The Top Furniture Polishes & Wood Cleaners in the UK
Is there a better feeling than standing back and admiring your freshly polished dining table or wooden cabinets and shelving?
That smell that lingers in the air after a good polish session when you’re sat down with a cup of tea is what dreams are made of.
If you know exactly what we’re talking about, then this post is for you.
Or if you’re reading this thinking, “what are you on about Clean and Tidy Living?”
Then maybe you haven’t discovered the wonder of using the best furniture polish to get surfaces shining, moisturised and smelling divine.
Either way, we hope our recommendations and product reviews are useful.
There are loads of different types of furniture polish out there, designed for different types of wood, methods of application and varying fragrances.
Most people tend to use what they saw their relatives using when they were growing up, without really stopping to think whether it’s the best option for them.
To help you pick the right option, we’ve included a variety of products so there’s something for every household and budget.
And at the bottom of this post, we’ve included a mini buyers guide for furniture polish to clear up some common furniture polish FAQs.
In this post, we’ll be discussing:
- The best furniture polishes in the UK and our thoughts on each one
- What furniture polish does
- The different types of furniture polishes
- How to use the different types of furniture polishes
1. HG Furniture Polish – Overall Best Furniture Polish UK
2. Pledge Beautify It Enhancing Polish Classic – Best Affordable Furniture Polish
3. Lakeland Orange Oil Wood Polish – Best Furniture Oil
4. Method Touch Wood Polish Spray – Best Plant-Based Furniture Polish UK
What is the Best Furniture Polish UK
1. HG Furniture Polish – Overall Best Furniture Polish UK
If you’re looking for a no-frills, easy to use product that transforms wooden furniture without the effort – then we think you’ll love HG’s furniture polish.
It has a milder smell than most other polishes but still gets the job done.
It also doesn’t contain silicone, which is what some furniture polishes use to create the illusion of shine without actually polishing the surface.
One happy reviewer commented:
“This is simply the best furniture polish I have ever used. It has transformed a set of Oak dining chairs and they no longer look shabby or have white streaks in the wood grain. I thoroughly recommend this.”
| A mild-scented, non-silicone furniture spray polish that’s multi-purpose and restores wood to its original shiny and beautiful appearance. |
Quantity: 300ml
Fragrance: Mild
Applications: Solid or veneer wooden surfaces coated with varnish, oil, paint, wax or stain and for synthetic surfaces
Pros
- Multi-purpose
- Works for dusting and polishing
- Doesn’t contain silicone
- Mild scent
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Well-known, quality brand
Cons
- Not overly fragranced
Overall, after researching this furniture polish, we think it’s the best furniture polish overall because it can be used for dusting around the home and for restoring wooden pieces.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this polish for antique furniture because we prefer to use completely natural products.
For more information on this cleaning product, including pricing and reviews, click the button below to view on Amazon.
2. Pledge Beautify It Enhancing Polish Classic – Best Affordable Polish
Pledge Beautify It polish can be used all around the home on any sealed surface, such as sealed woods or stone.
If you’re looking to shine your surfaces and add a layer of protection from scratches, without breaking the bank, then this spray may be the one for you.
If you love the smell of Pledge, then you may want to dust your entire home with this spray.
As it removes fingerprints, animal dander and dust, you wouldn’t go far wrong if you did!
| A pleasant smelling, affordable, multi-purpose furniture polish for sealed woods, stone and leather. |
Quantity: 250ml
Fragrance: Classic Pledge
Applications: Sealed wood, Sealed stone, Leather
Pros
- Polishes and removes dust
- Pleasant polish fragrance
- Multi-purpose
- Affordable
- Well-known brand
Cons
- Only for use on sealed surfaces
Overall, after researching this furniture polish, we think it’s the best option for those looking for an affordable polish that gets the job done, because it’s a great price point but has great reviews on Amazon.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this polish for homes with wood or antiques because it’s designed for use on sealed surfaces only.
For more information on this cleaning product, including pricing and reviews, click the button below to view on Amazon.
3. Lakeland Orange Oil Wood Polish – Best Furniture Oil
Lakelands furniture oil cleans, nourishes and protects by penetrating wood to replace the natural oils.
The reviews on Amazon are filled with happy customers showing off their wonderful transformations of shabby wooden furniture to gorgeous luxury items.
One of these reviewers said:
“Purchased for a real wood kitchen table:
The table was looking a little rough with the original coating starting to give way to daily scratches and kids toys, board games, pens, cleaning products etc.
I have found that applying this product really brings the wood back to life. It soaks in where it needs to and allows the grain to really come alive. I leave for a few mins and then lightly buff to a shine.”
To use it, just pour a little of the pure, orange-scented oil onto a clean, dry cloth and gently polish to remove dirt, marks and stains and leave behind a beautiful shine
| Easy to use by applying to un-treated wood and letting the oil soak in and do its thing, leaving a lovely scent and shine behind. |
Quantity: 500ml
Fragrance: Orange/Citrus
Applications: Untreated wood
Pro
- Easy to use + lovely orange smell
- Natural product
- Restores wood from scratch
- Hydrates and prolongs the life of the wood
Cons
- Can’t be used on sealed or treated woods as the oil needs to penetrate into the wood
Overall, after researching this furniture polish, we think it’s the best option for untreated, non-sealed wood that’s past its best because the oil soaks into the wood itself and restores it from the inside out, leaving a lovely sheen behind.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this polish for sealed wood because the oil won’t soak into the wood, and you’ll be left with a greasy piece of furniture or surface that’s difficult to clean.
