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Quick & Easy DIY Wood Polish

Written byJessica Posted on Updated on
Open amber-colored jar with finished wood polish sitting on a cloth napkin on top of a wooden board. Also on top of the napkin are some freeze-dried orange and lemon slices.
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I grew up watching my mom clean her wooden furniture with Pledge, and so, naturally, that is what I gravitated toward when I got married and had to start cleaning furniture myself. However, I recently decided to look into a more natural and eco-friendly option for cleaning and polishing wooden furniture and decided to make my own wood polish.

Following the same pattern with all of my all-natural cleaning recipes, this wood polisher is incredibly easy to make! If you are new to making homemade cleaners, check out our beginner’s guide to learn about some safety precautions before you get started.

Equipment & Tools

Lidded Container: You will need a container with a secure lid to store this wood polish in. An opaque or amber-colored jar works great, as the amber color helps to protect the essential oils inside from UV rays, which cause the oils to break down. However, you can also use any type of jar or container and put it in a cool, dark place to store it.

These are the jars I like to use, I also use them for my DIY Carpet Powder!

Ingredients Needed

Olive Oil: Olive oil is an amazing oil for woods since it nourishes wood and helps to bring out the wood’s natural shine1. It also helps to protect against scratches, although it is not as thick as varnish. It can be used on all sorts of different types of wood furniture, from tables to chairs to entertainment centers. I use it on my piano, and it really helps to bring out the shine!

Lemon Essential Oil: Lemon oil is a natural disinfectant, so adding it to a wood polish helps to kill germs that are present on your wooden furniture2. It also helps to repel moisture from the wood and keeps the wood from drying out and cracking.

Orange Essential Oil: Orange oil is another great essential oil for wood furniture by helping to polish the wood finish to bring out the natural sheen3. It also helps to repel dust, making dusting the furniture easier.

How to make all-natural wood polish

Combine the Ingredients: Pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into an amber-colored or opaque lidded container. Add 10 drops of lemon essential oil and 5 drops of orange essential oil. Shake to combine together.

Storage: Store in a cool, dark location for up to 6 months.

To Use: Put a small amount on a dusting cloth, and then wipe down wood surfaces. It is as easy as that!

  • An amber-colored glass jar with oil inside and orange essential oil being added to it.
  • An amber-colored glass jar with oil inside and lemon essential oil being added to it.

FAQ’s

Since the base of this recipe is olive oil, it is best to use it within 6 months so that the oil does not go rancid. Keeping it in a cool, dark place will help to preserve it.

If you think you will not be using all of the polish within 6 months, make a smaller amount, or merely mix it together the day that you are going to use it. I have found that it takes no time at all to mix a tiny batch up for my weekly cleaning routine.

Top view of an open amber-colored glass jar with finished wood polish sitting on top of a cloth napkin surrounded by freeze-dried orange and lemon slices.

DIY Wood Polish

Recipe by: Jessica
This DIY wood polish is quick and easy to throw together and use, you will have clean, shiny wood surfaces in no time!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Keyword Cleaning, DIY, Natural, Quick
Yield 2 fl oz

*Note: Cost is estimated.

Equipment & Tools

  • 1 Lidded Jar (preferably amber-colored or opaque)

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup Olive oil
  • 10 drops Lemon essential oil
  • 5 drops Orange essential oil

Instructions
 

  • Combine ¼ cup Olive oil, 10 drops Lemon essential oil and 5 drops Orange essential oil in the jar.
  • Shake to combine.

To Use

  • Pour a dime-sized amount of the oil onto a dusting cloth. Then, wipe down wooden surfaces.

References

  1. Ponio, Judy, “The Amazing Benefits of Olive Oil on Wooden Surfaces” Vintage & Specialty Wood, Last modified May 5, 2023, Accessed July 25, 2023, https://usvintagewood.com/olive-oil-on-wood/#:~:text=While%20some%20people%20think%20that,it%20act%20as%20a%20varnish.
  2. Parker, Walter, “Can You Use Lemon Oil on Wood? (How to Apply?) Explained!” WoodWorkly, Last modified January 3, 2023, Accessed July 25, 2023, https://woodworkly.com/lemon-oil-on-wood/.
  3. “Is Orange Oil Good for Wood Furniture?” Green Gobbler – Safer, Stronger Cleaning Products, Green Gobbler, April 25, 2023, Last modified April 25, 2023, Accessed July 25, 2023, https://greengobbler.com/blog/is-orange-oil-good-for-wood-furniture#:~:text=Benefits%20of%20Orange%20Oil%20for%20Wood&text=In%20fact%2C%20orange%20oil%20helps,making%20future%20dusting%20a%20breeze.

About the Author

  • Jessica

    Just a small-town girl who dreams of homesteading life. She currently lives with her husband and two cats, Asuna and Cricket. In the future, she and her husband hope to buy some land and add chickens, goats, and maybe a dairy cow to the mix! In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, reading, and playing video games and board games with friends and family.

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