Raw wood is so-called white wood which has not undergone any artificial treatment such as lacquer, paint or varnish for example. Furniture that uses it is very appreciated for its character and its very charming natural appearance which is always a big plus in an interior. In addition, raw wood is also wood that can be infinitely personalized so that it is in our image (and therefore unique) and timeless.
However, whether it is the old wardrobe inherited from grandmother which proudly sits in the kitchen or the very modern Scandinavian chair from menzzo.fr which completes the decoration of the living room, we will not treat natural wood furniture like lacquered furniture and waxed… especially since this type of wood absorbs everything you put on it, so it’s better to be careful!
1) What should you use to clean natural wood?
Marseille soap
Dilute a few shavings in lukewarm water and scrub the furniture with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse and dry.
Black soap
Dilute black soap in hot water and soak a soft-bristled brush that you will rub on the furniture. Rinse and dry.
Natural wax milk
Use a soft microfiber cloth to apply a thin touch to the furniture.
2) How to remove stains from this type of wood?
The way to remove stains depends on their nature! In any case, an encrusted stain must most often be subject to the use of sandpaper to remove the material.
If it is an ink stain
Sometimes rubbing with a simple school eraser will be enough. Otherwise, you can use a cloth soaked in 70° alcohol to dab gently. Once satisfied with the result, rinse and dry. If you don’t have any on hand, dilute the stain with lemon juice or hairspray and absorb it with paper towels. Rinse and dry well. It will sometimes be necessary to repeat the operations several times in a row.
If it is a candle wax stain
Gently scrape off the dried wax and sand with fine sandpaper. You can also cover the salt stain and rub it with a damp cork, then rinse it and start again to remove the salt. Once it is dry, sand the area lightly.
If it is a greasy stain
Cover the stain generously with talc or Sommières earth (even better!). Add several sheets of paper towel on top and place your iron on. Replace the paper towel when it becomes too saturated with grease and stop when no longer necessary. Finally, you can use a sponge sprinkled with baking soda, rinse and dry. Note that if you have lighter fluid, you can soak a brush with it to scrub the stain.
If nothing works even after sanding, you should still consider completely oiling the furniture.
3) How to protect raw wood furniture?
Linseed oil is a classic in wood care because it is effective and economical. It penetrates and saturates the pores of the wood to nourish it and protect it from bad weather or humidity. A simple soaked cloth passed over the wood will suffice, but first do a test on an inconspicuous area to ensure that it does not stain the furniture.
Sources: Everything Practical & Grandma’s Remedies
Related articles: