Oil-finished furniture picks up dirt quickly than furniture with a lacquer or polyurethane finish, mainly since the wood grain is slightly raised and catches dust and dirt as it floats by. You can keep the furniture looking great by dusting it frequently, but sometimes you want to wipe it down with a cleaning solution to remove the ground-in dirt. You will need a very particular type of cleaner, without any water, wax or furniture polish to build up on the surface and dull the appearance of the wood.
Utilize a lint-free, soft fabric without buttons or zippers for dusting. Avoid using a feather duster — it doesn’t remove dust and can actually make the surface duller.
Clean out the wood regularly with a solution consisting of 1-cup boiled linseed oil, 1-cup turpentine and 1/3-cup white vinegar. The turpentine and vinegar cut through grime while the linseed oil revitalizes the oil finish.
Wipe the solution on the wood with a clean cloth; do not pour it on. Allow the solution remain on the surface for several minutes; then rub it off with another clean, lint-free fabric. Wipe along the grain of the wood.