We updated this article in February 2022 to include new winners and add more information about each featured product, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.
Whether you’ve inherited antique wood chairs or just invested in a brand new dining room set, sunlight, dust and daily use all cause wood furniture to lose its luster over time, especially if you forget to polish it. It may be tempting to use a hardwood floor cleaner on your furniture, but Carolyn Forte, Executive Director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab, says “The finishes used on oak, mahogany and other wood furniture are different from those found on hardwood floors, and each needs its own special care.” Use polish specifically formulated for furniture. Good furniture polish should repel dust, and banish dirt, fingerprints and more, all while leaving a protective and gleaming surface behind.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab rigorously tests all kinds of cleaning products like upholstery cleaners and carpet cleaners and, of course, furniture polishes. In our last category test, our experts spent over a month testing 33 furniture polishes. They applied measured amounts of each to test finished wood panels to assess how well they cleaned and removed marks like fingerprints and water rings. They noted how easy or messy the polish was to use, the need for extra buffing, how the wood looked after application and if the polish offered protection against water spotting and smears. They also used a gloss meter to determine how much shine they left behind. Each product was also evaluated for label warnings, cautionary statements and safety precautions, and each product’s safety data sheet was carefully reviewed. Below are our top picks for the best furniture polish of 2022:
Our top picks
- Best Overall Furniture Polish: Guardsman Anytime Clean & Polish
- Best Furniture Polish for Wood Furniture: Pledge Restoring Oil
- Best Furniture Polish for Antiques: Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish
- Easiest Furniture Polish to Apply: Scott’s Liquid Gold Wood Care
- Best Furniture Polish Wipes: Weiman Furniture Wipes
- Best Furniture Polish Cloth: Twinkle Dust and Shine Cloth
- Best Furniture Kit for Scratches: Weiman Repair Kit
- Best Furniture Polish for Leather: Furniture Clinic Leather Care Kit
Best Overall Furniture Polish
Guardsman
Clean & Polish For Wood Furniture
Guardsman
- Double-duty polish and cleanser
- Helps prevent wood discoloration
- Won’t leave streaks or greasy residue
- Only for use on finished, sealed wood
The quick-drying Guardsman Anytime Fresh Clean & Polish doubles as a polish and a cleanser, which will save you serious time. In our test, it left panels looking freshly polished even after 24 hours and was very effective at cleaning water rings and crayon marks. Not only does it conceal the appearance of scratches but it also has UV protection to help prevent wood from discoloring and fading when exposed to sunlight, according to Guardsman. It’s free of wax and silicones to give a low luster shine without leaving greasy residue or streaks behind.
- Formula: Oil
- Application method: Aerosol spray
- Surfaces it can be used: Finished, sealed wood
- Scent: Lemon
Best Furniture Polish for Wood Furniture
SC Johnson
Pledge Restoring Oil Furniture Polish
SC Johnson
- Top-tested for cleaning ability without leaving residue
- Smear-resistant
- Convenient spray application
- Need to take care not to spray on surrounding areas not being polished
Pledge’s Restoring Oil conditions and revitalizes wood, both finished and unfinished. Unlike some other oils in our test, it received perfect scores for cleaning up fingerprints, crayons and water rings, while leaving zero residue behind. We were also impressed with its ability to resist smearing when we slid our fingers across the wood’s surface. While oil formulas in traditional bottles can be messy to apply, this convenient sprayer eliminates the hassle.
Formula: Oil
Application method: Trigger Spray
Surfaces it can be used: Finished and unfinished wood
Scent: Orange
Best Furniture Polish for Antiques
Howard Products
Wood Polish & Conditioner
Now 53% off
- Ideal for antique wood
- Helps keep moisture out
- Helps prevent further drying and fading
- Not suitable for surfaces other than wood
If you’re looking to spruce up your antique wood furniture, reach for this wax polish from Howard’s. This formula contains carnauba wax and beeswax that provide a layer of protective coating on the wood and help keep moisture out. It also has conditioning oils to help guard wood from further drying and fading. In testing, we found it’s easier to buff than most traditional wax-only formulas, like paste wax. It also worked well to remove crayon marks, greasy fingerprints and water spots.
