How To Wax Furniture So It Looks As Good As New
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Maintaining your garden bench or patio table is crucial if you want your outdoor furniture to last. Fortunately, waxing your furniture can extend its life and make it look even better! Adding a coat of wax to your wooden furniture will give it extra protection against the elements and enhance the natural colour of the wood. So, no matter the age of your wood, you can keep it looking its best for longer with a coat of wax. And, even better, you don’t need any D.I.Y expertise!
So, here’s our guide on how to wax furniture to keep it looking its absolute best all year round.
Why Should You Wax Wooden Furniture?
Waxing furniture has been practised for centuries and is used to strengthen the wood, protect it against stains, and prevent dust and dirt build-up. Plus, waxed wood is usually water-resistant to some degree. Wax also enhances the visual appeal of your furniture, highlighting the natural features of the wood while giving it a silky feel and a soft sheen. Fortunately, the wax will not change the colour of the wood. Finally, wax can be applied to bare wood or used on top of other finishes, such as lacquer or varnish, for an extra layer of protection[i].
Although waxing wooden furniture isn’t essential, many would recommend doing so to increase the longevity of your furniture and protect it against any eventuality. For example, if your furniture is waxed, it will be easier to maintain and repair, as you will only have to re-wax the affected area. This ensures your Adirondack garden chairs are ready all year round for that burst of sun.
Can You Use Wax On Outdoor Furniture?
Waxing outdoor wooden furniture is perfectly fine – in fact, it’s very effective in protecting your outdoor pieces from all weathers. In addition, waxing outdoor furniture will make the wood more durable and look more appealing. However, it’s most effective when applied to bare wood instead of spreading it on top of other finishes or paint. This way, the wax can penetrate the wood properly and give it the best protection[ii].
How To Wax Furniture
Knowing how to wax furniture can save you a lot of money and aggravation in the long run. Even if you’re the proud owner of a hardwearing wooden bench, waxing your garden furniture will give it an extra layer of protection and guarantee longevity no matter how often it gets used. And, luckily, it’s an easy process! With time, patience, determination and just a few pieces of equipment, you can extend the life of your wooden furniture for something to show off about at all your summer gatherings.
You Will Need:
- A clean cloth
- A mild solvent, such as white spirit
- A sheet of 120 grit sandpaper
- Your choice of wax
- A paintbrush (for liquid wax)
- A clean, lint-free cloth (for paste wax)
- A buffing cloth
How To Apply Wood Wax
Applying wood wax is a relatively simple job but should be done in a warm, well-ventilated area for best results. However, you may wish to test a small part of the wood before waxing the whole piece. This way, you can see if the wax will dramatically change the colour of your wood or have any adverse effects. To do so, apply a little wax to an indistinguishable part of the furniture after cleaning and sanding. Once it has set, you can check if it provides your desired finish before coating the rest.
Here’s how to apply furniture wax for the best results:
- First, use your clean cloth and mild solvent to clean down the wood. Make sure you scrub away any old wax, oil, or grease, so the wood is clean, smooth, and easier to work with.
- Next, use sandpaper to sand down the wood. You don’t want to sand it down too much – just enough to slightly roughen the surface and give something for the wax to stick to.
- If you are applying liquid wax – Stir the liquid wax to even it out, then use your paintbrush to brush on the first coat. Try to apply the wax in long strokes, painting in the direction of the wood grain.
- If you are applying paste wax – Use a clean, lint-free cloth to apply the paste wax in a circular motion, maintaining an even pressure throughout the treatment. Focus on one small area at a time, ensuring that you’ve evenly coated that section before moving on to the next one.
- Now, leave the wax to dry. The drying time will depend on the wax you have used and the conditions of the area you have left the piece to dry in. However, it usually takes anywhere from a few minutes to 30. To test if the wax has finished drying, touch it gently in an inconspicuous area. If it is still sticky, the wax is not dry yet.
- Once the wax has dried, use another clean cloth to wipe off any excess wax. Then, use a buffing cloth to buff the wax. Rub the furniture in circular motions to make the fresh wax coat shine. Once the wood is as glossy as you’d like, you’re all done! However, make sure you wait 30 minutes after buffing before using or putting anything on the furniture.
Unfortunately, one layer of wax may not be enough to give your outdoor furniture the strongest protection. You may want to add 2 or perhaps even 3 layers of wax – check the wax tub to see how many coats it will need. However many layers you add, you should wait at least 4 hours between additional coatings and ensure that each fresh layer of wax is buffed well between applications.
Reapplying Wood Wax
Outdoor furniture deals with different exterior factors than indoor furniture, such as heat warping, rain, and moisture. Because of this, you will need to reapply the wood wax more often to outdoor furniture. This will guarantee that your outdoor pieces will receive complete protection and last longer. Although the frequency of wax reapplications depends on the furniture use, many pieces benefit from a reapplication every 6 months to a year[iii]. Usually, you can do this before putting your furniture away at the end of the summer and when you bring it back out around springtime.
How To Maintain Waxed Furniture
Fortunately, once your furniture is waxed, there isn’t much more required to maintain it. As long as you regularly reapply the wax, your furniture should remain fresh, shiny, and dust-free. However, a periodic clean will help keep your furniture in tip-top condition. Plus, should any dust gather or mould grow, you’ll need to get rid of it as soon as possible. Here are a few things you’ll need to know to help you maintain your waxed wooden furniture.
How To Clean Wooden Furniture
When you’re regularly using your waxed wooden garden furniture through summer, giving it a clean every week or two will keep it looking its best. Although there are plenty of commercial products on the market to clean wooden furniture, it’s easy to do yourself!
So mix a bit of mild detergent with warm water, and take a sponge or soft cloth. Working in small areas, scrub off any dirt, marks or stains until your furniture is sparkling clean. If you come across any tough spots, use a stiff brush and scrub with the natural wood grain.
Find out more about cleaning wooden garden furniture.
How To Clean Mould Off Wooden Furniture
Unfortunately, outdoor furniture is exposed to moisture that can penetrate the wood. Although wax helps prevent this, some stubborn moulds may still manage to push through. To clean off any mould patches, simply apply a small amount of undiluted distilled vinegar with a sponge. For more stubborn stains, mix a solution of ammonia, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar and dab on gently with a sponge. It’s a good idea to apply an extra coating of wax over the affected area once the spot is completely dry.
How To Store Wooden Furniture
Whether your wooden garden furniture is waxed or not, it’s always best to store it away when winter is coming. This way, you won’t be exposing your favourite pieces to the elements and leaving them open to potential damage. Store your wooden garden furniture in a waterproof shed or outhouse if possible. If this isn’t an option, invest in a good-quality waterproof cover to shelter your furniture. Then, elevate the legs of your furniture from the ground for complete protection all winter.
Waxing Wooden Furniture
Knowing how to wax furniture is invaluable expertise since this easy trick can protect wood stored both outside and in. In addition, a simple coat of wax can transform a tired piece of furniture into something shiny and new, without too much money or hard work!
Let us know your furniture waxing tips in the comments.
Sources
[i] https://www.liberon.co.uk/help-advice/types-of-finish/wax/
[ii] https://thebackyardpros.com/can-you-use-wax-on-outdoor-furniture/
[iii] https://theprovince.com/life/furniture-care-part-3-how-to-wax
Anna is the marketing and office manager for Garden Benches – a premium supplier of high-quality wooden benches and other outdoor furniture.
