11 Ways to Clean and Restore Furniture That’ll Breathe New Life Into Your Home

No matter how careful you are with your furniture, it’ll eventually need a deep cleaning or a bit of restoring. And whether you’re fighting dirt, scratches, dents or stains, it’ll save you time and money to know which methods are ore efficient. Fortunately, the online world holds infinite knowledge about all we need to succeed in touching up our furniture.

Now I’ve Seen Everything comes to you with some advice on how to keep your furniture in tip top shape and give it a bit of extra love.

To restore scratched wood

Method 1: vinegar + olive oil

1. Take a clean microfiber cloth and add a little bit of white vinegar and olive oil, mixed. The amount you need to use will depend on the size of the furniture or wood area you plan to apply it to. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice to the mixture.

2. Rub the scratched wood gently. Repeat as many times as necessary until you obtain the desired result. Perform this procedure periodically so that the wood will show its natural shine.

Method 2: chocolate bar

1. Vigorously scrub the wood surface that is scratched with a piece of chocolate. Pure dark chocolate is the best way to go here since this type of bar has natural cocoa oils that will help fill in cracks and scratches.
2. When you’re done, wipe the wood with a paper towel or clean cloth to get rid of the excess chocolate. Do this in a quick, circular motion, buffing the affected area. Repeat as often as necessary until the wood is free of visible scratches.

To repair holes or dents

Method 1: water + heat

1. If your wood furniture or floor has a small dent, there’s nothing to worry about. Start by dampening the area with water.
2. Then apply heat to the dampened wood. To do this, you can use a hair dryer or a hot iron. Remember that wood can change shape with temperature, so by doing this, the compressed wood will actually swell, then return to its original shape.

Method 2: pencil and glue residue

1. If your wooden floors or furniture have become burned for some reason, fill the holes with the pencil waste that accumulates after sharpening one. Then apply plenty of liquid glue over it. Allow it to harden for a couple of minutes.
2. Then, using wood sandpaper, sand over the previously added elements. Make sure the surface is smooth and that the burnt color disappears.
3. Apply some acrylic paste for wood, trying not to leave any lumps or cracks.
4. Paint your floor or furniture with a small or medium brush. Try to copy the line pattern of the original wood. Let the surface dry perfectly. Afterward, you can finish it by applying oil or shine cream.

Method 3: hot wax

1. If you need to fill a small hole, you can use hot wax that is the same color as the area that needs repairing. Apply a generous amount inside the hole.
2. With a spatula or flat tool, apply pressure to the surface so that the liquid penetrates the entire hole and fills it completely.
3. Then use a cutter to gently remove any excess wax around the dent.

To remove stains

Method 1: mayonnaise

1. If your wooden furniture has been damaged by water left by cold glasses, you can remove the stains using a bit of mayonnaise. Apply it to the damaged area.
2. Use a clean microfiber cloth to vigorously rub the area until the stains disappear. It will also bring a natural shine to your furniture.

Method 2: alcohol

1. Whenever you want to remove marks or graffiti from your floor or wood furniture, start by dampening a cotton pad with alcohol. Keep in mind that this only works if the marks are fresh.

2. Then you just have to rub the pad over the area. Repeat the procedure as much as needed until the ink is completely gone.

Method 3: citrus-based cleaner

1. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, place citrus peels (from oranges, tangerines, or lemons) and fill it with white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 2 to 3 weeks. Then remove the peels and transfer the liquid to a spray bottle.

2. Spray the mix on the surface of your kitchen cabinets. Allow the liquid to act for 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Use a sponge or microfiber cloth dampened with warm water to remove the grease. You will notice that it comes off without much effort. In case you find that the grease is stuck, pour the liquid again on that area and wait for 5 to 10 minutes more.

4. Dry the surface well where you applied the liquid with the help of a clean microfiber cloth. In this way, you avoid humidity damaging the material of your kitchen furniture.

To clean soft furnishings

Method 1: shaving foam

1. Apply the foam to the soft furniture. Rub it with the help of a sponge.

2. Remove the foam thoroughly with the wet sponge that was wrung out well. Rinse the sponge in water from time to time and change the water in the bowl. Repeat your actions until the water remains clear and clean after another rinsing.

3. Pat the spots you cleaned with a paper towel and let the furniture dry well.

Method 2: baking soda

1. Dissolve the baking soda in the water and add the lemon juice.

2. Apply the resulting mixture to the stains and leave it there for a few minutes.

3. Wipe the furniture with a wet sponge, pat it with a paper towel, and let it dry.

To restore scratched fabric

1. To start, you have to smooth the damaged area with a stiff fabric brush. Brush it with short back and forth movements to prepare the area that will be repaired.
2. Use a vacuum cleaner on the scratched surface and rub it in small circles to remove the lint, dust, and cat odor. This can also restore textile fibers to their original softness.
3. Dampen a microfiber cloth with an upholstery cleaner and rub the scratches in circular motions to remove odors, marks, and stains.

Do you know any other tricks for cleaning and restoring furniture? If so, let us know in the comments!