How to clean a wooden handrail | Recommended cleaning and finishing products

Only 22% of homeowners thoroughly clean their staircases, including the handrails and treating the wood. Your handrails are exposed to oil, dirt and bacteria from our hands regularly, meaning that this dirt is constantly being transferred onto the wood surface. This builds up, leaving a sticky residue and discolouration - not to mention the hazards that are associated with bacteria holding on to crevices in the wood grain.

It is important to clean your wooden banister regularly to protect yourself and your family from germs and bacteria, and also to maintain the appearance of your beautiful wooden banister. Knowing where to start can be difficult, especially as different wood treatments will need different cleaning approaches. This guide will help you determine how your wood has been treated and how to go about cleaning and maintaining it.

How to identify your wooden finish

Your wooden finish will likely either be shellac, lacquer, polyurethane, wax, varnish or oil and differently finished wood will need to be cleaned in different ways. Understanding your wood finish can be daunting as the difference between finishes is not always clear.

• Lacquer, shellac and polyurethane: The wood will feel very smooth, and will likely be shiny. You probably won’t be able to feel the wooden texture through the finish.

• Wax: This is a natural-looking finish that protects wood from dirt, oil and moisture quite well. Wax binds to the wood creating a hard-wearing, natural finish that doesn’t chip. It may feel smooth, and it may look slightly shiny depending on the type of wax finish used. This could be a glossy, matt or a satin finish. You will still be able to feel the wood grain as this finish binds with the wood. Shop our range of hardwax oil products here.

• Varnish: These finishes protect the wood from moisture, dirt and oil but they can be less hard-wearing, and they may look less natural as they form a hard coating on top of the wood. Varnish finishes may have an ultra-shiny appearance. In addition to the shine, this finish may conceal some of the texture of the wood to give a slippery-smooth feel.

• Oil: Oil protects wood from small levels of moisture loss and humidity but not from dirt or bacteria. Oil-finished wood will be matte and usually smooth. Add a small drop of wood oil to the handrail and if it slowly absorbs, it has likely been finished with oil.

Oil test: If wood oil beads on the surface of the wood (does not sink in) then it has been treated with either lacquer, shellac, polyurethane, wax, or varnish.

• Unfinished: If the wood is unfinished, it may feel chalky or more coarse to touch. Wood oil will be quickly absorbed into the wood. You may want to finish the wood before cleaning.

Are you looking for a finishing product for your wooden handrail? At Jacksons, we offer a large range of finishing options for wood, including satin, gloss and matt hardwax oil. We also offer a range of wood fillers.

Shop our full selection of finishings here.

Which products should you use on your handrail?

If you are not sure how your wooden stair railing has been finished, contact us on 01142 721 228. Alternatively, opt for the cleaning approach for a lower level of finish. For example, if you are unsure about whether you have a wax or varnish finish, then opt for the varnish cleaning approach.

1. 1. Lacquer, shellac, or polyurethane: cleaning these finishes is easy as they are waterproof and hard-wearing. They will withstand regular cleaning with normal household products such as anti-bacterial spray and soap.

1. 2. Wax: Cleaning wax finished wood is straightforward but there are a few things to consider. Gently clean waxed wood with warm, soapy water and a microfibre cloth - do not scrub wax finishes as they do wear away over time. If possible, use natural dish soap to preserve the wax for longer.

1. 3. Varnish: Clean varnished wood with wood cleaners or a mixture of oil and vinegar (one cup of good quality oil mixed with a tablespoon of white vinegar; this can kill bacteria while keeping the wood healthy). You can use wood polish on varnished wood, but this does not eliminate bacteria, dirt, and grime.

1. 4. Oil: Clean oil-finished wood with either oil-based soaps or the same mixture of oil and vinegar as above.

1. 5. Unfinished: It is not advised to clean unfinished wood as it may damage the wood. The simplest approach would be to finish your handrail following the steps below.

Finishing and refinishing wooden handrails

1. 1. First, thoroughly sand the handrail with coarse sandpaper until the wood looks like new, then sand a little further using fine sandpaper to finish: to get a nice finish on your handrail you shouldn’t skip the fine sanding stage. If you are refinishing a handrail, make sure to sand off all of the previous finish.

1. 2. Use methylated/mineral spirits and a lint-free cloth to wipe down the sanded handrail and remove the dust: the wood should be very smooth and clean at this point. Wait for the spirit to dry off before the next stage (this should be quite quick).

1. 3. Once dry, apply two coats of Jackson’s hardwax oil, to create an attractive and hard-wearing wax finish (follow the application instructions on the finish). This finish is also available in matte and in satin. If you prefer, you may prime then paint, varnish, or add a wood oil instead of a wax finish.

Shop our range of finishing products to get started.

Staircase Handrails in Pine, Hemlock, Oak, Walnut & many more (jacksonwoodturners.co.uk

Further tips on cleaning wooden handrails

You may want to invest in some tools to make regular cleaning of your wooden railing easier and more effective:

• Use a duster to remove dust and debris before applying products to the wood, this is especially important if you clean less regularly.

• Use a spray bottle for your products as not to drench the wood:

• Vigorously shake your oil and vinegar mixture before spraying onto the wood as it needs to be emulsified.
• Use a microfibre/lint-free, clean cloth to prevent streaks, residue, and to better pick up dirt, grime and bacteria.

• Clean your stair handrail at least once a month to maintain a good appearance.

If you still have questions about cleaning and maintaining your wooden handrails, read our useful article about protecting your staircases, or contact us on 01142 721 228.

Common queries

Why is it important to treat wooden staircases?

Wooden handrails are exposed to a lot of wear and tear, dirt and bacteria. If they are not treated, the wood can become very dirty; untreated wood is very absorbent and difficult to clean so they harbour bacteria very easily. Natural, untreated wood can easily dry out becoming dull and coarse, this may eventually lead to hazardous splinters and cracks. Treating wood with hardwax oil will create a hard-wearing, protective finish.

How long does it take to clean wooden staircases?

This depends on how big your staircase(s) is/are, how much wood your staircase(s) have and whether or not you are finishing, refinishing or restoring the wood in your staircase(s). Cleaning a handrail can take minutes whereas, refinishing or restoring a whole wooden staircase can take multiple days of work.

Should a wooden staircase be sanded down before treating?

If you are looking to treat your staircase you should be sanding down the wood. Use a coarse sandpaper to make the initial sand easier and then move on to using a finer sandpaper to smoothen the surface for treating. You should also wipe the surface with methylated spirit to remove any dust and to clean the surface of the wood of any dirt or oil that remains. After this you can apply your wood treatment product.

What is the best paint for wooden stairs?

When it comes to wooden stairs, it is important to use a primer which you can then paint over with semi-gloss paint. This tends to be harder wearing than other paints.

What colour should your handrail be?

Your handrail should fit in with the overall aesthetic of your home. It is generally a good idea to go with a neutral colour such as white or appreciate wood’s natural appearance, but you can also add a pop of vibrancy to make your handrail a feature.

How do you refinish a wood handrail?

To refinish a wood handrail, you will need to strip the wood before preparing and priming it. Then you can stain and finish the wood to your own aesthetic tastes.

Should you paint or stain your handrail?

Paint is a great way to freshen a handrail or balustrade, but staining tends to last for longer and be more resilient over time.