Soot mixed with dust and dirt can cause unsightly sticky stains on wood furniture. Soot is produced by burning wood in your fireplace and even by fragrant candles.
The smoke will carry the soot particles in the atmosphere, and after a while these particle will settle on all surfaces, including walls.
Your wood furniture will appear in short time coated in an oily sticky substance, which is composed of these residues, dirt and dust.
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Fortunately, there are many ways to remove the soot stains from your wood furniture and also the odor from the room.
Materials & Tools
– Vacuum cleaner; Lint-free towel; Chemical sponge;
– Ammonia; Protective mask; White rug;
Steps:
1| You should vacuum regularly to prevent dust and dirt to adhere to the oily surface and create these ugly spots that are an eye sore for everyone.
2| More than that, vacuum the soot spot as much as possible using a hose flat attachment. Vacuum carefully holding the attachment above the spot without touching the wood surface. Do not rub the area as not to cause scratches. Vacuuming thoroughly can remove much of soot stain
3| Create your own soot stain cleaner by mixing one part ammonia with an equal amount of water.
4| Since ammonia is volatile and fumes can affect your breathing, you want to take that piece of furniture outside. If not possible, then make sure you work in a well-ventilated room. However, you should wear all the time a mask when cleaning a soot stain, especially when you are very sensitive to smoke odors.
5| Use a white cloth, moistened with the ammonia solution made by you and wipe, thoroughly but gently, the soot stain from the wood surface. Wring the rug before using otherwise the wood will be soaked, which would lead to its warping.
6| Using a lint-free clean towel wipe carefully the remaining water from the wood surface. Make sure that there remained no trace of soot.
7| If you still have left traces of soot, it should be used a chemical sponge. This kind of sponge (or dry cleaning sponge) is perfect for to wipe all the remaining traces of soot. However, do not wipe the soot stains with a soiled sponge. Turn the sponge and use its clean side or even cut off all the dirty portions in order to expose only a clean sponge.
8| The last step is to polish your wood furniture. Make a solution of one part linseed oil and one part turpentine. Rub thoroughly all over the wood surface using a dry and soft towel.
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