Woodwork can add character, depth, dimension, color and charm to your home. However, woodwork can get dirty, and special care is needed to clean it. If you improperly clean your woodwork, you can scratch or damage the surface of the wood, discolor the wood, cause the wood to lose its luster and shine, or even cause the wood to warp. Here are a few tips that are designed to help you with cleaning your woodwork, including, but not limited to, cleaning your moldings, window sills, doors, and baseboards.

Dust Your Woodwork

As your woodwork sits in your home, dust can land on the woodwork. Dust can start to accumulate on the wood, diminishing its appearance. One of the simplest ways to keep your woodwork clean is to regularly dust it. There are many different tools you can use to dust your woodwork, including microfiber clothes, dusting mitts or feather dusters. It really does not matter what tool you use to remove the dust, as long as what you use captures the dust and holds on to it tightly. It is strongly recommended that you dust your woodwork at least once a month. If you live in an area with a lot of dirt or dust, you may need to dust more frequently to keep your home dust-free.

Remove Dirt and Debris

After dusting your woodwork, you may notice that it still does not look clean. It may have dirt or dust on it that was not removed by dusting, or you may notice fingerprints, dander or other debris left behind on your wood. If you have dusted the woodwork in your home and it still looks dirty, the next step is to use furniture polish or wood cleaning spray. If you prefer not to purchase wood polishes and want to make your own, you can mix 1/2 cup of either lemon juice or white vinegar with 1/2 cup of warm water to make your own cleaning spray. Spray your woodwork with the store-bought or homemade spray and then use a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, to remove dirt, debris and residue left behind. After you use the spray, be sure to wipe away any excess moisture, as excess moisture and water can cause wood to warp if not properly removed.

Remove Grime

If you have small children in your home, or someone spilled something on your woodwork, your woodwork may feel slimy, grimy or sticky. You need to remove that grimy or stickiness from the wood in order for your wood to shine and in an effort to prevent damage. The easiest way to remove grime or stickiness from wood is to mix a squirt of your preferred liquid dish soap with a little bit of warm water to create soapy water. Rub the soapy water into your wood to remove the grime or slime. This method should only be used in areas that are sticky, as regular soap can dry wood out if it is overused. Once you have completely removed all of the grime from your wood, wipe away all soap residue with a water-dampened cloth.

Make Your Woodwork Shine

If your woodwork has lost its luster or shine, you want to clean your wood and then apply a wood wax to the wood. After cleaning your wood and allowing the wood to completely dry, dip a soft cloth in a small amount of wood wax. Work the wax into the wood in a circular motion. Continue rubbing the wax in until it is completely absorbed by the wood. This should be done on the entire wood surface to help moisturize your wood and restore shine, color and luster that wood can use as it is exposed to the sun and/or repeatedly cleaned.

Cleaning your woodwork, including cleaning your moldings, window sills, doors, and baseboards, can be time-consuming and tedious. Cleaning your woodwork is also not a straightforward process, especially if the woodwork is carved or detailed. If you have woodwork that needs to be cleaned, but you do not have the time or the energy to clean it yourself, a house cleaner, such as us at Deserved Comfort House Cleaning, can help. Our team can help to get your entire home clean, including all of your woodwork. Reach out to us today to obtain an estimate to clean your home or to schedule an appointment to clean your home.

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