How to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil

Reviewed by Bruna Coutinho

Last Updated: January 27, 2024 Approved

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.

Steps

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The cheapest oil, olive pomace oil, is just fine for the purposes of making furniture polish.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Deep Cleansing Furniture Oil

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Combine the olive oil and vinegar (using proportions specified below) in a glass or ceramic container. ^{[1]
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Do not rub it in too hard but leave it to soak in. ^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Regular Cleaning Furniture 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
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.

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Does the mineral oil and lemon juice mixture clean leather furniture?

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.

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What kind of vinegar should I use?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Using any other kind of vinegar may stain.

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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

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How to Make Furniture Polish Using Olive Oil

Steps

Deep Cleansing Furniture Oil

Regular Cleaning Furniture Oil

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Polish #1:

Polish #2:

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