The smell of furniture polish is a comfort – it reawakens within us the satisfying feeling of a newly-cleaned house and combines it with the nostalgia of a visit to a well-tended stately home. Using furniture polish around your abode can bring a high shine to wood, granite and stainless steel with minimal effort. Some formulas even repel dust by reducing static.
Many furniture polishes exist, from highly-scented floral aerosols from Pledge and Mr Sheen to tins of natural beeswax and almond-based sprays from eco-aware companies like Method. Whether you're looking to spruce up classic oak or pine, antiques, or leather, all of our recommendations are available to buy in the UK from Amazon, John Lewis and major supermarkets.
Quick List - Top Furniture Polishes
Wheelers
Easy-to-Use Beeswax-Infused Spray With Lavender for Scent and Silk for Shine
Yellow Bees
Soft Wax With a Subtle Honey Scent in an Easily Recyclable Glass Jar
Furniture Clinic
Polish For Both Treated and Untreated Wood, With a Fruity Orange Scent
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
Choose a Product Specifically Designed for the Surfaces You Wish to Treat
Beeswax-based products are suitable for wooden surfaces only. Beeswax nourishes the wood and enhances the natural grain. It absorbs and then repels further moisture, helping to prevent marks and staining. Most wood polishes are suitable for pre-treated wood (i.e. wood that has already been varnished). Look carefully for those suitable for untreated wood, if that's the surface you are wanting to treat.
Synthetic polishes are designed to work on numerous surfaces – glass, wood and metal are all commonly catered for if you purchase a multipurpose polish. Some are even recommended for use on screens and electronics, but double-check the usage instructions and utilise the suitable product sparingly.
We can suggest specific screen cleaners for your electronic gear.
To tackle dirt in hard-to-reach places, the right duster makes all the difference.
Beeswax and (the vegan-friendly alternative) almond oil are two options for those seeking a naturally derived polish. Many are infused with essential oils, or they simply allow the beeswax or almond aroma to gently infuse your home whilst working their magic on your wooden furniture.
Silicone sprays are best for those looking for a superb shine with very little effort. No buffing is required, just spray onto a clean surface and wipe. Plus, these artificial sprays have often been developed to reduce dust accumulation by adding an anti-static layer to your surfaces.
Prolonged use of silicone-containing products can cause build-up over time, resulting in a dulling-down of the shine and potentially hazy patches or 'blooming' on your wooden furniture. Cleaning thoroughly with (highly flammable) turpentine-type spirits is often the only way to remove such build-ups, so use silicone-containing products sparingly.
If you'd also like to treat your car, check out our best car polishes.
If you are embarking on a full-house, top-to-toe clean, then be sure to check the product specifications for toxicity, especially if you are polishing wooden items which are used in the kitchen (such as chopping boards and salad utensils) or in a child's nursery.
It is essential that such items are treated with food-grade certified polish or wax, for obvious reasons when it comes to food preparation – and because babies and toddlers chew any surface they are close to when young. Most cots and cot beds have teeth marks around the perimeter, so don't forget to consider this when doing your deep spring clean complete with furniture polish.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wheelers Beeswax Furniture Polish Spray|300 ml | ![]() | Easy-to-Use Beeswax-Infused Spray With Lavender for Scent and Silk for Shine | |
2 | Method Wood Polish Spray|354 ml | ![]() | Almond Oil Spray to Nourish Wood Naturally | |
3 | Yellow Bees No Smell Beeswax Furniture Polish|200 ml | ![]() | Soft Wax With a Subtle Honey Scent in an Easily Recyclable Glass Jar | |
4 | Furniture Clinic Orange Scented Wood Wax & Wood Polish|500 ml | ![]() | Polish For Both Treated and Untreated Wood, With a Fruity Orange Scent | |
5 | Ecozone Wood Furniture Polish - Almond|500 ml | ![]() | Cruelty-Free Furniture Spray, Suitable for Use in Vegan Households | |
6 | Lord Sheraton Caretaker Silicone Free Furniture Polish|300 ml | ![]() | Infused With Essential Oils and Suitable for Antique and Leather Furniture | |
7 | Aristowax Original Wood Silk Silicone Free Spray Polish|250 ml | ![]() | A Non-Silicone Aerosol With a Traditional Polish Scent | |
8 | Pledge Clean It Multisurface Cleaner - Jasmine|250 ml | ![]() | A Jasmine-Scented Cleaner Suitable for 101 Different Surfaces | |
9 | Mr Sheen Multi Surface-Polish Magnolia & Cherry Blossom|250 ml | ![]() | Highly Scented Aerosol Spray for Wood, Glass, Metal and Plastic | |
10 | ASDA Multi Surface Polish|300 ml | ![]() | A Bargain Supermarket-Brand Polish for Use on Many Surfaces |
This simple-to-use beeswax-infused furniture polish spray is enriched with lavender and camomile essential oils to give it a subtle and pleasant scent. The water-like consistency requires very little to be applied, before polishing to a high shine.
