Pine is a versatile wood that brings a natural warmth and softness into any room. Whilst pine furniture is naturally very durable, it’s important to clean it regularly in order to ensure it maintains its high quality finish. These are our top tips for how to clean pine furniture and make it look brand new again:
Day-To Day Cleaning & Care
Day-to-day maintenance is a key part of how to care for your pine furniture. When using your furniture on a daily basis, it’s important to do the following:
- Clean up any spillages as soon as possible using a damp cloth
- Dust regularly to prevent the buildup of dust particles that can dull the surface and cause fine scratches
- Use coasters, placemats and tablecloths to protect the surfaces
- Keep pine furniture out of direct sunlight to prevent it fading or drying out
- Avoid placing pine furniture too close to radiators or heaters as exposure to high temperatures can cause the wood to warp
Deep Cleaning
Aside from general day-to-day cleaning, it’s also important to give your pine furniture a deep clean every month or so . Luckily there are only a few simple steps involved in how to clean pine furniture thoroughly. These are as follows:
- Start by wiping down your furniture with a barely damp microfiber cloth to remove dust and grime
- Next, mix warm water with a clear washing up liquid
- Wet the cloth with the liquid solution before wringing it out to remove excess moisture
- Wipe the furniture down, being cautious to avoid soaking the wood in water
- Dry the wood thoroughly using a clean, soft cloth. Drying is an essential part of how to clean pine furniture as the wood can become damaged if exposed to excess moisture
In most cases, these simple steps will be sufficient for cleaning pine furniture effectively, however if faced with particularly stubborn stains, you may need to take a few more additional steps.
Tips & Tricks For Dealing With Stubborn Stains
- For tougher stains, it is suggested that using an oil-based soap or preparing a mix-your-own stain remover can work. Our advice is to start with shop bought products and read the instructions/warnings carefully before application. If going down the home-mix route there are recipes online that suggest combining three parts olive oil with one part vinegar creates an effective stain remover for pine. Rub this mixture into the wood using a soft cloth, then wipe off with a clean cloth to remove any excess residue or moisture. However, spot test this solution on an underside piece of the furniture first, to ensure it has the desired effect (leave a couple of minutes to be sure).
- To remove light moisture stains, it’s said that you can use a small dollop of toothpaste on a soft cloth. Make sure to wipe the toothpaste off afterwards with a clean cloth, always try on an underside of the table first off. If unsure to use this method, go with your gut!
The reclaimed pine that we use in our furniture items, such as the Cotswold and Urban collections is naturally durable and resistant to damage. However, knowing how to lightly clean pine furniture correctly is important for ensuring that you get the most out of your favourite pieces. The above tips can also help to make older pieces of furniture look good as new again!
