How to polish your wood furniture and make it look (almost) brand new

I know all about how to clean hardwood floors, but when it came to cleaning and polishing wood chairs, cabinetry, consoles and tables, I realized I had a lot to learn. I’ve done some light dusting around my apartment with my favorite kits, but I needed to reach out to cleaning experts to learn more about the best way to clean and polish wood furniture.

The most important thing I took away from the experts, including Becky Rapinchuk, owner of cleaning brand and site Clean Mama, is that the same polish you’d use for floors isn’t necessarily compatible with wood furniture. “Floor products are formulated differently and may contain waxes, silicones, or leave a slippery residue that isn’t intended for furniture surfaces,” she says. “It’s generally best to use products designed for the specific surface.”

To find the right products and methods for polishing wood furniture, I asked Rapinchuk and another cleaning expert for their recommendations. They also provide tips for polishing finished and sealed wood furniture in just a few easy steps.

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Below are products recommended by our experts or staff, and/or are highly rated on Amazon with at least a 4-star average from 500 or more shoppers.

I’ve used this duster kit from Swiffer multiple times to clean around my home, including my wood television stand and corners of my wood floors, and it works incredibly well. It includes a handle and five refills dusters that slide onto the handle easily. I love them because they do such a great job of grabbing — not pushing around — the dust, so much so that I don’t even see dust flying in the air like with other dusters. This kit has a short handle, but there’s also a version with a 3-foot handle and fluffier duster that’s also popular.

“For polishing, use a quality wood polish (I like beeswax) or conditioner sparingly, applying it with a soft cloth and buffing in the direction of the grain,” says Rapinchuk. This polish not only makes wood furniture shiny, but it also restores the moisture and vibrancy of the wood, since it’s also a conditioner. It helps get rid of things like fading and weathering on wood furniture, according to the brand.

Some shoppers say it does a great job of disguising some scratches on wood furniture. To use the polish, which has a honey-like consistency, put a small amount of it on a microfiber cloth, and apply it to the wood. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes before wiping any excess polish from the surface.

This spray is made for cleaning and shining wood furniture like cabinets, baseboards, doors, chairs, and even finished antiques (and painted wood), according to the brand. It gets rid of dust and debris on the surface of the wood, adds shine and leaves a protective layer on the surface. Plus, the spray helps prevent water marks and grease, according to the brand and shoppers.

Some people who bought it also say that they also enjoy the almond scent it has. The set comes with a microfiber cloth, which Rapinchuk recommends using for cleaning.

This beeswax-based polish works like the liquid polish above, but it has a balm consistency. Apply a small dollop of it to a cloth and buff it into wood furniture in a circular motion. It helps make the furniture shiny but not greasy, according to shoppers. Some also say that it works well for conditioning wood furniture that has a dry appearance. It’s made with food-grade ingredients, including olive oil (in addition to beeswax), so you could also technically use it on wooden utensils, according to the brand.

Ryan Knoll, owner of home cleaning company TidyCasa, says he likes to use products from Pledge, which is well-known for its products for cleaning and polishing wood. The brand uses natural oils that help emphasize the shade and grain of the wood, according to Knoll.

These Pledge wipes help clean and buff the surface of sealed wood furniture to give it a shiny appearance. In addition to wiping away dust and debris the wipes also add shine, and they’re safe on laminate, leather and stainless steel, too, according to the brand. Shoppers say the wipes help get rid of dust but also make wood shiny without feeling greasy.

Below are steps on how to clean and polish different types of wood furniture, according to Knoll and Rapinchuk.

1. Start by using a duster attached to a dusting wand, such as from a Swiffer Duster Starter Kit, and gently glide it along the surface of the furniture, making sure to collect as much dust as possible. You may also have to use a dusting sponge, such as the Mr.Scrub Damp Dusting Sponge, to clean dust from crevices.
2. Use a lightly damp microfiber cloth, like the Homexcel Microfiber Cloths, to wipe away any residual dust and debris on the furniture.
3. Apply a small amount of beeswax-based wood polish and conditioner, such as the Rhoose Natural Beeswax Polish for Wood & Furniture or the Howard Beeswax Wood Polish & Conditioner to a microfiber cloth, according to the directions. Wipe the polish into the finished and sealed wood furniture with circular motions, making sure to cover all sealed and finished surfaces of the furniture. As an alternative, apply a wood polish spray, such as the Weiman Cabinet & Wood Cleaner and Protectant Spray or a wipe like Pledge Expert Care Wood Wipes to clean and polish the furniture.
4. Allow the polish to dry, according to the directions, and use another soft cloth to wipe any excess polish from the surface.

At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Ryan Knoll is the owner of home cleaning company TidyCasa.
• Becky Rapinchuk is the owner of cleaning brand and site Clean Mama.

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected, where I write about home, kitchen and cleaning appliances. I’ve also written about how to clean stainless steel appliances, coffee makers, air fryers and more. For this story, I interviewed multiple home cleaning experts for their product recommendations and guidance. I also included products that NBC Selected staff members (including myself) have tested themselves.

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