Functional Furniture Polish: Which Type of Product to Use and When
- Clear Furniture Polishes. Clear polishes are petroleum distillates, essentially mineral spirits (paint thinner) that evaporates a little slower.
- Emulsion Furniture Polishes. Emulsion polishes are a combination of petroleum-distillate solvent and water. ...
- Silicone Furniture Polishes. ...
- Paste Waxes. ...
What are furniture polishes?
Furniture polishes are pastes, creams, or lotions used to clean, protect, and shine wooden furniture. These products were originally made from natural waxes, which were hard to apply and tended to leave a heavy buildup over time.
What kind of wax is used to polish wood furniture?
Often called "paste wax," these products are comprised of a concentrated mixture of wax in an organic solvent or emulsion. Semi-solid polishes are stable materials as long as they don't include silicone, so this is the method of choice for polishing wood furniture.
What is the best way to polish wood furniture?
Semi-solid polishes are the best for wood. Often called "paste wax," these products are comprised of a concentrated mixture of wax in an organic solvent or emulsion. Semi-solid polishes are stable materials as long as they don't include silicone, so this is the method of choice for polishing wood furniture.
What kind of Polish should you use on your skin?
Liquid polishes are also easy to use. There are two types: oil polishes and emulsion cleaners, which are water-based. Both are powerful cleaners that leave a lovely sheen.
Which polish is best for furniture?
Our top picksBest Overall Furniture Polish: Guardsman Anytime Clean & Polish.Best Furniture Polish for Wood Furniture: Pledge Restoring Oil.Best Furniture Polish for Antiques: Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish.Easiest Furniture Polish to Apply: Scott's Liquid Gold Wood Care.More items...•
What type of polish is used for polishing wooden furniture?
Broadly speaking, there are 2 types of wood polish: Chemical Polish and Home made polish. Chemical or synthetic polish available in the market just coats the surface of wood and gives furniture a shiny look. Synthetic polish does not moisturizes and heals the wood. Also shine given by them does not last very long.
What is furniture polish made of?
Emulsified furniture polishes are composed of both petroleum-distillate solvent and water for better cleaning. They are easy to identify by the milky-white puddle they produce when sprayed thickly. There are four categories of furniture-care products: clear polishes, emulsion polishes, silicone polishes and wax.
What is the difference between furniture wax and polish?
Furniture wax is an entirely different product than polish. Not only is it thicker, but it is literally a "wax" application that creates a resilient barrier for furniture, according to HGTV. It does a nice job of creating a moisture barrier, as well, eliminating the likelihood of water damage.
Which polish is better for wood?
Lacquer wood polish The lacquer finishes are considered among the best varieties of wood polish. They dry up faster, provide better surface protection, add richness, and may also make the wood more durable. As it is quite easy to remove, you can apply a new polish and finish to the wood whenever needed.
What are the different types of wood polish?
This will help you finalise one of the three types of wood polishes we offer— Basic Polish, Melamine Polish & PU Polish. Once this is done, our professionals will get to work to give you that beautiful wooden furniture with a regained shine and rich look!
What is in Old English furniture polish?
Ingredient InformationWater.C13-14 Isoparaffin.Isobutane.Dimethicone.Propane.Sorbitan Sesquioleate.Sodium Benzoate.Fragrance/Parfum.More items...
Can you use olive oil for furniture polish?
What Olive Oil Does To Your Wooden Furniture. Most people are now using olive oil as wood polishes. Not only is it a milder solution compared to petroleum-based wood polishes, but olive oil is also eco-friendly and much cheaper to use.
How often should wood furniture be polished?
Every six weeks is often enough to use polish, they agree. Furniture polish contains water, while waxes contain naphtha, and both can raise a wood veneer over time, Hodges said.
Does furniture polish seal wood?
While these products emerged circa 1929, their use remains misunderstood because, most importantly, furniture polishes shouldn't be mistaken for wood finishes. The majority of these products don't seal the wood in the way that polyurethane and other finishes do—but they do clean and shine it to renew its appearance.
Should you use Pledge on furniture?
