The Household Essential You Should Avoid Using On Wood Surfaces

Cleaning your home isn't an easy chore, especially when you have to make special considerations for a variety of surfaces. This includes finding the easiest way to clean your wood cabinets, as well as wood-based flooring or furniture you have around your home. While you might clean and polish these items with simple ingredients, chances are that they need scrubbing once in a while. However, using the wrong materials can make matters worse. Steel wool is one such material you should avoid using on wood surfaces throughout your home.

Steel wool is a commonly used item in households. Thanks to the abrasive qualities of the steel fibers, you can use the product to scrub caked-on dirt and debris from surfaces without the use of harsh chemicals. The problem is that steel is much too abrasive for certain materials, and it can subsequently lead to scratches. In general, steel wool is best used for cleaning metal, such as rust removal from iron. The only exception for using steel wool on wood is if you're trying to sand the surface. This is one example of ways this simple and affordable household item can do more than clean your kitchen.

Simply put, steel wool is too harsh for surfaces like wood because of the permanent scratches the coarse material can cause. You may not even notice the scratches at first until more damage is done. For example, food spills on wood surfaces can seep into scratches and cause permanent stains. This can also be dangerous on wood flooring, as the steel can strip the surface and possibly lead to injuries from splinters if anyone walks on it without wearing shoes.

If you must scrub debris and messes from wood, it's better to use a finer abrasive material, such as a nylon brush. Just keep in mind that you will need more patience when using a less coarse scrubber, and it will take more action on your part. However, the decreased risk of fewer scratches on wood furniture and flooring will be well worth the effort. If you're curious about how you should really be cleaning your wood furniture and flooring, another idea is to use a natural DIY wood cleaner. Consider a recipe with ¼ cup of lemon juice mixed with 2 tablespoons each of olive oil and white vinegar. Rub the mixture directly into the wood surface with a microfiber cloth until clean.