If you have wooden furniture in your home, whether it is a wooden coffee table, wall unit, or dresser, you want to make sure that you keep your furniture clean and looking like new for as long as possible. You don't want to invest that much money in nice wooden furniture only to find it grimy or stained months later. Fortunately, maintaining the appearance of your furniture is relatively easy—a little effort goes a long way. Although there are some specialty woods, such as wicker and bamboo, that require special care, most wooden furniture is quite easy to maintain.

If your furniture is painted, cleaning should not involve much more than dusting and possibly vacuuming occasionally. You should vacuum with a brush attachment if possible. If there are smudges or dirt marks on the wood's surface, wipe it down with a sponge. This should be the extent of your cleaning efforts, as waxing and other cleaning methods can damage the painted surface. With oiled wood, you should re-apply an oil finish every once in a while. Do not wax oiled wood either, as this will dry it out. Polished wood can be wiped with a damp cloth and waxed. Wear gloves when you wax your polished furniture to avoid leaving fingerprints. You should only add additional polish every few months—if you do this too often, the polish will start to build up.

There are also several steps you can take to avoid having to clean your furniture as often in the first place. Dust, sweep, and vacuum your rooms regularly to avoid the build up of dirt and dust. Make sure your family members always use placemats and coasters to avoid stains and rings on tables and desks. This obviously should not be an issue for your wall unit or dresser. Make sure you do not place hot objects directly on wooden surfaces; if the heat discolors the wood, there will be little you can do to fix it.

Extreme temperatures, as well as very humid or dry climates, can alter the natural color of your furniture. Try to maintain a moderate temperature in your house, and keep your furniture away from direct sunlight. The heat from the sun can damage wooden surfaces, as can the actual UV rays themselves. If you live in a particularly humid or dry area of the country, or if your furniture is located somewhere with poor air circulation like an attic or basement, buy a humidifier or de-humidifier to keep the amount of moisture in the air fairly constant.

Whether you have just bought a new wooden wall unit or you want to keep your old wooden desk looking like new, these tips should help you to keep your furniture clean and maintain its natural color and texture. You have most likely invested quite a bit of time and money in the decoration of your home or apartment, so make sure you keep your furniture in good condition.