CLEANING FURNITURE – PAINTING PREP & HEALTH

Natural Recipe for Cleaning Furniture

This is how to avoid harsh chemicals and save money when cleaning your furniture. Use my recipe or the suggestion below to be more eco and health conscious.

I have a few ‘MUST’s’ when preparing furniture to paint but wherever possible I try to be kind to our environment. Cleaning furniture doesn’t need to add more chemicals to our world. Protecting our home environment and beyond is often missed as we go about our business. Our family, pets, community, air, waterways and land are all impacted by each of us individually. Let’s be people who make at least some difference to the human impact on our precious world. I’m not a fanatic “Greeny” as such, but I do care about people and our planet and avoid unnecessary contaminant that very likely affect our health over time.

Some ways to live more environmentally conscious:

• Recycle waste
• Beautify by up-cycling or redesigning items
• Consume less and de-clutter
• Use natural cleaners
• Replace any chemical based product with a natural one; toothpaste, paint products, cosmetics, cleaners.
• Organise better to discern what you already own that you can re-purpose
• Educate others when appropriate and welcomed
• Support businesses who are eco-conscious

Natural Recipe for Cleaning Furniture for Prep

This is a simple and natural recipe I use to clean most surfaces. White vinegar can be purchase at any supermarket and is incredibly inexpensive. We use it to clean our floors and many in other areas. You can add a 50/50 solution to a spray bottle for general cleaning too.

If you need something stronger to remove stubborn grease or waxes, try the 50/50 strength or use the vinegar straight. If it is white (clear) vinegar you won’t get staining. Failing that I use white spirits or methylated spirits. These spirits will remove shellac and some other sealers so be aware. I recommend it here for preparation for painting.

And if you think you can get away with NOT cleaning furniture before painting, think again. EVERY time I clean there is grime and contaminants will affect your paint job. I can’t tell you how many painted pieces I have seen with painted over animal hair, dirt and grime. Please clean well before you paint your furniture! Who know what will be trapped underneath to contaminate your beautiful paint project! Here’s an idea…

I can’t tell you how many painted pieces I have seen with animal hair, dirt and grime plowed over with paint – yuk!

Please clean well before you paint your furniture!

If you’d like to use an eco-friendly cleaner and have super-clean brushes as well, L’essentiel have created a wonderful product called BRUSH AND SURFACE CLEANER . It’s effective but gentle on your skin and in your environment.

Thank you for caring enough about nurturing our environment more while we create painted furniture and decorate our homes. I hope this has given you some idea when cleaning furniture and being kinder to our world.

Kayleen