While aging wood is undeniably beautiful (who can resist the stressed patina and colours that deepen over time), they do need a little love from time to time. You can whip up a DIY polish with just a few ingredients, that will not only keep your wood protected and clean, but help it age beautifully.
Ingredients
A half cup of linseed or olive oil, depending on your personal preference, as either works really well
A quarter cup of white vinegar. While vinegar may seem like it could be too abrasive, with the oil, it works wonders.
Two tablespoons of lemon juice.
A few drops of essential oil, like lavender or rose. This is optional though, as it’s merely to add a soft layer of scent.
Method
1. Mix the ingredients
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients. If you want, you can add a few drops of essential oil to help lift and elevate the mixture. Next, stir the mixture vigorously so that everything emulsifies. You want a consistent mixture after stirring.
2. Transfer to a container
You don’t need any fancy bottle to store the mixture in. An old glass jam jar or something similar will do just fine. Just label it appropriately so it never gets used for anything other than wood!
To apply
Before applying your mixture, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve wiped down the wood with a dry cloth to remove any excess dust. Dip a microfibre cloth into your DIY mixture and polish the wood in small, brisk circular movements. Allow the mixture to absorb into the wood. Once the oils have absorbed, you can take a clean cloth and buff the wood to a shine.
Last thoughts
How often you repeat this process is entirely up to you. But for best results, we suggest polishing your wood at least once every six weeks.