Despite being sold as a furniture polish, you should also avoid using Pledge on your wood, as it builds up waxy layers of silicone that may hide imperfections but not actually help treat the wood in any way.
Is it better to oil or wax wood?
Wax gets dull over time and needs to be reapplied very often, so it is not a good choice for furniture overall. If you are talking about wooden objects that you keep in your home on display, then wax is a good choice. For outdoor wooden objects, oil would be the best finish since it is much more resistant to heat.
What to use on wood to make it shine?
You can take virtually any piece of wood and add a DIY shiny wood finish using polyurethane. The process is not difficult but it is time consuming. It takes a lot of hard work to get a smooth, flat, shiny finish.
What is the difference between wood varnish and polish?
Varnish has very little or no color and has no added pigment, unlike paint. Varnish can be seen as the last process carried out after polishing and painting. When a wooden surface is buffed and painted, then it is subjected to varnish.
How can I make my dull wood table shine?
0:331:28Reviving Old, Dull Furniture | Quick Tips | Minwax - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn your choice of either a satin or a gloss Sheen. After cleaning the wood thoroughly. Give it aMoreIn your choice of either a satin or a gloss Sheen. After cleaning the wood thoroughly. Give it a light sanding just discuss the surface. Then use a damp cloth to remove all the dust.
Should I use Pledge on wood furniture?
Despite being sold as a furniture polish, you should also avoid using Pledge on your wood, as it builds up waxy layers of silicone that may hide imperfections but not actually help treat the wood in any way.
What type of oil is used for furniture polish?
On the other hand, oil type polishes can further be divided into two types: drying and nondrying oils. Drying oils such as walnut or linseed oil dry on the surface through oxidation and are difficult to remove. Nondrying oils such as mineral, lemon oil, and paraffin are less dangerous than drying oils but tend to stay on the surface for a long time. This results to dust and other particles sticking on the surface of your furniture. Both drying and nondrying oils can be used as final finishes for your furniture.
What is the best polish for wood furniture?
Wood oil is the most widely used polish on wooden furniture, as it makes them appear attractive and shiny. However, it may not be advisable to use this on areas that are prone to dust since the dust might settle on the surface. Wood oil is best used on bare wood, as this soaks into and preserves the wood.
What is the most damaging polish?
Spray polishes or aerosols are the handiest polishes, but because they contain contaminants such as silicone oils, they are also the most damaging. These kinds of polishes should only be used on hard surfaces and not on furniture made with fine wood.
What are the two types of liquid polishes?
Liquid polishes, which are also easy to use, come in two types: emulsion and oil type polishes.
Can you use liquid wax on bare wood?
Liquid waxes contain cleaning solvents and can be used in any kind of furniture but it may not be the best option for bare wood.
Can silicone cream be used on wood?
The content of silicone creams are similar to aerosols so they are also not advisable for use on bare wood. They are, however, good for surfaces that are glossy.
How to make emulsions for furniture polish?
1 The type of emulsions used in furniture polishes can be made with a variety of mixing techniques . One common method is to heat the water and water-soluble materials together in one vessel and the waxes and oil soluble ingredients in a separate vessel. These mixing tanks are typically constructed of stainless steel and are equipped with a jacketed shell that allows steam and cold water to be circulated around the tank. This provides a way to heat and cool the batch without letting it come in contact with external water. The mixing kettle is also configured with temperature controls, and inlet and outlet plumbing for adding ingredients and pumping out the finished product. When the water and oil phases are at the appropriate temperature 158-176° F (70-80° C) they are mixed together using a turbine type mixer that provides relatively high shear. Typically the oil is pumped into the water phase. Heating and mixing continues until the batch is homogeneous at which point cooling is initiated. As the batch cools, other ingredients such as preservatives, dyes, and fragrance are added. When the batch is complete, it is assayed to insure it meets quality control standards for solids, pH, etc. The batch may be pumped to a filling line or stored in tanks until it is ready to be filled.
What is furniture polish?
