Furniture polish and finish revivers

Overview

This entry covers consumer maintenance products for finished furniture, not a finish for bare wood. Two kinds matter. Polishes such as Howard's Feed-N-Wax combine waxes and oils to add a soft lustre and a thin protective layer; the maker lists carnauba wax, beeswax, orange oil and conditioning oils. Revivers such as Restor-A-Finish are wipe-on, wipe-off liquids that, per the maker, contain a small amount of stain with solvent and restoring oils, and blend away dullness without removing the existing finish.

Pros

• Quick and low-skill: wipe on, wipe off.
• Howard says Restor-A-Finish removes white heat rings, water marks, sun fade and smoke damage and comes in nine colours (maker claims), as a step before stripping.
• Polish tops up lustre and helps keep a finished surface from looking dry (maker claims).
• Cheap and easy to repeat.

Cons

• The results come from the maker; revivers do not repair deep damage or failed film.
• Howard says Restor-A-Finish is not recommended for floors or exterior surfaces and may not work well on one-step stain and poly finishes.
• Wax and oil polishes can build up and complicate later refinishing; Liberon says its paste waxes need removal with a wax remover before refinishing.
• Contents flammable (see Safety).
• The label chemistry of household polishes varies widely; always read it.

Suitability

Fine for ageing, dull or marked finished surfaces in White oak, Black walnut, Black cherry and other interior joinery. Test on a hidden spot before using, and match tint to the existing finish. Not for floors or outdoor wood (Howard's guidance for the reviver).

Coats and application

Revivers: choose the colour closest to your finish (a neutral one works on all shades per the maker), apply with a small pad of cloth or fine steel wool, rub with the grain with light pressure, check progress often, and wipe dry; Howard says to cover a small area at a time. Polishes: apply thinly with a soft cloth and buff. Howard recommends following Restor-A-Finish with Feed-N-Wax to protect the newly restored finish. See Wipe-on application for technique.

Compatibility

Revivers are meant for most existing film finishes; Howard names some for which it is not suitable. Always spot-test. If you plan to refinish later, remove wax and polish residue first; a wax over a finish may interfere with new coats. Paste waxes are covered in Paste wax and Beeswax and carnauba; revivers can precede a Rubbing out a finish-type polish when the film itself is sound.

Care and repair

Dust with a clean cloth and polish only when needed; over-polishing builds residue. A reviver treatment can be repeated if the surface dulls again. If the finish is cracked, flaking or worn through, a reviver will not fix it; refinish (Shellac, Wipe-on polyurethane).

Safety and environment

Howard's Restor-A-Finish label reads in capitals that the contents and fumes may catch fire, may irritate eyes and skin and are harmful; keep away from flames, use with ventilation, and keep out of reach of children. Many wipe-on and wax products leave rags wet with solvents or oils; handle them per Oily rag safety, since oily-rag disposal advice differs by product and source. Check the SDS for each product. Briwax's page lists a Prop 65 toluene warning on Original and a toluene-free option.

Related

• Paste wax: tins of wax for finishing.
• Beeswax and carnauba: the ingredient waxes.
• Wipe-on application: wiping technique.
• Rubbing out a finish: refining a film finish.
• Oily rag safety: rag disposal.