- Formula: Oil and wax
- Application method: Squeeze bottle
- Surfaces it can be used: Wood
- Scent: Orange
Easiest Furniture Polish to Apply
Scott's Liquid Gold
Wood Care
Scott's
- Top-tested for cleaning quickly
- Excellent for hydrating and nourishing old wood
- Doesn’t leave behind residue
- Not for use on polyurethane, bleached wood, reclaimed or salvaged wood, laminates and veneers.
We were so impressed with Scott’s Liquid Gold we gave it a top spot in our 2021 Cleaning Awards. In our tests, Scott’s cleaned quickly and picked up dust. We were equally impressed it required little, if any, buffing. We also found it gave wood a soft glow thanks to its hydrating and nourishing formula, making it a good choice for polishing old dry wood. It didn’t leave behind residue build-up and was smear-free without extra buffing required.
- Formula: Oil
- Application method: Aerosol spray
- Surfaces it can be used: Wood
- Scent: Almond
Best Furniture Polish Wipes
Weiman
Furniture Wipes
Weiman
- Convenient
- Protects against smearing
- Excellent glossing
- Not for use on floors
- Can dry out over time
GH Seal star Weiman Furniture Wipes are convenient and ideal for targeting small spots or for when you need to spruce up a few surfaces, like coffee or end tables, or in a hurry. We found they cleaned very well and left our test wood panels with an excellent gloss. The wipes also protected against smearing in our tests. Any marks left behind were easy to rebuff, and smudges disappeared quickly from the polished surface. Plus, the wipes are infused with lemon-scented oil and, according to the brand, offer UV protection from the sun. Take note, these wipes should not be used on wood floors or stairs since it contains oil and can make surfaces slippery.
- Formula: Oil
- Application method: Wipes
- Surfaces it can be used: Wood furniture
- Scent: Lemon
Best Furniture Polish Cloth
Twinkle
Dust and Shine Cloth
Twinkle
- Does not scratch
- Reusable up to 50 times
- Can be used on multiple surface types
- Cloths can not be washed
The Twinkle Dust and Shine Cloth is a pre-treated no-scratch solution to keeping your furniture free of dust. Because it’s pre-moistened, it attracts and holds onto dust better than dusting with a dry cloth. Just shake it out after each use and place it back into the resealable packaging. According to the manufacturer, it can be used up to 50 times. This cloth can also be used to dust wood, stainless steel, chrome, natural stone and plastic. Keep in mind, the cloth is not designed to be washed as it can remove the polish treatment.
- Application method: Cloth wipe
- Surfaces it can be used: Wood, stainless steel, chrome, natural stone and plastic
- Scent: None
Best Furniture Kit for Scratches
Weiman
Repair Kit for Furniture and Floors
Weiman
- Helps hide minor knicks and scratches
- Matches a variety of wood tones
- Easy to use
- May not cover deep scratches
Camouflage minor knicks and scratches on your wood furniture with this repair kit. The wax crayons can fill deeper knicks or holes while the markers help blend light scratches and worn edges. The Weiman Wood Repair Kit for Furniture and Floors includes four markers and four wax crayons, ranging from blonde to black to match a variety of wood tones. In our tests of this GH Seal star kit, we found both the crayons and markers easy to use and effective at disguising damage. The array of color options made finding the appropriate shade a cinch.
- Application method: Filler sticks and markers
- Surfaces it can be used: Wood furniture and floors
- Scent: None
Best Furniture Polish for Leather
FurnitureClinic
Leather Care Kit
Furniture Clinic
- Cleans and protects
- Helps protect against oils and water
- Helps make future stain removal easier
- Cleaner and protection are applied separately
If you’re looking to clean your leather couch, we love Furniture Clinic's Leather Care Kit because it both cleans and protects. In our GH Seal tests, it worked very well, cleaning away grime and even blue denim transfer dye stains from leather seats in a car. The barrier protection cream helps repel water and protect against oily stains. We found the protector gives the leather a warm glow and makes future stains, like ink, easier to remove. The kit comes with a bottle of leather cleaner, leather protection cream, applicator sponge, cloth and instructions for use. It can also be used on leather shoes and bags, and in our tests, it worked well on those items too.
