The best way to dust and clean your furniture
Many furniture cleaning products on the market can actually make dust worse, not better. In the past, hand-rubbed oil finishes were common, so your great-grandmother likely oiled her furniture to keep the wood conditioned and lustrous. But today, most furniture is protected by modern film finishes like polyurethane, which seal the wood completely. Unlike traditional oil finishes, these sealed surfaces don’t absorb additional oil—instead, the oil sits on top, taking forever to dry and attracting dust and dirt. Over time, this residue builds up, making your furniture look dingy and harder to clean.
Similarly, cleaners containing wax can leave behind a sticky film that traps dirt, leading to a dull, aged appearance. If your furniture has a polyurethane or other film finish, avoid oil- or wax-based products—they’ll only create more work for you in the long run.
When purchasing furniture, always ask the Furniture Maker about the type of finish used and the best way to maintain it. With so many different finishes available, proper care makes all the difference in keeping your pieces looking their best
The first step in caring for your furniture
You need to determine what finish you have.
If it is a polyurethane finish
Polyurethane is a film finish, so it seals the surface of the wood, protecting it from other liquids, preventing them from soaking into the wood. All you need is to dust it with a feather duster or a damp rag. If you have a stubborn spot that needs a little extra, or feel you need some additional cleaning power, I would recommend a mild cleaner such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. I realize it says hardwood floor, but there is not much difference between the polyurethane on your furniture and the polyurethane on your floor, so this cleaner will work great for both surfaces.
What not to do.
Do not wipe on olive oil or coconut oil, as some people recommend. Those oils sit on top of the urethane and never soak in or dry, and can turn rancid over time. They just create an oily residue on your furniture, attracting and trapping dust.
If it is a hand-rubbed penetrating oil finish
For General maintenance of a Penetrating oil finish, I would forgo any cleaner, as it will remove the oils from the wood. Just stick with a feather duster and a damp rag.
If your handrubber oil finish is looking a bit drab, a fresh coat of oil can revive your furniture, giving it a second life. It soaks into the wood, conditioning it and preventing the surface from looking dry and drab. However, it is important to use the right oil. As mentioned above, olive oil and coconut oil can go rancid and not fully dry. So instead you want to use a drying oil such a 100% tung oil, not only is it great for furniture, but it is also a food-safe finish. This tung oil will penetrate into the pores of the wood, helping protect it from other liquids, and will dry so it will not attract and trap dust on the surface.
How to get a stain out of wood Furniture
The best method for removing a water stain depends on the type of wood finish and the depth of the stain. If you see a white ring, it’s likely a surface-level issue caused by moisture trapped in a wax finish. In this case, allowing the piece to dry for a few days may resolve the problem as the moisture evaporates. If the stain persists, the wax may need to be chemically stripped and reapplied, though this isn’t always a DIY-friendly fix.  Matching the original finish can be tricky, so consulting a professional furniture repair technician is often the best course of action.
For most finishes, light sanding the wood and refinishing are the most reliable way to eliminate shallow water stains. Deeper stains require more aggressive sanding; if the stain has penetrated the wood’s porous grain, you may have to sand to bare wood to completely remove the stain. In severe cases, the stain could be permanent, so prevention and prompt treatment are key.
I’m the owner of Benham Design Concepts, a mixed media art studio where I design and build custom furniture and other works of art using wood, glass, stone, and various metals.
In this blog, I talk about the art I create, my journey, and the things I learn along the way.