There is a reason you installed a wooden shelf in your home. Wood offers any room a warm and contemporary feel. The timeless beauty of wood works in almost any area of your home, along with being strong and durable.
Whether your wooden shelves are tucked away or out in the open, you want them to stay clean and looking new for as long as possible. Simple dusting and shining will only do so much. Eventually, the wood will begin to look discoloured as overtime, the polish and dust combine together and leave a film behind on the wood.
Every so often, you’ll want to do a deep clean on your wooden shelves to keep them looking like new. Below are a few cleaning tips that will reveal the shine your wood used to have, and keep the wood looking its best.
Deep Clean
Always start by dusting off the shelf first. Begin with a gentle cleaner, and only use stronger ones if needed. You can even begin by simply mixing dish soap and water together.
Make sure you use a damp, soft cloth for cleaning wood. You don’t want to oversaturate the wood and cause damage. Also, harsh fibres on some cloths can actually scratch the wood. Wipe down the shelf with the damp cloth, rinsing the cloth between wipes. Finish with a clean, dry cloth to thoroughly dry the shelf.
If you find difficult stains or other issues with your shelf, try some of the following tips.
Water Stains
There is a reason why you should put a coaster underneath a glass that sits on a wooden shelf. The heat from the glass or water droplets from a cold drink can damage the wood underneath. You’re then left with water stains all over your shelf. Depending on the type of wood used to make your shelf, that will determine how vulnerable it is to water stains.
To remove those pesky water stains, non-gel toothpaste will do the trick. Apply the toothpaste right to the water stain and rub it around with a soft cloth until the stain lifts. If the toothpaste alone doesn’t work, mix it with baking soda for an extra cleaning boost.
Remove Old Polish
Buildup of old polish on wood is one way to age the shelf and make it look dirty. Every now and then you want to remove the old polish before applying a new coat. The new polish will help restore the wood and bring it back to life.
To do so, you’ll want to boil some tea bags. Tea has tannic acid which works great to maintain wood. Steep a couple of tea bags in boiling water before letting it cool to room temperature. Soak a soft cloth in your tea and ring it out until the cloth is damp. Simply wash away the old polish to reveal a shiny wooden shelf.
Clean Other Stains
If you notice there are stains other than water stains on your wooden shelf, try mixing equal parts of baking soda and water to create a paste. Use a soft cloth to apply the solution directly to the stain, and rub it in until you remove the stain. Wipe off the paste with a clean, damp cloth.
