6 Steps to Restore Wooden Furniture

Whether you’re moving into a new home or want to give your existing space a refresh, you might be wondering how to restore wood furniture. Rustic styles are very much on-trend, and working out how to restore wooden furniture can help you keep your stylish pieces in top condition so that you can enjoy them for years to come.

1. Preparation

When it comes to restoring furniture, the very first step is preparation. This involves removing any dirt or debris from the surface of the furniture. You will need to prepare a work area with plenty of good lighting to ensure that you can work efficiently and avoid any dirt or debris getting in the way of the process.

2. Repairing Structural Damage

The next step is to identify any structural problems. Inspect the piece of furniture for signs of structural damage, such as cracks, warping, splitting wood or any other obvious problems.

If it is a simple split, then you can simply use wood glue to fix the issue. Clamp the piece until the glue dries. You can also use our WoodFiller Quick for any smaller scratches or dents that you want to hide. You can find this in various colours to match your wooden pieces.

3. Sanding

After this, you should move on to tidying up the surface of the wood. Sanding is the first thing you should do to make sure that all of the surfaces are smooth and neat.

If there is any overspill from glue or varnish, sanding should get rid of these blemishes. When using our products, we recommend sanding up to a 120–150 grit.

4. Use WoodPrep

Once you have sanded away the worst blemishes, you can move on to using one of our preparatory products. These include Cleaner, WoodPrep and Tannin Primer.

These can be used on any type of wood to get rid of any residue from sanding. Each product has a different benefit:

• Cleaner: Removes sanding dust.
• WoodPrep: Removes irregularities left over from sanding and minimises scratches.
• Tannin Primer: Helps prevent tannin (dark rings) from coming through the wood.

Choose which one suits your wood’s needs the most.

5. Oil the Furniture

After letting your preparation product dry, the next step is to preserve the finish you have achieved. This can be done through oiling.

At Rubio Monocoat, our Oil Plus 2C colours and protects your wood in a single layer and in a number of different colours — perfect for any type of wood.

Unlike other wood oils, Oil Plus 2C uses our molecular bonding technology to bind with the wood in just ONE LAYER, saving you time while providing long-lasting protection.

To use Oil Plus 2C:

1. Put the oil component (Part A) in a mixing cup and stir thoroughly.
2. Add the accelerator (Part B) in a ratio of 3:1.
3. Mix both components until uniform.
4. Apply a small amount of oil using a beige scrubby pad.
5. Leave it to soak for 3–5 minutes.
6. Remove excess oil with a white scrubby pad or wiping rag.

Wait 24 hours for the furniture to dry completely before using it again. Avoid cleaning with water or soap for at least 5 days to ensure proper curing.

6. Aftercare Tips

Once you have restored and protected your wooden furniture, aftercare is essential to keep it looking fresh.

• Universal Maintenance Oil 2 Mix: Use when there are signs of wear or every 12–18 months.
• All Natural Wood Cleaner: Perfect for everyday cleaning and available in three scents.
• Stain Remover Set: Contains everything you need to remove dark rings and water marks.

Be sure to get in touch or explore our blog further to find out more about how to keep your wood looking fresh. Our team is always happy to help, so make sure to call or contact us today!