The spray is also enriched with silk proteins to nourish, protect and give a natural sheen. Made in the UK for over 30 years, this product has many fans thanks to its non-toxic formula and easy application.
Method are a well-known eco-friendly cleaning product brand and their wood polish doesn't disappoint. This non-toxic spray-on formula gently cleans and buffs any pre-treated or pre-oiled wood, bringing out its natural beauty.
No residue is left behind, meaning no risk of build-up with prolonged use, but do use it just sparingly to achieve a high shine. The scent of almonds is pleasant and not overpowering – apparently, it reminds users of marzipan!
This high-quality wax has barely any aroma, just a subtle beeswax-honey scent. It is pleasant to use thanks to its soft consistency – simply wipe a small amount onto the wood and buff it off with a clean cloth to achieve a beautiful high shine.
This product does not require open window ventilation and its non-toxic formula is of food-grade standard, so you can safely polish nursery furniture, wooden cutlery and other surfaces. Great quality and made in the UK, we feel this product is well worth the relatively high price tag.
Furniture Clinic's Wax & Polish is suitable for use on both previously treated and untreated wood. Apply the slightly sticky liquid liberally with a cloth, leave for 20 minutes and buff off to an impressive shine, with two further clean cloths.
The combination of natural beeswax and Carnauba wax gives the wood a protective coating. The formula is infused with aromatic orange oil – which reminds some reviewers of sweet orange Calpol! – so your home will be left smelling sweet and summery.
Ecozone's Wood Furniture Polish is formulated with plant-based ingredients, including avocado oil and almond essence. Lift stubborn marks and dust from wooden furniture by simply spritzing and wiping, all whilst enjoying the almond scent.
This product is made in the UK, is cruelty-free, safe for aquatic life and for household pets and (as it doesn't contain beeswax) it is suitable for use in vegan households. Allergy-UK gives it their seal of approval, too.
The light blend of beeswax, rosemary, clove, lavender and eucalyptus oils will infuse your home, whilst the product nourishes your furniture. Its silicone-free formulation makes it suitable for use on all wooden furniture, including fine and antique pieces. It can also be used on leather items.
If you like the nourishing effect of pure beeswax but need something which is far easier to apply, then this is the product for you. Just spray the aerosol and then wipe immediately with a clean, soft cloth – no arm workout required.
The cute honeycomb lid of the spray can caught our eye – it's a design that could be left out on show. The lack of silicone means that this product won't damage the finish of your furniture either; over time, silicones can seep into the wood and create hazy 'blooming' marks, which are unsightly and irreversible.
The scent is that of 'old fashioned polish' which will transport you back to childhood trips to the homes of house-proud relatives. In addition, it nourishes so well that you can spray it on less frequently than other aerosol brands.
This Pledge Multisurface Cleaner has been designed to be used on 101 different sealed surfaces, from electronics to porcelain, granite to stainless steel, and wood to mirrors. This impressive feature makes it a handy product to have to hand if strongly scented aerosols are your go-to.
Reviewers praise the streak-free finish on sealed screen devices, glass and mirrors, capturing 3x as much dust when compared to a dry cloth. However, the effect on wood is generally considered less impressive than other big-brand wood-specific polishes.
Mr Sheen's intensely floral Magnolia and Cherry Blossom aerosol spray polish boasts 'dust trap technology', meaning it picks up twice as much dust compared to using a dry cloth alone. The formula actively attracts particles, leaving a dust-free and streak-free finish.
This is another multi-surface product, suitable for use on wood, glass, metal and plastic. A high-shine is guaranteed thanks to the silicones and wax crystals within, although over time product build-up may cause a dulling to occur.
If you are after a bargain spray, with an admittedly 'artificial' scent, then this could be the multisurface cleaner for you. Suitable for use on wood, metal and glass, it cleans with a streak-free finish and has an anti-static effect to repel dust.
For large areas, spray at a distance of 20 cm and polish immediately. For smaller areas, spray directly onto the cloth before use. Some reviewers have noticed a waxy build-up after prolonged use, so it may be best to use this one sparingly.
Written and researched by Lucy Smith
No. 1: Wheelers|Beeswax Furniture Polish Spray|300 ml
No. 2: Method|Wood Polish Spray|354 ml
No. 3: Yellow Bees|No Smell Beeswax Furniture Polish|200 ml
No. 4: Furniture Clinic |Orange Scented Wood Wax & Wood Polish|500 ml
No. 5: Ecozone|Wood Furniture Polish - Almond|500 ml
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games