Homemade Furniture Polish

Take a stroll down the furniture care aisle and there’s no shortage of different commercial furniture polishes available.

With all the variety, should you consider a homemade furniture polish? It’s hard to deny that all-natural and homemade alternatives are popular right now.

If you’re pondering whether homemade or commercial is best for your furniture, stop to consider the pros and cons and why some people are opting to make their own furniture polish.

Why Choose Homemade Furniture Polish?

Let’s face it, commercial furniture polish does have its drawbacks, such as:

  • That “pleasant” fragrance that’s always tinged with a hint of chemicals
  • Chemicals that might not be safe on sensitive skin
  • A sticky residue while trying to use it
  • Chemicals that aren’t environmentally friendly
  • Ingredients most people can’t even pronounce
  • May damage the wood over time

Of course, this doesn’t mean the commercial products aren’t great. Honestly, how many of us grew up loving that light lemon scent of Pledge?

However, many people are opting for an alternative to traditional furniture polishes. A few reasons include:

  • Customize the scent
  • Keep all ingredients natural and safe (especially around kids)
  • Customize for different types of wood / furniture
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Sometimes cheaper (depending on ingredients used)

Does It Work Better?

The answer isn’t a definitive yes or no. Depending on the type of commercial furniture polish you use, the solvents can eat through any varnish and even damage the wood itself if used too often. Despite the stunning shine you get, cleaning frequently could lead to dull looking furniture down the road. However, they do clean effectively and eat through dirt and grime with ease.

With homemade furniture polish, it all depends on the recipe you use. For recipes calling for large amounts of oil, you likely won’t get the same level of clean and shine just because it’s difficult to get the excess oil off the furniture. For light-weight formulas, a little elbow grease can make them just as effective as commercial varieties.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Unless you’re using a chemical known to damage wood, there aren’t any real side effects to using homemade furniture polish. As with commercial polishes, you should consider spraying the polish directly on to a cloth versus on the furniture. Spraying directly on the furniture may cause discoloration if you don’t get the excess off.

However, if you’re trying something new, test the polish on a hidden area of the furniture first. Some oils may not react as well with different types of woods and stains.

Is It More Cost Effective?

In most cases, you probably already have the ingredients at home, such as vinegar. The two main expenses are buying a bottle to put it in, which typically costs around $2-$5. Some recipes call for essential oils and extracts, which vary in cost. However, you’ll usually only use a small amount at a time, such as a few drops per bottle of polish.

One thing to consider is whether you’ll use all the ingredients before they expire. Commercial products tend to have a much longer shelf life. Buy small amounts of ingredients if you only polish your furniture occasionally.

Some people would rather just buy everything already made up. Of course, all-natural commercial furniture polishes are available as alternatives, but they tend to cost more than making it yourself.

Is Homemade Furniture Polish Easy To Make?

This is a resounding yes. Most recipes only take 2-3 ingredients. Afraid you won’t still have that lemony fresh smell? Don’t worry. Some recipes call for lemon oil and squeezed lemons.

If you’re looking for recipes, try the following to make your own homemade furniture polish:

Just remember to try a small amount on a hidden area of the wood first. Wait overnight to ensure there isn’t any possible damage before polishing the entire piece of furniture.

Ready to care for solid wood furniture? Contact us today to start planning your custom wood cabinets.

Image: Daiga Ellaby