Caring for Your Cedar Chest

All furniture needs some basic care, and cedar chests are no exception.  The following advice will make caring for your cedar chest easy, letting it shine for decades to come.

Basic cleaning methods

Below are steps for easy cleaning anyone can do for their cedar chest:

Regular dusting:  Caring for a cedar chest means regular dusting.  If you have the vacuum out, slip on the soft brush attachment and clean. 

Beware the polish:  Avoid using spray polishes and waxes that contain silicone.  Although they give cedar chests a gorgeous glow, these cleaners make refinishing a cedar chest much more difficult.

Wax build-up:  Newer cedar chests naturally develop a waxy build up.  Remove this film with an oil soap cleaner.

Antique cedar chests:  These heirlooms are worth the extra care.  Address questions to a furniture specialist before trying any product.

Waxing cedar chests

A light paste wax application helps cedar chests retain their beauty.  Furniture specialists can recommend a specific wax.  One popular product is carnauba wax that fills in cracks and protects the finish on older cedar chests.  In general:

Read the directions before applying wax to a cedar chest.

Use the softest cloth available to avoid scratching your cedar chest.

Apply the wax with the wood grain, not against it.

Completely buffing the wax will prevent streaking and smearing.  Extra effort now will definitely pay off.

Other great suggestions

Cedar chests are resilient, but not indestructible.  Avoid rooms with strong fluctuations in temperature and humidity.  Such conditions cause premature aging and cracking in the finish.  Be wary of placing beverage glasses on a cedar chest without the protection of coaster.  Flower vases should also not directly touch the cedar surface.

More information on cedar chests