Girl, wash your furniture

We know that YOU know that we should all wash our face (literally and figuratively.) But it's also true that occasionally, you need to wash your furniture.

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Rachel Hollis makes a good metaphorical point with the title of her best-selling book. And the same general philosophy holds true for furniture.

This past week, Sherri and I tackled some pieces that desperately needed to be scrubbed to reveal their authentic selves.  

It all started with two antique washstands that we pulled out of a barn in Williamson county a while back, then plunked on our back porch until we got a chance to focus on them.

It's a testament to their craftsmanship and great hardwoods that they're still relatively square and not rotted away. But were they ever NASTY. Nearly every creature living near us has tried to make a home in them - birds, bees, mice and probably a few other things we don't want to think about.

What do you do with a piece that filthy? For starters, work outdoors, because this is going to get messy.

1. Pull on some heavy gloves. And maybe a dust mask, and eye protection. (You don't know what you're about to encounter, and it may be more than gross - it may be something you really don't get in your eyes or nose.)
2. Sweep or vacuum (shop vac gets our vote) all the loose dirt and debris.
3. Next, hit it with heavy-duty cleaner. We use vinegar whenever possible, but if mice or birds have used a piece for a nest, bleach is a good choice for sanitizing. Add a squirt of dish shop (Dawn is good) to act as a surfactant and to help gently loosen grease, oil and wax.
4. Have a nylon scrub brush and old rags handy You're going to want to get in every crevice. 
5. Hose and jet-type spray nozzle to blast the grime and rinse away the cleanser. (We don't recommend using a pressure washer on furniture - it  will damage the wood.)
6. Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until you're satisfied it's clean.
7. Sunshine and air. Once you've thoroughly washed, scrubbed, sanitized and rinsed, set your piece where it can completely air dry.

The other piece was a 1940s buffet - it is in great shape, structurally speaking. But years of wax and dirt buildup had left it dull, sticky, and....frankly....a little smelly.

For this job, we used some Murphy's Oil Soap. It's great for helping remove wax buildup, gently and safely. However, before we paint, we'll go over it once more with a TSP (trisodium phosphate) or other degreaser/deglosser to be sure we've stripped all the surface oils and waxes off.

So before you start re-invinaging a piece, be sure it's clean and dry. And that might just mean washing your furniture.

Questions or comments about cleaning furniture? Leave 'em below!
Happy Friday!
Terry
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