To ensure that the furniture also shines in new splendor and the natural grain of the wood is highlighted, we advise treating your wooden furniture with wood oil. The oil not only beautifies but also protects the wood surface from weathering, such as moisture.
Experience how newly shiny pieces of furniture or wooden floors improve the climate in your home and increase the feel-good factor. Thanks to purely organic wood oils, it is even possible to treat kitchen surfaces and objects that often come into contact with food.
Wood Oils Buying Advice:
Choose the right product from the above wood oils test or comparison.
Best Wood Oils
Best Wood Oil for Parquet & Furniture
Best Wood Teak Oil
WATCO Teak Oil is specifically formulated for dense woods such as teak, rosewood or mahogany.
4,9 Rating
Rust-Oleum Watco Teak Oil Finish
- Outstanding UV and moisture resistant finish
- Great for marine use above the water line
- Easy application and maintenance
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The Best Oil Finishes for Wood Furniture
Best Danish Oil
Best Teak Oil
Best Tung Oil
- Real Milk Paint Dark Tung Oil
- FDC Chem Pure Tung Oil
- HOPE’S Pure Tung Oil Wood Finish
- Minwax Tung Oil Finish
- WoodRiver Pure Tung Oil
Best Hardwax oil
Best Universal Wood Oil
Tung oil
This oil is extracted from the seeds of the tung or as it is sometimes called the “oil” tree.
The unique properties of tung oil are due to the high content (60-80%) of eleostearic acid esters, artificial synthesis of which is not yet possible.
The properties of tung oil:
Unlike most oils, tung oil has a very deep penetration into the treated surface and is also very appreciated by master cabinetmakers because of the following properties:
- Is made from natural hypoallergenic components;
- Has a very high degree of protection against moisture, which allows you to use it for decorating exterior surfaces in central;
- Provides full protection of the surface from fungus, mold;
- Emphasizes the natural pattern of wood;
- During processing a solid polymer layer is created;
- Reliably protects the surface from abrasion and small mechanical defects like scratches;
- Versatile – suitable for both soft and very hard types of wood;
- Low material consumption: about 80-100 grams per square meter of the one layer coating.
Teak oil
Teak oil does not contain components harmful to human health. The oil is suitable for treating the wood of children’s furniture.
Teak oil properties
Teak oil is waterproof and vapor-proof. Other useful and pleasant properties of this impregnation include:
- High penetration ability – it impregnates the middle layer of wood;
- Antiseptic effect and resistance to UV rays;
- Allows for several times longer life of wooden products;
- Good solubility in organic solvents;
- Wood oil is well absorbed by any kind of wood, without leaving a film, greatly increases the durability of objects;
- Less yellowing than linseed oil and better protection against water;
- An object treated with teak oil does not change its color with time;
- Fast drying, economical to use, suitable for all types of wood.
Danish Oil
The composition of this oil was selected by a Dane, which is why it got its name. In the USA in the middle of the last century, Danish-made furniture was popular – it was made of noble types of wood and cost accordingly. As a result, the English company Rustins Ltd developed a composition to imitate on cheap wood.
Composition despite the common name can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, the necessary elements: linseed, tung, teak oil, solvents. It may contain varnish and other additives. Conditionally, it can be considered a hybrid of the previous two with a few modern innovations, the other two oils appeared much earlier.
Properties of Danish oil
Most of the properties such as moisture resistance, deep impregnation, etc., are the same as the previous samples (due to the similarity of the compositions), so let’s mark out the distinguishing features:
- Does not form any film on the surface of the wood, which can abrade, peel off or crack over time;
- High resistance to external mechanical influences;
- Can be used as a preliminary impregnation of wooden products before the subsequent processing;
- The colors of natural wood are lush and vivid.
All our reviews are based only on expert judgment or practical experience with most of the Wood Oils we consider. We strive to ensure that our leadership is independent and as detailed as possible.
Wood Oil Price:
Under $50
- Minwax Tung Oil Finish
- Furniture Clinic Boiled Linseed Oil
- Rust-Oleum Watco Danish Oil Wood Finish
- Rust-Oleum Watco Teak Oil Finish
- Minwax Teak Oil
- Tried and True Danish Oil Finish
- Star Brite Premium Golden Teak Oil
- WoodRiver Pure Tung Oil
- Odie’s Super Penetrating Oil
Best wood oil for furniture & parquet
Best wood oil Review
Wood oil revives old and gray wooden furniture. The application is very simple. The piece of furniture should be lightly sanded and then rubbed with the oil. Done.
A treatment with wood oil protects your wooden furniture from harmful UV light, which additionally ages and discolors the wood. Furthermore, the wood surface is protected from further weathering.
Solvents have no place in wood oil. Especially if you want to treat countertops, wooden kitchen utensils or children’s toys with the oil.
Wood oil protects the wood from UV radiation and penetrating moisture. Furthermore, the oil gives your furniture a new shine and revives the grain.
Whether it’s a house with a garden, an allotment garden, or shared garden projects in the big city, working and living in the green is becoming increasingly popular. Around 36% of all Germans even have their own garden. Now that summer is finally showing its face, it’s time to enjoy the beautiful weather to the fullest and spend a few days on the balcony, terrace or even in the garden again.
The garden furniture is brought out of hibernation and set up. However, the exterior of the furniture no longer matches the bright sun and blue sky. The wood is gray, lackluster, and even cracked in some places. To give your garden furniture a new shine and bring it back to shape in keeping with the good weather, we recommend wood care with an oil. The natural grain is highlighted by oiling and the wood is protected.
In addition to wood oils, which prevent the wood from rotting and otherwise being attacked, there are wood stains that consist of a mixture of oils and varnishes.
