Vinegar is a common household cleaning ingredient and you can use it in plenty of ways. But can you use vinegar on a wood surface? Will vinegar damage wood furniture? No, vinegar won’t damage wood furniture particularly if you apply it properly.
In this case, you have to make the vinegar thin and apply it lightly on wood surface. Then you will need to remove the vinegar residue from wood surface and apply a protective finish to avoid damage. You can also consider dish soap or olive oil and lemon juice solution as an alternative to polish wood furniture.
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How To Use Vinegar On Wood Furniture Without Damaging it?
It’s a bit difficult to use vinegar on wooden furniture. But if you apply the right method, you can reduce the chance of damage. Follow these steps to use vinegar safely on wood furniture:
1. Make The Vinegar Thin
Vinegar is extremely acidic. So it can damage the wood surface if you directly apply it on your furniture. So you have to make the vinegar thin to reduce its strength. To do so, mix same amount of water and vinegar in a bowl or spray bottle.
2. Apply On Hidden Area
Apply your thin vinegar to a hidden area of furniture before using it on the whole surface. This way you will understand how the wood surface will react to vinegar. It will also allow you to adjust the mixture if required.
3. Wet The Cloth
Wet a soft cloth lightly using a vinegar solution. Make sure the cloth doesn’t have excess moisture as it can damage wood surface.
4. Wipe The Wood Surface
Wipe your wood furniture gently using a damp cloth. Wipe smoothly and apply equal strokes following the direction of the wood grain. Don’t scrub the surface and apply extreme pressure as it can cause abrasions or scratches on wood furniture.
5. Remove Residue Quickly
If vinegar solution leaves residue on furniture, wipe it quickly using a damp and clean cloth. Otherwise, vinegar residue can damage or discolor the surface.
6. Dry The Wood Furniture Carefully
After cleaning the wood surface, dry it thoroughly. It will prevent wood furniture from causing swelling or warping. In this case, use a soft and dry cloth to clean moisture.
7. Add Protective Finish
Apply polish or wax as a protective finish on wood furniture. It will restore shine of wood furniture and prevent moisture penetration.
8. Maintain Your Furniture Regularly
If you want to maintain the best look of your wood furniture, clean its dust regularly using non-abrasive items. Don’t use vinegar regularly since it can damage the finish of the furniture gradually.
What Are The Alternatives Of Vinegar To Clean Wood Furniture?
If you don’t want to use vinegar on wood furniture, you can apply plenty of cleaning solutions. In this case, you can apply these alternatives:
Mild Dish Soap Solution
Mix some drops of mild dish soap and warm water to make a cleaning solution. Then put a cloth into this cleaning solution, and remove excess moisture from it. Then wipe wood furniture using the cloth. Wipe the cloth frequently on wood surface to avoid soaking the furniture due to extra moisture. Then wipe your furniture using a dry cloth.
Olive Oil And Lemon Juice Mixture
Mix same amount of olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl to make a natural polishing solution. Olive oil will improve natural shine of wood furniture and lemon juice will perform as cleaner. Apply this solution to a soft cloth and rub it gently onto your furniture. Then wait for a few minutes so the solution can sit on furniture and polish it using another clean cloth.
Commercial Wood Cleaners
There are plenty of wood cleaners available in stores that are specially made for cleaning wood furniture. These wood cleaners can remove grime and dirt effectively. Buy these wood cleaners and follow their instructions to use them properly on your wood furniture.
White Toothpaste
You can also use white toothpaste to remove stains and scratches from wood furniture. Apply some toothpaste on a clean and soft cloth and rub it gently on a wooden surface. Then remove excess toothpaste residue from furniture using a clean cloth to make its surface dry.
Baking Soda
Mix some water and baking soda to make a paste and apply it on a cloth. Rub the cloth gently on the furniture, particularly on its discolored or strained area. Then remove paste residue using another clean cloth to dry your wood furniture.
FAQs on Will vinegar damage wood furniture
Which Type Of Vinegar is Safe For Wood Furniture?
White purified vinegar is safe for wood furniture. This vinegar won’t cause much damage to wood furniture compared to other types like malt vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
What Type Of Wood is More Prone To Damage From Vinegar?
Vinegar can damage unsealed or unfinished wood, delicate veneers, or antique furniture very easily. So you’ll need professional help to apply vinegar on these types of wood.
What To Do if Vinegar Damages Wood Furniture?
If your wood furniture gets damaged due to applying vinegar, consult with wood experts. They will suggest you the appropriate repairs or remedies to fix damaged wood furniture.
How Frequently Can You Clean Wood Furniture Using Vinegar?
You can clean your wood furniture using vinegar occasionally or when you require. If you overuse vinegar or clean wood furniture frequently, it will damage your furniture.
Can You Apply Vinegar Over Protective Finish Of Wood Furniture?
You can safely apply vinegar to various protective finishes of wood furniture including polyurethane or varnish. However, you have to apply vinegar moderately on the wood surface.
Final Words
Vinegar can damage wood furniture particularly if you apply it without any precautions. If you want to make your wood furniture long-lasting and retain its shine with vinegar, choose wood-friendly vinegar. Then make the vinegar thinner and apply it on unnecessary wood surfaces before applying it to your furniture. Finally, wipe off extra vinegar to avoid damage. You can also consider some alternatives to vinegar on wood furniture.