Furniture polishes are pastes, creams, or lotions used to clean, protect, and shine wooden furniture. These products were originally made from natural waxes, which were hard to apply and tended to leave a heavy buildup over time. Today these formulations combine natural waxes and oils with petroleum based ingredients and synthetic polymers. These modern formulations can clean the film residue and lay down new polish in a single step so periodic stripping of old polish layers is not necessary. The most popular form in the United States today is aerosol furniture polish, which sells over 80 million units per year. However, these aerosol products are coming under scrutiny as new legislation regulates propellants that can be used in these products.
How is furniture polish made?
The production of aerosol polishes requires four important operations: compounding the wax emulsion, filling the primary container, pressurizing/gassing the can, and finishing operations.
What are the solvents used in polishing?
Solvents are used to help dissolve or soften some of the water insoluble materials used in polishes. Common solvents include mineral spirits, turpentine, and naphtha. In addition to solvency, factors to consider during solvent selection include flammability and toxicology.
What is wax used for?
The waxes, polymers, and oils are used to improve the condition of the furniture surface can be loosely grouped together and labeled as polishing agents. The waxes employed can be of vegetable, animal, or mineral origin. Common examples of vegetable waxes are carnauba (from palm leaves) and candelilla (from the Mexican plant of the same name). Sugar cane wax, cotton wax, and many others are also used. The primary animal wax (or more accurately, insect wax) is beeswax which is useful for its unique physical and chemical properties. Shellac is another popular insect waxes, which comes from the lac insect of the genus Ficus religiosa. Spermaceti wax, from the sperm whale, was popular at one time but ecological concerns have forced development of synthetic replacements. Lanolin fractions from sheep may be used as animal waxes. Mineral waxes, although they are not true waxes by definition, have similar chemical properties. These can be categorized as ozokerite, paraffin waxes, microcrystalline waxes, oxidized microcrystalline waxes, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, and montan waxes. In addition to these naturally derived waxes, synthetic resins are also commonly used in polishes. These include a multitude of polymers, some of which were originally developed for use in the paint and coating industry. These are materials like methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, styrene, vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile. Finally, oils derived from vegetable, petroleum, or silicone sources are added to formulations to enhance shine.
What is an emulsion polish?
Emulsion polishes are a combination of petroleum-distillate solvent and water. They are milky-white in color. They clean water-soluble dirt in addition to grease and wax and are usually packaged in aerosols. Emulsion polishes are good for dusting and better for cleaning than clear polishes. (But cleaning is not often needed on furniture.)
What are some examples of furniture polish?
These are common examples of the four categories of furniture polish. From the left: clear polishes, emulsion polishes, silicone polishes and paste wax.
What is clear polish?
Clear polishes are petroleum distillates, essentially mineral spirits (paint thinner) that evaporates a little slower. These are good for cleaning grease or wax and for picking up dust. They are usually packaged in clear plastic containers. Their primary benefit is for dusting.
Can furniture polish replace oil?
I figured out pretty quickly that furniture polishes couldn’t possibly replace the natural oils in wood because only a few exotics, such as teak and rosewood, had natural oils (actually oily resins) to begin with. Almost all furniture woods contain water, not oil.
Can you use paste wax on furniture?
Finally, there are paste waxes. These are more difficult to apply and can’t be used for dusting or cleaning but remain on the surface for months (unless removed by one of the furniture polishes). Use paste wax for a fairly permanent shine and scratch resistance, but keep in mind that you’ll then need to use a damp cloth, chamois, or some sort of duster for dusting rather than furniture polish.
What is the best wax for wood?
In addition, as drying oils get older, they turn yellow or brown, causing furniture to take on a muddy appearance. Semi-solid polishes are the best for wood. Often called "paste wax," these products are comprised of a concentrated mixture of wax in an organic solvent or emulsion.
Can you use semi solid polish on furniture?
Semi-solid polishes are stable materials as long as they don't include silicone, so this is the method of choice for polishing wood furniture. However, it does take more elbow grease to get the job done—the better the wax, the harder you need to buff.
Can you use aerosol polish on wood?