- Formula: Cream
- Application method: Squeeze bottle
- Surfaces it can be used: Leather
- Scent: None
How we test furniture polish
Furniture polishes are evaluated for how well they clean dusty wood test panels, including ease of removing greasy fingerprints, crayon marks and water rings. We also note if it leaves behind any film, streaks or unpolished dry spots, and we assess the general uniformity of application. We apply each furniture polish to a freshly cleaned wood panel and use a gloss meter to measure the percentage of glossiness before and after application. We test to see if it resists smears and protects against water spotting. We revisit the panel after 24 hours to see if it maintains its attractive appearance with no hazy film, dry spots or distortion to the shine left behind.
We also evaluate the ease of use based on the clarity of the manufacturer's label directions, how easily and neatly the polish dispenses from its bottle or canister and the ease of buffing to achieve maximum gloss. We also reviewed each product’s safety data sheet, label warnings and cautionary statements for proper safety and use precautions.
What to know when buying and using furniture polish
✔️Check the label for recommended surfaces. Many polishes are only safe to use on specific surfaces and could damage other surfaces if used incorrectly.
✔️Choose oil or wax-based formulas. Never use oil- and wax-based polishes on the same piece of furniture. Putting oil on top of wax can cause the surface to become tacky.
✔️Apply lightly. Forte says, “Less is more when it comes to polishing wood. Product buildup attracts dust and creates grime over time.” To avoid build-up and excess buffing, apply polish first to a cloth and then to the furniture.
✔️Opt for a spray. Trigger or aerosol sprays are typically more convenient to use and allow for more precise control when applying over liquids in pour bottles.
✔️Pre-test for safety. It’s always best to pre-test a new product in a hidden area, especially if you are unsure of the finish. Avoid using if you detect a change in color, feel or appearance.
How often should you polish furniture?
Dusty furniture is an eyesore, so clean and polish your furniture whenever you see it covered with a layer of dust. Unfortunately, that can happen as quickly as from one week to the next. You'll likely notice dust accumulate more rapidly in rooms with carpeting or plush furnishings, like bedrooms, and less so in rooms with bare floors and other hard surfaces. A quick dusting week-to-week is adequate to keep dust at bay.
Heat and exposure to sunlight can quickly dry out furniture finishes leaving them cracked, faded and prone to staining and scratches. Every few months (or as needed), do more than a simple dusting. Apply a good coat of polish to the furniture, spread it evenly and buff well with a clean cloth. If you see any streaks or filminess, turn the cloth and continue buffing until you see a hard, protective shine.
Which polish is better for wood?
Oils are good for enhancing the natural sheen of your wood and they’re suitable for use on both finished and unfinished surfaces. Waxes offer the best protection against moisture and wear and usually leave wood with a soft, warm glow. But they can take a lot more physical effort to buff to achieve the desired shine. Never mix oil and wax on the same piece of furniture. Doing so can leave the surface tacky.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Jamie Kim is a freelance writer and consumer product expert that specializes in product testing and reviews, lending her product knowledge across multiple categories such as apparel, textiles, home, kitchen, beauty and tech. She has over 17 years of experience, previously full-time in the Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab and held leading roles in product development at Nike and other textile companies. She regularly contributes her product expertise to Good Housekeeping as well as other major publications. She is regularly sought after for her product testing expertise and in-depth knowledge of apparel/textiles and her ability to translate technical information into consumer-friendly language. She holds a degree in both apparel and textile design and mechanical engineering.
Carolyn Forte, Executive Director, Home Care & Cleaning Lab, previously a textiles analyst for Montgomery Ward, has a B.A. in Family & Consumer Sciences from Queens College, City University of New York and has extensive consumer product and testing experience in a wide array of categories, including cleaning, appliances and textiles. She has worked at GH for over 40 years.
Jamie KimContributing Writer and AnalystJamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing.
Carolyn FortéHome Care & Cleaning Lab Executive DirectorCarolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab.
