Homemade Orange Oil Furniture Polish: A Natural and Effective Solution

Homemade Orange Oil Furniture Polish: A Natural Solution

I have a passion for crafting my own homemade cleaners using essential oils. From my DIY dusting spray to my invigorating shower cleaner and natural laundry recipes, I truly appreciate how simple it is to create natural, non-toxic cleaners for my family. One of my favorites is this homemade orange oil furniture polish.

Store-bought wood polishes and cleaners can dull the finish of your furniture over time and leave an unsightly haze on the surface. Many commercial products contain silicone, which builds up with each application. As you continue to use these polishes, dust and dirt become trapped in the silicone layers, resulting in a cloudy appearance that dulls the beauty of your wood. In contrast, this homemade orange oil furniture polish doesn’t create any buildup. You can use it regularly, and your wood will only become more beautiful with each application. This polish effectively restores luster and shine, while also preventing wood from drying out and becoming fragile. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make with just four ingredients and only a few seconds of your time.

Ingredients in Homemade Furniture Polish

This page contains affiliate links. If you click on certain links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you as it would be without using the affiliate link.

Olive Oil

Olive oil effectively attracts and captures dust, helping to trap dirt on your cleaning cloth. It’s also excellent for moisturizing and conditioning your wooden furniture, as it seeps into the wood and creates a protective barrier. This oil leaves furniture and baseboards with a subtle, beautiful shine. Unlike some other carrier oils, olive oil boasts a long shelf life and doesn’t leave a sticky residue, making it the ideal choice for this furniture polish!
Vinegar

Vinegar is a remarkable natural cleaner. It disinfects, deodorizes, and effortlessly cuts through dirt, grease, and grime.
Vegetable Glycerin

As a humectant, vegetable glycerin attracts moisture, enhancing the shine of the wood and helping to maintain it for longer periods.
Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Sweet orange essential oil not only offers a delightful fragrance, but it’s also a potent natural cleaner. It acts as an excellent degreaser, effectively cutting through dirt, grime, and buildup on your furniture.

Customizing Your Wood Polish

The recipe provided above utilizes my preferred ratios of oil, vinegar, glycerin, and orange essential oil for furniture polish, but feel free to adjust the amounts to suit your preferences:

Increasing olive oil will make the polish more lubricating and shiny; however, too much oil can lead to buildup and an oily feel.
Adding more vinegar enhances the cleaning ability, but excessive vinegar can create a sharp scent and reduce conditioning and shine.
Incorporating additional orange essential oil boosts cleaning power, but it may also increase costs.

Steps to Create Orange Oil Furniture Polish

Step 1: Measure and Add Olive Oil

Add 1 1/4 cups of olive oil to a 16-ounce spray bottle. Tip: Opt for a spray bottle made from materials that are safe for use with diluted essential oils, such as glass, stainless steel, or certain plastics (plastic #1 HDPE or plastic #2 PET). Using a funnel simplifies the process of adding ingredients.

Step 2: Add Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Add 25 drops of sweet orange essential oil.

Step 3: Incorporate Vegetable Glycerin

Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin.

Step 4: Include White Vinegar

Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar.

Step 5: Shake to Combine

Attach the spray top and shake well to mix the ingredients thoroughly.

Step 6: Label Your Creation

Don’t forget to label your spray bottle (click here for a free printable label). Tip: You can print this label on full-sheet label paper or, as I prefer, print it on regular paper and secure it to the bottle with packing tape. This method is cost-effective and ensures that the label stays intact and protected for extended periods. To ensure good adhesion, wipe the bottle with rubbing alcohol before applying the label.

How to Use Your Orange Oil Wood Polish

Ideal for use on wood cabinets, tables, chairs, bookcases, stair railings, and other wooden surfaces.
Do NOT use on unfinished or unsealed wood surfaces.
There’s no need to pre-clean surfaces before using this polish, as it serves as both a wood polish and a cleaner.
Before applying the polish, inspect the wood for watermarks. White spots or beverage rings can form where items have been placed. To treat these, apply a small amount of full-fat mayonnaise to the spot and gently rub. Allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes, or up to several hours, then wipe away. The mayonnaise helps extract moisture from the wood’s surface. Once the watermark is gone, you can use the wood polish.
Shake well before each use.
Spray directly onto the wood surface or onto a lint-free cloth for light polishing.
Wipe with a cleaning cloth until the surface is dry and gleaming.
Always rub in the direction of the wood grain. You should notice your furniture regaining its luster almost immediately.

Tip: As with any cleaner, perform a spot test in an inconspicuous area before full use to ensure compatibility with your wood.

Where to Source Your Supplies

Olive Oil – I typically buy olive oil in bulk at Costco, but it’s also readily available at local grocery stores. You don’t need to splurge on high-end olive oil for this polish; even budget-friendly options work just as effectively.

White Vinegar – Since I use vinegar in many of my homemade cleaning products, I purchase large bottles at Costco. It can also be found in local grocery stores.

Vegetable Glycerin – You can find vegetable glycerin online.

16 oz Spray Bottle – Look for glass bottles here or PET plastic bottles here.

Free Printable Label & Recipe (click here).

Please Join Us… Connect with us on Facebook here, on Pinterest here, or click here to sign up for our email newsletter. Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your health and medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it due to information on this website.

Disclaimer: This website contains affiliate links. If you click on certain links and subsequently purchase a product, I may receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.