Aerosol polishes are very convenient to use but they have significant downsides in terms of damaging the surfaces of wood furniture. They also add silicone oil and other contaminants to furniture and contain various solvents that can eat through varnish. Other types of surface finish, such as polyurethane, are less susceptible to these solvents.
Can polish make furniture look dirtier?
Over time, polishes may build up and darken furniture, making it look dirtier. Featured Video.
Can you use polish on furniture?
There are three different types of polish commonly used, and in some of them, the chemicals and natural products they contain can dull the finish or even attract dust. Over time, polishes may build up and darken furniture, making it look dirtier.
Is liquid polish water based?
Liquid polishes are also easy to use. There are two types: oil polishes and emulsion cleaners, which are water-based. Both are powerful cleaners that leave a lovely sheen. However, this sheen will be short-lived as the liquid dries. Oils can contain a variety of ingredients, from waxes and perfumes to colorants and organic solvents. There are drying and non-drying oils, but both pose issues because dust easily sticks to wet surfaces. In addition, as drying oils get older, they turn yellow or brown, causing furniture to take on a muddy appearance.
What is milky polish?
Milky-looking polishes are designed to smell nice, pick up dust and leave an oily luster. If wax and/or silicon oils are added to the mix, then the polishes help to prevent or mitigate potential scratching and also to hide or make the scratches more subtle looking in appearance.
Is Murphy's soap pH neutral?
Use a soap like Dove bar soap which is pH neutral. Contact other soap companies and see if their soaps and detergents are pH neutral. If so, good to go ; if not, don't give them a shot.
Can you use polish on silicone?
Ditto on using polishes, waxes, and compounds with silicones. Also, never spray any polishes or cleaners directly on the pieces. Spray them on a soft cloth, and then apply to the piece.
Is Weiman's Furniture Creme greasy?
I like Weiman's Furniture Creme (sp?). It does not seem to be as greasy as other emulsion polishes. Most polish information is nothing other than hype. Actually, the info is more than hype - it is unadulterated hogwash. Any polish company that uses the phrase "feeds the wood" is lying and misleading their customers. How can you feed wood which has a film-forming finish on it? You can't. And wood does not need feeding.
Background
- Furniture polishes are pastes, creams, or lotions used to clean, protect, and shine wooden furniture. These products were originally made from natural waxes, which were hard to apply and tended to leave a heavy buildup over time. Today these formulations combine natural waxes and oils with petroleum based ingredients and synthetic polymers. These m...
Raw Materials
- The primary ingredients used to prepare furniture polishes are polishing agents, solvents, and emulsifiers. Auxiliary materials include preservatives, colorants, and fragrance.
Design
- Furniture polishes are designed with a blend of waxes and oils because no one single ingredient provides all the desired properties. For example, in theory, a 20% paste of carnauba wax should produce the best gloss but in reality this mixture is gritty and hard to spread. It is beneficial to add different wax materials (e.g., some of the mineral waxes) that may not add appreciable gloss, bu…
The Manufacturing Process
- The manufacturing procedure for furniture polish varies depending on the type of product being made. The following is a discussion of the mode of manufacture used for aerosol polishes. The production of aerosol polishes requires four important operations: compounding the wax emulsion, filling the primary container, pressurizing/gassing the can, and finishing operations.
Quality Control
- Quality of furniture polish is assayed at various points in the manufacturing procedure. Before manufacture, the raw materials are checked to ensure they conform to specifications. After the product is batched, it is analyzed to make sure it was correctly prepared. Key formulation parameters include water content, pH, solids level, and preservative activity. After the product is …
The Future
- As with any technology driven product, improvements will be made as the advances are made in underlying technology. For example, new silicone polymers are constantly being developed and some of these are likely to be incorporated into future furniture polish formulations. Perhaps the most significant changes in store for the future of the polish industry are likely to be driven by re…
Where to Learn More
- Books
Chalmers, Louis. Household and Industrial Chemical Specialties.Chemical Publishing Co Inc., 1979. Flexier, Bob. Applying Finishes.Rodale Press Inc, 1996. Lawrence, David. Stripping and Polishing Furniture.International Speciality Book Services, 1987. —Randy Schueller