How to Disinfect Wood Furniture
Are you looking for a way to disinfect your wood furniture? If so, you’re in luck. It’s essential to keep your wood furniture clean and disinfected to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Wood furniture is a classic addition to any home, but it’s essential to take care of it to last.
This blog post will discuss how to disinfect wood furniture using bleach and water. We will also provide some tips on protecting your furniture from bacteria and viruses.
One way to keep your wood furniture clean and disinfected is by using a simple mixture of vinegar and water. Follow these easy steps to get your furniture looking new again!
10 Easy Ways on How To Disinfect Wood Furniture
1. Dust the Furniture:
It’s important to get rid of the dirt and grime before disinfecting or cleaning any furniture, so dust everything down with a slightly damp rag to remove all the surface particles.
2. Scrub the Furniture:
Using warm water and dish soap, scrub your wooden furniture down with a clean sponge to ensure no dirt is left behind. Rinsing with a clean sponge afterward is also a good idea to make sure you get rid of all the soap, especially if you plan on using a disinfectant afterward.
3. Allow the Furniture to Dry:
Whether you dry your furniture with a towel or let it air-dry depends on what kind of surface your furniture has and how much time you have. For example, if your piece is very ornate, a towel may be a good idea to avoid leaving behind moisture marks.
4. Mix the Cleaner:
Create a cleaning solution by adding one part chlorine bleach with three parts tepid water. Mix well, and use this solution to wipe down all wood surfaces. Be sure to wear gloves during this process.
5. Prepare a Bleach Solution:
Mix one part of unscented liquid chlorine bleach and three parts of water in a clean bucket or container. Use this solution to soak the scrub brush you used to clean your furniture and any other household cleaning tools used during the process.
6. Allow the Bleach Solution to Sit:
Let your soapy water and bleach solution sit for at least 1 hour before rinsing with warm water and allowing everything to air-dry. This step is necessary to enable the chemicals to do their job correctly.
7. Wipe Down:
Once everything has thoroughly dried, take a clean rag and wipe down all furniture surfaces. This will help ensure no bacteria are left behind after your disinfecting process.
8. Apply Polyurethane:
If you don’t plan on using your furniture for an extended period, apply several coats of polyurethane to protect your furniture from any dust or dirt that may accumulate between uses.
9. Apply a Disinfectant:
If you plan to use your furniture right away, be sure to apply a disinfectant with at least 50% bleach. Do this in addition to wiping down your wood furniture because the bleach in the disinfectant will kill off any bacteria that may have been missed by accident.
10. Apply A Wood Wax or Finish:
If you don’t apply a wood wax or finish for protection, your furniture may get damaged easily during normal wear and tear. You can find a variety of finishes at home improvement stores.
Disinfecting Wood Furniture – A Guide To Cleaning With Bleach Safely And Effectively
Here is the complete guide to disinfecting wood furniture. It is important to know how to disinfect wood furniture because it will keep your home free of germs, bacteria, and viruses. So, learn and follow the instructions for having clean wooden furniture.
Step 1: Choose a Cleaning Solution
Choosing the cleaning solution is one of the most important steps when disinfecting wood furniture. There are several options people can choose from to use in place of bleach. These include, but are not limited to, Baking Soda, Distilled White Vinegar (apple cider vinegar works also), Dishwashing Liquid (Liquid Dawn style), and peroxide.
Mixing or using any of these solutions with bleach will not make the solution more effective but may cause damage to your wood furniture. T
he best solution is straight-strength chlorine bleach. Make sure you use regular laundry bleach, not lemon-scented or anything else. Do not under any circumstances use color-safe bleach on your wood surfaces!
Step 2: Mix & Apply
Mixing bleach is easy. Just follow the directions on your regular laundry bleach bottle. To make things easy, we usually mix up our cleaning solution in a small bucket and then apply it to our wood surfaces with an old rag.
All you need to disinfect your wood furniture is 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. We will use a gallon of water and 4 ounces or a half-cup of bleach for this example. Of course, you can always apply more if needed, but never less.
Step 3: Scrub & Allow to Sit
After mixing your cleaning solution, get down on your hands and knees and scrub the solution into the wood surface with an old rag. Use a good amount of pressure and work the solution into the pores of your wood furniture. Don’t forget to get in all the grooves and crevices, between raised panel dividers, etc.
Allow your solution to sit on the wood for at least 30 minutes and up to an hour. This is where the disinfecting power of bleach comes into play. Bleach kills bacteria, viruses, and mold by destroying their cells membranes. The longer it sits, the more bacteria dies!
Step 4: Scrub & Rinse
After allowing the solution to sit, scrub it off using an old rag. Use the same amount of pressure as before to get all of the solution soaked up into your rags or paper towels. Next, rinse your wood surfaces with plain water. If you have a power washer, that is okay too! Just make sure it isn’t so powerful that it ruins your finish.
Step 5: Dry & Apply Finish
After rinsing your wood surfaces thoroughly, allow them to dry. Then apply a quality paste wax or polyurethane finish of your choice. This will protect the disinfected wood surfaces from being damaged by water, dirt, etc., and keep them looking great for many years!
Step 6: Throw Away Rags or Paper Towels
After allowing your wood surface to dry, you will notice that the rags and paper towels used in this process will be stained with a dark grayish-black color. These are now unsafe for re-use, so throw them away!
Remember, normal old household bleach is one of the most powerful disinfectants available, and it is relatively inexpensive. With a bit of care and common sense, you can safely and effectively disinfect your wood furniture and keep your family safe!
How to Clean Wood Furniture?
In addition to increasing your home value, proper cleaning and maintenance ensure a healthier living environment. For example, dust mites and other allergens can accumulate on upholstered and wooden furniture.
A thorough scrubbing of fabric-covered couches, chairs, tables, and ottomans is the best way to rid them of these unwanted guests.
Washing fabrics is a reasonably simple task. A strong stream of water from your garden hose or a handheld sprayer should be sufficient to clean upholstery and curtains.
Use a neutral soap, such as dish soap diluted with some water for more stubborn stains, but avoid scrubbing the fabric. Be sure to rinse the soapy solution thoroughly before drying the fabric. Clean windows with a mixture of water and white vinegar, or use commercial cleaners.
Does Vinegar Ruin Wood Finish?
Vinegar contains acids that can dull the appearance of wooden furniture. In addition, if left on for too long, it can damage or eat away at the finish. Thus, it’s essential to remove the vinegar residue quickly after treatment.
On the other hand, suppose vinegar is left on a wooden surface for extended periods. In that case, the acid will continue to eat away at the wood until it eventually eats through the finish and into the bare wood of the furniture.
The stronger the concentration of white vinegar used in the cleaning process, the more likely it will damage the finish. For example, a mixture of vinegar and one part water will cause minor damage than two parts vinegar and one part water.
However, if left on too long, the acid in white vinegar could even eat away at glue joints. So be sure to follow instructions carefully and wipe up any residue as quickly as possible.
Conclusion
Disinfecting wood is necessary to ensure that it stays clean and free of bacteria or other germs. It’s essential to use an appropriate disinfectant for each surface type; for example, something like bleach should be used on unfinished wood surfaces but not on finished ones. There are many ways that you can disinfect your furniture.
With these instructions, you can disinfect your wood furniture and keep it looking new for years to come. We hope this has been an informative blog post on how to disinfect wood furniture!
Let us know if we can help with any other questions or concerns about cleaning a wooden piece of furniture. If not, have a great day, and remember that you’re in good hands with our expert team of professionals ready at the helm!
