How to Remove Wax from Furniture

If you plan to remove wax from furniture, you have to remember why it was originally applied to the piece of furniture. Furniture wax is often used as a polish, wood finish, and finish protector. In general, the purpose of furniture wax is to moisturize and patinate the wood.

Words of Advice

When removing wax build-up, try not to strip the surface of the piece. Stripping removes not only the wax but also its original finish. If the furniture happens to be an antique piece, stripping it would significantly decrease the value of the piece. You don’t remove the paint on your car just because you cannot remove a dried layer of turtle wax that you spot on the surface. The same holds true when you wish to remove wax from a piece of furniture. You have to realize that wax buildup is an indication that your finish needs an appropriate amount of cleaning and not a full-blown stripping.

There are two ways to remove wax from furniture, depending on the degree of staining. You may first try to buff the piece of furniture and if you don’t get visible results, you can use a wax removal product.

Method 1 - Buff the Furniture

First, you may buff the surface of your piece using a soft cloth. The rag has to be lint-free. Old, 100 percent wool clothes would also do. You have to wipe off accumulated dust and buff in circles while you apply some pressure to the surface of the piece. Continue until the surface has become less sticky and dull.

If your wipe gets stained, you need to replace it with a clean one. Keep in mind that your aim is to remove any excess wax on the surface of your piece of furniture. You do not want to reapply the excess wax instead. The cleaning process may be completed by buffing with another cloth.

Method 2 - Remove Excess Wax

In cases where the wax build-up turns old and hard, you have to remove the excess wax. Purchase a product that is designed specifically for wax removal. There is a wide variety on the market, and you will find a product of your choice in every good furniture store. Wax removal products are intended to eliminate excess dirt, wax, and oils. You don’t risk harming your furniture’s finish as long as you follow the directions.

You have to apply a thin layer of the wax removal product on a clean cloth and not directly onto the surface of your piece of furniture. Then, you need to buff the wood surface. Keep doing that until you notice visible results. After treatment with the wax removal product, you can polish your piece of furniture with beeswax or carnuba wax.

Using these methods will remove wax from furniture, leaving you with a piece that looks the way it was meant to.