In our wood oil comparison buying guide, we would like to show you how you can give new life to your old and graying furniture, floors and other wooden items. Wood oil will not only help you give wooden furniture and floors a new shine, but also protect the wood from the weather and heavy wear.
Natural oils are among the non-hardening oils. They form deep into the pores of the wood and protect from the inside. Synthetic oils are mixed with solvents and form a protective layer on the surface of the wood.
1. What types of wood oil are there?
Wood oils differ mainly in extraction, their color, consistency and coating properties.
Basically, wood oils can be divided into two categories. On the one hand, there are non-hardening oils, and on the other hand, there are the hardening oils. The former absorbs into the pores of the wood and forms a protective film that protects the wood from weathering. The latter is mixed with synthetic resins and thus becomes solid after some time. These types of oils are often synthetically derived and have solvents added to them to keep them liquid until they are used.
Unlike the synthetically derived oils mentioned above, linseed oil and other natural oils are purely vegetable. This means that these oils can be used in the kitchen without concern. In order for these oils to remain liquid, no chemical solvents are used, but rather citrus or orange peel oils, which are also natural.
2. Which is oil for which wood?
To find the best wood oil for your needs, you should consider which wood you wanted to treat with the oil, because each wood requires different care. Many brands offer specific oils for different types of wood.
So if you want to treat your hardwood floor, you may need a different oil than to treat a table made of exotic teak.
However, some oils presented here are universal. This feature is especially good if you want to treat furniture, floors or other wooden objects made of different types of wood. You do not have to buy new wood oil for each piece of furniture.
However, if you want to treat a very expensive, possibly old piece of furniture with oil and help it to regain its old beauty, it is recommended to buy an oil that has been developed to suit the wood type of the furniture.
3. Are oils versatile?
Especially heavily used wooden furniture and floors should be regularly treated with oil. Wood indoors suffers from constant use, while wood outdoors is additionally damaged by constant exposure to the elements. To prevent such damage, it is advisable to treat it with wood oil.
If you decide to treat your patio furniture and living room floor with oil, it is recommended to buy an oil that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Many manufacturers offer universal wood oils, which thanks to their production can be used both outdoors and indoors.
There are no limits to the usefulness of wood oils indoors. If the oil is free of solvents and consists of purely vegetable ingredients, it is even possible to clean and impregnate your children’s wooden toys. Here, the oil acts as a protection against the swelling of the wood by saliva, maintains the wooden surface and gives the toy a new shine.
Furthermore, you can treat tables, chairs, countertops and even kitchen utensils made of wood with natural wood oils. This preserves the naturalness of the wood and increases the feel-good factor of your home.
Kitchen utensils such as spoons and spatulas can also be treated with wood oil without any problems.
In addition to the wood oils presented in our wood oil comparison, there are oils that have different properties and these should be used specifically for only one type of wood or specifically for one item, such as floors or furniture.
| Oil types | Properties oil |
| Floor oils / parquet care oils | Floor oils often contain color pigments that lighten or darken the wood. The floor is also impregnated and the natural darkening of the wood is prevented. |
| Furniture care / furniture oil | Furniture oil can be used for untreated and leached surfaces. The oil penetrates deep into the wood structure and has a water- and dirt-repellent effect. |
| Oil waxes | The combination of oil and wax helps dull and gray wood to shine again. The oil protects against dirt, the wax makes it shiny again. |
4. Does too strong an odor cause headaches?
To maintain the feel-good factor in your house or apartment, you should make sure when buying an oil that it has no or only a slight inherent odor. Nothing is worse than having to air out your house or apartment for weeks because the oil you use smells too strong and may cause headaches or discomfort.
A well-stocked specialty store should have conducted its own wood oil test to give you more information about the oil’s compatibility with the indoor environment. The winner of this wood oil test can therefore also be used quickly for wood care without giving you a headache because of annoying odors.
Annoyance from odors can quickly lead to headaches. Make sure that the oil you use does not smell or smells only slightly.
5. Are solvent-free oils ecological?
If you want to treat wooden surfaces and utensils in the kitchen or other surfaces that come into contact with food with wood oil, you should make sure when buying an oil that it is ecologically compatible and degradable.
Accordingly, the ecological, as well as health properties of the oil, should be well tolerated by humans, animals, and the environment.
Especially pure vegetable oils pose no danger to the environment and can be used without hesitation for the protection of wooden objects that come into contact with food. You should only make sure that the oil is completely dry and hardened after application before you use the object again.
Thanks to the treatment with wood oil, the work surface has been impregnated and the red wine can not penetrate into the wood.
6. Oils dry longer than stains
Compared to wood stains or varnishes, wood oils dry more slowly because oils penetrate deeper into the wood due to their chemical structure.
A good wood oil should be absorbed after about two to three hours and leave a dust-dry surface. Dust-dry here means that dust no longer sticks to the surface. It can take up to 21 days for the oil to dry out completely. This is also due to the deep penetration of the oil into the wood structure. Advantages and disadvantages of colorless wood oil:
Advantages
- highlights the grain
- wood continues to regulate humidity
- mostly biodegradable
- production from environmentally friendly and renewable raw materials
Disadvantages
- protects only conditionally against UV radiation
7. Oils must be stored correctly
Items used during work, such as brushes or cotton cloths, should definitely be hung up in the air, smooth and open. This will prevent spontaneous combustion of the working materials.
Most oils have a shelf life of up to 12 months after opening. Proper storage of wood oil is therefore even more important so that you can use it again next year to oil your wooden furniture.
You should make sure that the oil can or bottle is not bent or broken and can be sealed airtight. Furthermore, storage in a frost-free garage or shed is recommended. If you have used about two-thirds of the oil, transfer the remaining oil to a smaller container to prevent the oil from drying out.
Cloths that have been used when working with oil should be hung outside to dry.
