using easy-to-perform and affordable methods.
If you follow all the steps and clean your furniture carefully, you will see the wood look so much better.
