Wax, Polish or Oil Furniture?

It can be confusing on what product to use on your furniture. What are you wanting to accomplish? Do you want to just clean or protect? I would suggest to read what the manufacturer suggests to use on the furniture. Most fine furniture will benefit from regular dry dusting using a lambs-wool or microfiber duster. These products attract the dust from the furniture without scratching the surface.

Why a Finish Coat?

What are finishes designed to do? Finishes are designed to seal and protect the wood. Sealing the wood protects the wood from moisture changes, spills, stains and surface abrasions. Sealer on the wood also enhances the beauty of the wood grain. If your furniture is “Unfinished,” or deteriorated, there is no way a polish, wax or oil is going to restore the surface.

Types of Finishes

Polyurethane:
It is highly durable, that comes in high gloss, gloss or matte finishes. Manufacturers make polyurethane from synthetic resins that are resistant to water and most solvents.
Dusting regularly with a soft dry cloth such as lamb- wool or a microfiber cloth. If the surface is sticky you can use a damp cloth moisten with water, (not wet) to remove .
Most US furniture manufacturers do not use polyurethane finishes. 

Lacquer:
It is hard and glossy and also is brittle, so it can easily be dented or chipped. Avoid hard blows.
Avoid use of water unless the manufacturer suggest it. Dust regularly with a soft cloth such as lamb-wool or a microfiber cloth. 

There is no way to tell the difference between the two finishes just by looking at them.

Too determine the finish: in a hidden area use a coin with pressure rub it back and forth. If the finish flakes, the finish is either varnish, shellac or wax. If resistance to the coin the surface is either polyurethane or lacquer

Oiled Finishes:
Depending on the origin it is called by many names such as: Dutch or Danish.
Wax or furniture polish should never be used on oil finishes. Re-oil yearly by manufacturers suggestions.

Painted Surfaces:
Painted surfaces can be regularly dusted with a damp (not wet) cloth. Never use oil or oil based polishes.

How to Protect the Surface

Using furniture polish or wax will momentarily enhance the appearance of the wood, while protecting it from abrasion. Waxes, in particular helps repel water, and also help prevent minor scratches. Using wax or polish, makes the surface slick so the dust does not adhere, so it is less likely to scratch as the dust cloth glides over the surface.

Different Polishes (Sprays and Aerosols)

These can contain silicone or contaminants that can cause damage to varnish or lacquer surfaces. These are easy to use and are available in two types: Oil or emulsion. Furniture polish does evaporate because it is  based primarily on oily petroleum-distillate. They are always in a liquid form and easier  to apply, because a lot of buffing is not necessary.

Emulsion:
Water has been added making these great cleaners for finger prints, grease and most dirt types. 

Petro- Chemicals and Tolulene
Mostly aerosol furniture polishes and oils, they can create toxic fumes, skin irritations and give poor results.

Petroleum Distillate  referred as Oil:
Non-drying such as mineral spirits, paraffin, lemon oil. Slow evaporation rate. These clean well but only last for a short time  until it evaporates.
Drying oils such as walnut oil, linseed  oil  can over a period of time become difficult to remove.
Oil based furniture polishes seem to attract dust. The furniture looks great after it is applied , within a few days you will notice the dust as if you never dusted. This happens because when the dust settles on the surface it impregnates itself into the oily resdue that’s been left behind.

Silicone:
Silicone is put in furniture polish to make application easy and buffing off easy. Long term use of silicone polishes on furniture can cause the lacquer on the surface to crack, split and break down.

Semisolid Polishes
These are also known as “paste waxes.”  These do not evaporate from the surface, therefore applying this type of wax doesn’t need to be applied often. It takes a bit of effort but it is only needed once or twice a year, depending on the  areas of usage. Wax should not be applied frequently, because it will build up. Do not mix  oil polish with wax because it can become gummy. New wax needs to be applied only when a shine can no longer be buffed with a dry cloth. After applying a wax, you can not then dust using a liquid polish because the petroleum distillate in the polish will remove the wax. Choose paste wax if you want a fairly permanent shine which offers the best scratch and moisture resistance for older, deteriorated finishes.

Carnauba Wax
Is sometimes found in beeswax polishes. If you want a high gloss finish on raw wood. 

Gum Turps
Gum Turps is commonly found in beeswax polishes. It keeps the beeswax soft, while in the can, it helps make the wax dry when applied on the furniture surface. The main problem with Gum Turps is its toxicity, and may cause skin irritations . It is also difficult to apply and remove, and usually leaves a smeary finish.

*Wax protects the finish, the finish protects the wood.

Clean the furniture surface thoroughly before changing furniture care products.

Always look for a furniture polish or beeswax polish that leaves a fresh, smooth, smear free surface.

So, you decide what  you prefer. I usually only use a microfiber cloth and sometimes I dampen it with water.

* Remember that dust is abrasive and even careful dusting will leave tiny scratches. Therefore always dust in very straight lines with the grain.

“Happy Cleaning”