Frequently Asked Questions – Furniture Polish & Cleaner

Yes, the Furniture Polish & Cleaner can be used on any finished surface. From the lightest maple and oak to dark mahogany, walnut and even black lacquer. Trade Secret Furniture Polish is pH balanced and is compatible with any color. In the case of teak, we recommend using teak oil.

As often as you want, especially if you’re one of those people that likes to clean weekly (our favourite type of people!). The Trade Secret Furniture Polish contains no waxes, acids or silicones and won’t harm the surface. There’s no waxy yellow build-up…. but remember a little goes a long way.

Trade SecretFurniture Polish and Cleaner contains no acid, wax or silicone. These products are present in almost all maintenance products for wood and all are detrimental to finished furniture. Trade Secret prevents cracking and yellowing and leaves no waxy, yellow build-up. Having been used for years by professionals in the furniture industry, Trade Secret has received their stamp of approval.

Pigmented (coloured) cleaners may also result in discolouration of your finishes, especially when in high sunlight areas. While this is less of an issue with darker furniture, lighter furniture can actually be stained by pigmented cleaners and polishes.

Beautify. Many years ago, people discovered that wood looked better with the addition of color (stain). The earliest stains were made from natural or vegetable ingredients. Modern times have produced a wide range of colors dispersed in solvent or water bases to stain wood. In addition to color the wood beauty will be enhanced with a protective coating that brings out the depth and grain. A simple analogy: a stone immersed in water shows its colors beautifully yet remains dull when dry (the exact same thing applies to our Marketing Manager).

Protect. A finish is designed to protect against normal wear and tear, i.e. scratches, spills, heat, etc. The most common finishes used by wood workers are lacquers, shellacs, varnishes, urethanes, polyesters, acrylics and synthetics. Liquids or other contaminants that come directly into contact with unfinished wood can result in much more difficult to resolve issues.

Beautify. Commonly used to enhance the beauty of the wood by cleaning and polishing the surface finish, raising the lustre and giving the wood a deeper, richer look.
Protect. Used to moisturize the finish and prevent cracks which can arise from excessive heat or dryness or drastic changes between these two states. Home heating and air conditioning along with seasonal temperature and humidity changes can certainly take a toll on an untreated finish. Polishes have a low surface tension that gives scratch resistance and protection from common wear and tear. In addition, they leave a low molecular film (best to Google that one) adding protection against spills.

The main reason silicone is frowned upon as an ingredient in cleaners and polishes is with regard to refinishing or touch ups. If ever you need to refinish or touch-up a cherished piece that has been treated with a silicone-based cleaner, the finishes will inevitably react creating increased time and costs in any kind of repair or refinishing job.

There is other anecdotal evidence that silicone may have more aggressive effects on a finish over time. However, the main issue, to our knowledge is that it will make any future touch up or refinishing job exponentially more difficult and potentially costly.

Trade Secret Furniture Polish and Cleaner contains no silicones or harmful acids, is non-abrasive, and will not discolour metal hardware.

Virtually all modern-day furniture is coated with a finish that beautifies and protects the wood. This finish will look oily or have a cloudy film if polished with lemon oil or paste wax, which are products originally designed for bare wood applications. Regular use of wax polishes will result in a build-up of the wax film on the surface of the furniture. This build-up will pick up dirt, smoke and other pollutants in the air and can smudge and streak. Prolonged use of lemon oil, which can be quite an aggressive solvent, can soften the finish, requiring expensive refinishing work. Wax build-up hardens and yellows over time and is difficult to remove. It will also react when a non-wax polish is used, often resulting in smearing and a sticky mess.

Trade Secret Furniture Polish and Cleaner contains no wax or lemon oil and is designed to moisturize and protect the finish leaving a higher, richer shine with no wax or sticky build-up.

Simple, apply the Furniture Polish & Cleaner to a clean cloth and then clean the surface. Buff off any excess immediately.

No. Our products have been tested and used by leading furniture manufacturers and cabinetmakers for years. These products are unique for consumers but not for professionals. That’s why we call it ‘Trade Secret’. Try them, You’ll love the difference. As with all repair products, we suggest that you test it first on an inconspicuous area to ensure best results.
However, if you have used wax based polishes in the past, you may see clouding in the finish. In most cases this will disappear, however in some case you need only reapply a little Trade Secret Furniture Polish and buff the surface. If you are unsure of what to do, please contact us.

No. The polish is safe. The formulation has low VOCs (volatile organic compounds).The only reason to wear gloves or any covering would be to protect against staining your clothing or upholstery… but still, please keep out of reach of children.

Obviously, all cleaning products should be kept out of the reach of small children, but once the Trade Secret Furniture Polish is applied and dries, it is no problem whatsoever for children or pets.

Yes. Veneer is simply a thin slice of wood on the surface that is glued to plywood or particle board. Trade Secret Furniture Polish & Cleaner can be used on all finished solid wood and veneers surfaces.

Pretty much any cloth will do, but you’ll get the best results with more absorbent cotton cloths, such as old T-shirts that are at least 65% cotton. It is also important to use non-coloured cloths. Anything with a print, decals or other pigmentation could react with the products. Make sure that there are no buttons or zippers that can harm the surface.