How to clean wooden furniture without chemicals

Why clean wood furniture without chemicals?

Cleaning is key to maintaining and improving the condition of the home, both in terms of daily livability and long-term maintenance. This is why it is important to ensure that the process of cleaning furniture and other items does not damage them over time.
A good solution to this problem is to use methods and products that do not involve, as far as possible, chemical agents, but still disinfect and perform their function correctly.

In addition, by changing the typical cleaning products of supermarkets or large multinationals, and cleaning wooden furniture without chemicals, it increases the possibility of achieving more unique and special aromas, natural, and tolerable for people allergic or sensitive to certain odors.
An added bonus is that this helps the environment. If instead of buying with some assiduity products that are sold packaged in plastic, and instead prepare homemade cleaning products, more environmentally friendly and economical.

cleaning wood furniture without chemicals

Daily care

Before dealing with the topic of deep cleaning, it is good to review the basics of daily care of furniture.
The use of quality table linens and textiles will protect the surfaces, especially if they are porous, such as natural wood, from possible stains that may be general in a carelessness.
Likewise, it is always a good idea to have a set of coasters, some placemats and a second set of table linens on hand, so that one is always available.
If even with the basic precautions there is a stain that can stain the furniture, a quick action will be the best solution: A cloth with a fabric that does not fray easily, well moistened. And in more serious cases, adding a little neutral soap will be enough.

It is important to remember that wet wood can cause problems to the furniture, so it is recommended that you always wipe it again with a dry cloth to return everything as it was.

A smart way out if you do not have rags available in the house, is to recycle textiles that have become old, in disuse, or that part of them is in bad condition for another type of use. Preferably, these rags should be made from garments that have not been artificially dyed, and that are resistant to friction without falling apart.

What is neutral soap?

By definition, a neutral soap is one that has a pH of 7, which would be the middle of the pH table. a pH of 7, which would be the middle of the pH table.
You have to be careful when looking for one that is really neutral, and look at its composition, since most soaps sold under the label of neutral, usually have a pH of 5.5.

If, in addition to making sure that the soap you use is really neutral, you want to recycle and reduce the level of waste produced, a good option may be to make neutral soap at home, with essences, recycled oil and caustic soda, or preferably, neutral glycerin.

Spot cleaning

When it comes to the weekly cleaning day, the process becomes somewhat different. These are the occasions when chemical agents are most commonly used, but they are not as difficult to avoid as they may seem.

First of all, the first step is always to remove the dust that has settled during the week with a dry cloth, then wet, and then dry again.
The next point of the process, will be to make a soap more intense than the one used in the daily care, which still does not damage the furniture. For this, take a bucket with a small proportion of water, two somewhat larger measures of vinegar or lemon juice and oil, and another small part of the neutral soap.
With this solution, soak a sponge and pass it over the surface making gentle circular movements. The sponge should be of soft fibers.

This step will remove any remaining dust, grease and other debris that may be present on the wood.

To avoid any residue of the product that has just been applied, a damp cloth should be wiped again, leaving it to dry for thirty minutes.

In cases of persistent stains, or possible stuck elements difficult to remove, it would be advisable to use a very fine sandpaper, and carefully, on the stain, always with movements in the same direction as the grain of the wood, and then proceed to a deep cleaning with neutral soap.

With the passage of time

If what is sought is to maintain the natural and original color of teak wood, which can change over the years, it is recommended to nourish the furniture with teak oil, prior to a thorough cleaning and ensure that they have dried properly.

The teak wood used in Dareels is of high quality and resistance, but the best use and maintenance is always recommended in order to extend even more the life time in the best conditions for all the pieces.