We like to keep wood looking nice, but don’t always stop to think that what makes it look nice and shiny might not actually be good for the wood itself. Aerosol wood polish sprays generally just coat the surface in a slick, impenetrable layer of who-knows-what, leaving it looking ridiculously shiny. It doesn’t actually ‘feed’ the wood, moisturize it, or last very long at all (when I used it, I found it made a difference for all of 3 hours.) Luckily, there are several very easy ways to naturally care for your wood that, at least in my experience, work much better than a lot of stuff sold in stores. -1 ½ cups of olive oil -1 cup of lemon juice OR several drops of lemon essential oil Mix 1 ½ cups of olive oil with 1 cup of lemon juice in a spray bottle and shake to blend thoroughly. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can do this in a bowl. Spray some of the mixture onto a clean cloth (or dip cloth in it) and gently apply to wood in a circular motion. Let sit for 5 minutes or so, and then go over it with a soft cloth to bring out the shine.

Keep in a glass storage container, or in the spray bottle, if you make more than you will use in one sitting. A small amount of this goes a long way towards protecting your wood from the harmful effects of moisture, as well as keeping it from drying out. It also leaves the wood with a nice healthy glow, and so doubles as a polish when you use it. -1/2 cup of grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles -1 ½ cups olive oil -Several drops of essential oil (optional) -A glass container for storage Melt down ½ cup of beeswax in a double boiler (I just put a metal bowl over a pot with some water in the bottom.) Stir in 1 ½ cups of olive oil, and add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil to give it a nice scent if you like. Pour into a glass jar to store, and let it harden. You can microwave it for roughly 25-30 seconds to soften it before use if you like. Before using clean the surface with a damp cloth and wipe dry. Then, dab some beeswax sealant onto a clean, soft cloth and apply in a circular motion.

When it is dry, buff in the direction of the grain with another clean soft cloth (preferably one that is lint-free.) If you just don’t feel like actually making something, rubbing some straight coconut oil into dry wood is also an option. -About 1 tablespoon of coconut oil -A clean soft cloth Clean surface with a slightly damp cloth and dry. Follow by rubbing some coconut oil onto another clean cloth, and apply to wood in a circular motion. Let it dry, and then buff in the direction of the grain. Wood is a lovely thing to have in a home, and naturally keeping it healthy and looking good is incredibly simple to do, not to mention rather satisfying. All of the above recipes are food safe, and will last in their containers for up to 12 months in a cool dark place. -There is no need to slather wood with any of the above-a thin layer is all you need (or in the case of the spray, and little spritz.) They last longer, and it’s better for the wood, if you don’t go overboard.

-Light degrades wood, so keep it out of direct sunlight for extended amounts of time, if possible.air duct cleaning organization -Dirt and grime can, over time, also be harmful to wood surfaces, so keep them clean by simply wiping them down.cost to clean ac coils P.S. Click here to download my free Coconut Oil eBook. hvac duct cleaning brushesIt has over 107 everyday coconut oil uses, including uses for- weight loss, pet health, hair, skin, house cleaning, pests, DIY beauty products and so much more.leather care products cape town + Make sure to claim your free jar of organic coconut oil (while supplies last)vacuum cleaners cheap melbourne

Claire is a lover of life, the natural world, and wild blueberries. On the weekend you can find her fiddling in the garden, playing with her dogs, and enjoying the great outdoors with her horse.average cost air duct cleaning Claire is very open-minded, ask her anything :) We Want to Hear from You! Let us know which remedies work and do not work for you, ask a question or leave a comment:We know you try to treat your furniture well, but scratches from dropped car keys, rings from water glasses, and other damage is often just part of life. But good news: There's often an easy way to get your favorite wooden pieces looking great again.1. On a wood table, water spills, wet glasses or vases, and hot dishes can leave behind unsightly white marks and rings when the moisture seeps into the finish. Fortunately, unless you've had a spill linger on the surface for a long time, this damage can be repaired quickly.

Start by placing a clean, thick towel on top of the stain. With your iron on a dry low-to-medium setting, press over the towel (making sure the soleplate doesn't touch the wood) for several seconds. The gentle heat will warm the finish enough to release the moisture into the towel. Lift the towel to check the results. Repeat as needed until the stain disappears. Polish and buff as usual. 2. Fix nicks and scratches. When keys are tossed or a fork is dropped on finished wood, the marks left behind are especially obvious if the stain gets scraped off. The solution to help conceal these scratches is nuts. No, really: Fresh walnuts or Brazil nuts have natural oils that help darken the wood to hide scratches. Crack the nut open, then rub the meat over the scratch in the direction of the grain of the wood. Buff with a clean, soft cloth. Repeat until the area blends in with the rest of the finish as much as possible.3. Even when finely misted, the alcohol in perfume and hairspray can dissolve wood finishes.

Suppress your cleanup instincts and let the droplets dry. Then dampen a cloth with water and dip it into a bit of ammonia. Lightly go over the stains to remove sticky residue. To smooth the finish, visit a home store and pick up some boiled linseed oil and powdered rottenstone, a mild abrasive (they'll know what it is, we promise). Mix the two into a thin paste and apply with your fingertip, gently working into the stains in the direction of the grain; wipe clean with a cloth. Apply a few coats of furniture polish; Note: Spots where the finish is totally destroyed may require restoration.Bonus: How to avoid further damage in the future. Place trays or trivets on the coffee table to hold drink glasses. Because they're bigger than coasters, people are more likely to use them. It rubs out water — and even perfume — stains. And keep scratch-cover marking pens handy. • 7 Tricks That Make Laundry Day Way Easier • 10 Surprising Things You Can Put in the Dishwasher • 10 Reasons Hanging Storage Is the BestPhoto: Tamara Staples/Getty