For more information on this cleaning product, including pricing and reviews, click the button below to view on Amazon.
4. Method Touch Wood Polish Spray – Best Plant-Based Furniture Polish UK
Method’s cleverly named ‘Touch Wood’ wood furniture polish is completely non-toxic and plant-based.
However, that doesn’t mean it compromises on the quality or finish it provides.
Method’s products are slightly higher than the average priced cleaning product, but for good reason.
They prioritise using high-quality, natural ingredients to create products that outperform others and smell absolutely gorgeous.
And their furniture polish is no exception.
It uses a no-wax formula that brings your wood back to life without leaving residue or buildup.
If you like Methods products or using natural cleaning products, you might like our posts The Best Natural Washing Powder In The UK and Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products In The UK.
| An almond-scented wood polish by Method that brings wood back to life without using wax or silicone. |
Quantity: 350ml
Fragrance: Almond
Applications: Gently cleans wood surfaces, cleans and buffs wood to show off its natural beauty.
Pros
- Pleasant fragrance
- Easy to apply and use
- Non-toxic
- Not tested on animals
- High quality brand
Cons
- Slightly pricey if used frequently
Overall, after researching this furniture polish, we think it’s the best option for a plant-based furniture polish because it’s made from high-quality natural ingredients that will treat and protect wooden surfaces.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this polish for those who frequently use wood polish because it is slightly less affordable than other options such as Pledge Beautify It.
For more information on this cleaning product, including pricing and reviews, click the button below to view on Amazon.
4. Method Touch Wood Polish Spray – Best Plant-Based
What does Furniture Polish Do?
Furniture polish cleans and shines surfaces and prevents or covers up scratches.
However, most importantly, furniture polish can actually repel dust, which keeps surfaces clean for longer than other household cleaning products.
If you’re looking to dust wooden surfaces, remember that dusting and polishing aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Over-polishing wood can actually cause damage, so be sure not to over-saturate a surface with chemical cleaning products.
We recommend dusting quality woods and antiques with a damp cloth or a soft-bristled vacuum attachment, and polishing only when the wood starts to look tired or scratched.
For non-wooden surfaces or standard furniture, such as IKEA’s stuff, then you can’t do any damage with furniture polish – so there’s no need to worry about over-polishing here.
We much prefer the smell of furniture polish to a damp cloth, but it’s up to you whether it’s necessary.
What are the Different Types?
If you’ve ever tried to buy new furniture polish you may have been overwhelmed with all the options out there.
The supermarket shelves are full of waxes, oils, sprays, wipes and liquids.
Who knew there were so many different types of furniture polish?!
If your home is mostly filled with modern pieces, you’ll probably be fine without knowing when to use different types of polish.
Most modern materials can be cleaned with any multi-purpose spray or wipe.
However, if you enjoy proper wood or antique furniture, then it’s good to understand how to properly take care of it.
Wood can swell, shrink, split and scratch without proper care or preventative measures.
Plus it’s expensive, so spending a little extra time taking care of antiques and wooden furniture is worth the effort.
We don’t recommend using any modern sprays or polishes.
In fact, there’s such a thing as over-polishing wood.
We recommend dusting with a damp cloth or the soft-bristled hoover attachment.
When the antique furniture starts to look tired or scratched, use wax polish to buff and protect the surface.
We think the best furniture polish for antiques is actually pure beeswax, as it’s cheap, natural and better for the wood.
How to Use
The best way to polish furniture is to apply it directly to the cloth rather than the surface you’re cleaning.
Applying the product to the cloth rather than the surface prevents floors from becoming slippery, uses up less product to save money long-term, prevents over-saturating the wood or surface with too much product.
To use furniture polish, spray, pour or scoop a small amount onto your duster and wipe it onto the surface.
With this method, you’re left with a perfectly clean item of furniture, with no product wastage or slip hazards due to over-enthusiastic spraying.
What is the Best Furniture Polish UK – Final Thoughts
It’s safe to say we’re fairly spoilt for choice when it comes to furniture polishes.
And since there are so many types of wood and other surfaces out there, it makes sense that there’s a confusing amount of products to choose from.
At Clean and Tidy Living we understand that no two households will have the same requirements and budgets for their cleaning products.
In our review posts, we try and include a range of products for multiple uses and at different price points, to hopefully suggest a product that works for everyone.
We hope that our reviews and mini buying guide for finding the best furniture polish have been helpful and that you’ve found what you were looking for.
In case you missed anything, here are the products mentioned in this post again:
1. HG Furniture Polish – Overall Best Furniture Polish UK
2. Pledge Beautify It Enhancing Polish Classic – Best Affordable Furniture Polish
3. Lakeland Orange Oil Wood Polish – Best Furniture Oil
4. Method Touch Wood Polish Spray – Best Plant-Based Furniture Polish UK
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