Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Homemade Furniture Polish Recipes

The smell of furniture polish can linger in the house for hours, days or sometimes even a week or more, do you have any idea what the chemicals are doing to your respiratory system, central nervous system or indoor air pollution levels? It cannot be good.

There are petroleum distillates and solvents in commercial furniture polishes that can make a person sick or trigger asthma attacks in those with breathing problems. However, as more and more homeowners are becoming aware of how dangerous the toxic fumes from household cleaners can be, it simply makes more sense to invest in the effort to make homemade cleaners which are safer and cheaper. Below are a few recipes to use when wanting to make your own homemade furniture polish and it will make your home a healthier place and save you money at the same time.

Homemade Furniture Polish No. 1

¼ c. of vinegar and a few drops of olive oil
The vinegar pulls the dirt out of the wood and the oil lubricates the wood so it prevents it from drying out. The best oils to use in a homemade furniture polish recipe are ones with a long shelf life and if you can find it, liquid jojoba oil is a great choice because it never goes rancid. Olive oil works well, boiled linseed oil found in your local hardware store has synthetic chemicals in it and should not be used; instead purchase pure food grade linseed oil to use.

Homemade Furniture Polish No. 2

White vinegar
Lemon juice
Combine equal parts of white vinegar and lemon juice in a container and shake. Use a clean cloth and rub a small amount into furniture and then wipe dry with another clean cloth.

Homemade Lemon Oil Polish

10 drops of lemon oil
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
A few drops of olive oil or jojoba oil

Lemon oil is used as a furniture lubricant and is an antiseptic, which is an added benefit for those using homemade furniture oils. Most commercial lemon oils contain petroleum distillates which can be dangerous if inhaled, so this recipe is environmentally friendly and easier on the lungs of those with breathing disorders.

The benefits of using homemade furniture polish are plentiful and these alternatives are chemical-free, contain no irritating fragrances and are environmentally friendly. It is important to remember to never use a container that has had another chemical in it and to shake the polish up before each use. Cheap olive oil works just as effectively as the more expensive grades and you can make smaller amounts of polish, so you have a fresh batch each time you dust your furniture.

How to Best Protect Your Outdoor Furniture During Winter

Winter is a very tough time not only for your plants and pets but also for the outdoor furniture that you have. If you have outdoor furniture that you want to last for years to come, then you should find a good way of protecting it from the harsh winter season so that you can protect it from the damage. The first thing that is required of you is to know what type of furniture you have and the dangers that might harm it. With wood furniture, winter can cause it to crack, dry, and warp the wood. If it is metal then there is likely hood that it will rust and if it is plastic, it will become brittle. To prevent all this from happening, there are some things that you need to do.

The first thing that you can do is to look for covers that you can cover the furniture with for protection purposes. You can purchase the covers from any furniture shops selling outdoor furniture. You will only need to slip them over the furniture and tighten the covers. This way the wind will not be able to blow the covers away and no dirt or snow will get to the furniture. Secondly, use either your garage or shed for storage if you have one as they are very good places for storing furniture during winter. Also storing it in either the garage or shed is good as you will not have a lot of outdoor activities and you can store the furniture there until the end of winter season. This way your furniture will be protected and it will not look old from the snow hounding and wind and also the lack of precipitation will extend the life of the furniture.

Finally, you can get a storage unit as this will come in handy if you do not have a garage or patio. You can purchase the storage unit and it will be very useful especially if you have expensive Outdoor Furniture. It might be a little bit expensive to buy but the storage unit will save you more when it comes to buying another set of furniture. If you bought your furniture at a high price and you leave it out during the winter season it will get spoilt very fast and you might just find yourself going back to the furniture shop sooner that you thought. It is more affordable to find a way of storing the furniture rather than going out to buy another set.

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