Wouldn't it be lovely to keep furniture in great condition?

By ED MADAN

One of the things that has always been a challenge for me is taking care of wood furniture. Over the last twenty-five years or so years I've come across various techniques and formulas that have proven to work well. Hopefully you'll find the following beneficial as well:

A. Furniture polish — Mix 1 cup of mineral oil with 3 or 4 drops of lemon extract makes an excellent polish.

B. Remove old polish and dirt — Put two tea bags into as quart of boiling water. Let the tea cool to room temperature, then dip a soft cloth into the solution, wring it out, then wipe down the furniture. Buff the wood dry and polish if required.

C. Dried out furniture — Get a soft cloth, dab some petroleum jelly on it, and polish the wood. You'll be surprised to see the natural luster and grain again.

D. Cleaning dirty wood — Mix 1 quart of warm water and 4 drops of dishwashing liquid. Soak a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out to a damp state, and wipe the wood until clean.

E. Sticker removal — To remove price tags, labels, decals, pull off as much of the sticker as possible, then soak the residue with baby oil or WD-40. Gently scrub the area until the adhesive is gone. Finish by buffing well with a soft cloth and polish if necessary.

If you are allergic to any of the above products, please don't use them. Always test fabric and paints before using and chemical compounds. Please remember to take care of your hands and eyes by wearing the appropriate protection.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, please call Ed at Northwest Environmental Services at (208) 255-266 or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?