It’s surprising that in these green times, most brands of furniture polish are still pretty awful, a toxic mix of chemicals that sprays out of plastic bottles, which pollute the air, give people asthma and don’t even smell nice. Real beeswax is used by some people, but it’s no good for vegans and also does not smell nice easier.
Most modern furniture does not need ‘feeding’ of the wood, and experts say a damp biodegradable cloth is enough to remove dust and fingerprints. The best way to protect furniture is to keep it away from direct sunlight and heat.
The Spruce has two base recipes (olive oil/lemon or olive oil/vinegar. Don’t use this on hardwood floors, as the vinegar PH is too rough. Avoid essential oils near pets or babies, or during pregnancy/nursing.
For real wood and antique furniture, Bio-D has launched the UK’s most eco-friendly wooden furniture polish. Packed in a metal tin and free from chemicals and beeswax, this it contains linseed oil to nourish wood (flammable on its own but okay in this hopefully). With no palm oil, it can protect against finger marks and spillages. No palm oil either. If anything spills, wait 24 hours for the liquid to evaporate, and then call in the professionals.
