Essential Steps to Cleaning your Furniture Before You Begin
Yes, these steps are important! And no, you can’t just take your paintbrush straight to the piece after you bring it home from the thrift store 😂
There are many reasons why you should clean your furniture before you begin the refinishing process. First of all, I am ALL ABOUT increasing the longevity of the piece. If you clean the furniture correctly before you begin, your finish will last longer (yay).
The first step to cleaning is a simple wipe down. You can use a cloth or paper towel dampened with water to remove a lot of the dust and debris that may have accumulated over time. If you have major cobwebs or drawers with lots of crumbs, etc., use the hose on your vacuum to clean it out.
The next steps depend on just how gross your furniture is. If you notice a lot of sticky, gummy, greasy areas, you’ll want to use a good degreasing spray. One degreaser that I like to use is Zep Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser, which works really well and has a nice scent. I also use Krud Kutter Concentrated Cleaner/Degreaser, an amazing product that works great on grease and grime and even dissolves old latex paint. Be sure to read the labels before you begin, as some products are not meant to be used on previously varnished surfaces. Follow the directions on the label to clean your piece.
A great, simple option for furniture that isn’t quite as gross is using a simple water + dawn dishwashing detergent mixture and a sponge or scouring pad. Scrub the piece down and wash it as you would wash anything, but try to use very little water so as to not cause water damage to the wood. If you go this route, you’ll likely need to wait overnight to let the piece dry before you begin the rest of your refinishing process.
Finally, you’ll want to use a product that’s two for one: it both cleans and deglosses the surface. It can be used immediately for furniture that is not very dirty, or it can be used as a last step for furniture that you have previously cleaned. The product is Denatured Alcohol and it’s freaking amazing. You can dilute this in a 1:1 ratio with water in an empty spray bottle or use as is. I always have a spray bottle full of this on hand to help clean and dull surfaces before I paint. Denatured alcohol is readily available at hardware stores, or right here on Amazon. Spray a light layer of your denatured alcohol and water mixture onto your piece, and then scour and scrub it with a Scotch-Brite scouring pad. Wipe off the excess and let dry. Sometimes, the denatured alcohol will cause a powder to form on the surface because of the chemical reaction with whatever clear coat was previously on your furniture piece. So, just wipe it down again with plain water or a damp cloth to clean off the residue.
Be sure to allow your piece enough time to dry completely before beginning your refinishing process.
So, now that your piece is dry, has a duller surface, and is free of cobwebs and grease, it’s ready to go! You’ll be on your way to the next step: sanding. More on that topic to come, so stay tuned for future blog posts!
As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to check back here for a new blog post each and every Friday! Stay tuned into fun updates, resource guides, the blog, and more by subscribing to my email list! Also, make sure you’ve joined the REAL party on Instagram, because I post even more beautiful transformations, tips, behind the scenes, and fun vintage finds almost every day! I’d love to see you over there ❤️
-Austin
