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It is very easy to make your own furniture polish if you want to skip the chemicals in commercial furniture polishes. There are two ways to make olive oil polish, depending on the level of polishing that your furniture needs. This kind of polish is best used on furniture that has an oiled finish rather than a shiny varnish. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution, but an alternative that some people may find worth trying.

  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
    The cheapest oil, olive pomace oil, is just fine for the purposes of making furniture polish.
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Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Deep Cleansing Furniture Oil

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
    Combine the olive oil and vinegar (using proportions specified below) in a glass or ceramic container.[1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
    Do not rub it in too hard but leave it to soak in.[2]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Regular Cleaning Furniture Oil

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
    [3]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
    [4]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
    [5]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I clean the surface before applying olive oil?
    Bruna Coutinho
    Bruna Coutinho
    Cleaning Expert
    Bruna Coutinho is a Cleaning Expert and owner of Bruna’s Cleaning Services based in Wilmington, Delaware. With over 10 years of experience and over 200 recurring customers, Bruna's Cleaning Services provides a variety of cleaning solutions to the DE, NJ, and PA areas. While boasting eco-friendly cleaning practices, some of Bruna’s specialties include Deep Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Post Construction Cleaning, and Airbnb Cleaning. In 2023, Bruna's Cleaning Services was voted a Neighborhood Fave on Nextdoor.
    Bruna Coutinho
    Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    You can use a mixture of dish soap and warm water. This mixture thoroughly cleans the surface of your furniture and removes dirt buildup, grime, and stains, ensuring an even polish when you apply olive oil to your furniture or wood surfaces.
  • Question
    Does the mineral oil and lemon juice mixture clean leather furniture?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The most effective way to clean leather furniture is to use water-diluted lemon juice, then wiping the furniture with clean water. On more heavily-stained furniture, a few drops of vinegar mixed in with the lemon-and-water solution will help further to remove the stain.
  • Question
    What kind of vinegar should I use?
    Caeiia
    Caeiia
    Top Answerer
    Plain white vinegar is good.
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Tips

  • Do not keep these polishes - they should be made and used on the same day. Dispose of the polishes as you would dispose of olive oil.
  • A better choice of oil is ordinary drugstore mineral oil (sold as a laxative) because it will never go rancid and is completely food safe.
  • The first polish penetrates deeply; the second polish is more suitable for more regular cleaning and the lemon scent is delightful.
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Warnings

  • Applying this polish on fine, antique furniture may result in an undesired haze.
  • Using any other kind of vinegar may stain.
  • Do a test on a small section of the furniture first. If you find that the mixture leaves your furniture too oily, or you're worried about the oil getting rancid in hot weather, alter your proportions to include less oil.
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Things You'll Need

Polish #1:

  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • soft polishing cloth


Polish #2:

  • 1 Cup olive oil
  • 1/2 Cup of fresh lemon juice
  • soft polishing cloth

About This Article

Bruna Coutinho
Reviewed by:
Cleaning Expert
This article was reviewed by Bruna Coutinho. Bruna Coutinho is a Cleaning Expert and owner of Bruna’s Cleaning Services based in Wilmington, Delaware. With over 10 years of experience and over 200 recurring customers, Bruna's Cleaning Services provides a variety of cleaning solutions to the DE, NJ, and PA areas. While boasting eco-friendly cleaning practices, some of Bruna’s specialties include Deep Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Post Construction Cleaning, and Airbnb Cleaning. In 2023, Bruna's Cleaning Services was voted a Neighborhood Fave on Nextdoor. This article has been viewed 371,197 times.
346 votes - 89%
Co-authors: 26
Updated: January 27, 2024
Views: 371,197
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 371,197 times.

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