Wood cleaner/polisher?

[SequoiasMom]

I am trying to get rid of all these terrible chemicals under the sink. I recently looked at the wood cleaner we have (old english or something) and it's TOXIC! I heard you can make an olive oli/lemon juice mixture for wood. Has anyone done this, what do you use to clean/polish your wood?

[wasswifey]

I am also trying to get rid of all of my toxic chemicals. For varnished wood I am going to use either a few drops of lemon oil mixed with 1/2 cup warm water

OR

1 Cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice.

Ill let you know when I try it out!

[Naturalyst]

I've been using a slight variation on a recipe I found in a natural homecare book and have been very pleased with the results. It's 2 parts filtered lemon juice to 1 part each of olive oil, castile soap and water. I only mix as much as I need, so my "part" measurement is a teaspoon and I put the solution in a very small spray bottle. Pieces of old cotton tee shirts work nicely, but I do also use a commercial cotton duster (the head is removable and washable).

[SequoiasMom]

natralyst-
thanks for the reply...I did not see one until I looked at my subscription more closely. That sounds like the recipe I found, also. I think I will try it next time I polish the wood.
I did just buy the swiffer duster, and it works pretty well for a quick fix. I wish the head was washable, though. What brand are you using?

[Spastica]

I use a combination of olive oil, white vinegar, (water or no water), good amount of lemon essential oil and orange oil. I use it on wood, wood veneer, leather, vinyl, and painted wood surfaces. If I have a rash, I can even put a dab on the rash

[Naturalyst]

Originally Posted by Spastica

I use a combination of ... good amount of lemon essential oil and orange oil. I use it on wood, wood veneer, leather, vinyl, and painted wood surfaces.

Orange oil will strip a wax finish from wood furniture. It can degrade many wood finishes. Orange oil is the main ingredient in natural wood strippers. Adding a few drops to clean your my kitchen floor works well to remove the grease and waxy stains (so long as you don't have a no-wax floor), but I would never add it to a solution for wood furniture.

[Naturalyst]

Originally Posted by SequoiasMom

I did just buy the swiffer duster, and it works pretty well for a quick fix. I wish the head was washable, though. What brand are you using?

I have seen dusters similar to what I use at Target and Linens-'n-Things. Mine are just fluffy jumbles of cotton threads. When I'm done, I wash the head of one by hand and shake it back into shape when it is dry. The other has a head that comes off and goes in the washing machine. The links below are from Amazon.com and are just meant to show you what the two I use look like. I'm sure you can find them locally:

The Original California 62424 Home and Auto Detailing Kit
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Calif...204534&sr=8-19

Mini Microfiber Duster
http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Microfibe...204872&sr=1-73

You can wash a Swiffer duster head 2-3 times before its not usable anymore. I've been doing it for years - hot water and dish detergent and shake back into shape after it has dried.

[Spastica]

I don't use wax on my wood and it's not more than 20 drops for the entire solution (multiple applications). The main proportions I have is olive oil and then white vinegar.