Guardian Soap Flakes for Soap Finished Timber, 300 g

A soaped oak table feels like bare timber that has been handled for years. It stays pale, it is dry and smooth under the hand, and every wipe with soapy water puts a little of the finish back. Soap flakes are how that finish is made and kept, the traditional Scandinavian way, and they are just as gentle on smooth leather.

Guardian makes these flakes in Denmark from palm kernel oil and coconut oil, with no perfume, colour, optical brightener or bleach. Whisked with boiling water, they make the thick paste that builds a soap finish. Dissolved in warm water, they make the mild solution for everyday cleaning. In other words, you make your own wood soap from one pack.

What is in it

Soap made from palm kernel oil and coconut oil. Guardian leaves out perfume, colour, optical brighteners and bleach, so the solution cleans without scenting, tinting or bleaching the surface.

Why use it

On raw or soap finished timber, each wash leaves a fine layer of soap in the surface of the wood. Over time this builds into the soft, matt finish that keeps pale timbers such as oak, beech and pine light in colour, and it can be renewed at home with nothing more than a bucket of warm water. On smooth leather, the same solution lifts everyday dirt.

What it is for

Untreated timber and timber with a soap finish, such as soaped oak, beech or pine tables, chairs and benches, and smooth leather on chairs and sofas. Most mid century teak and walnut furniture is finished in oil, hardwax oil or lacquer, and a cleaner made for that finish is the better choice there. It is not made for suede or nubuck.

How to use it on timber

1. Whisk 100 ml of flakes into 5 litres of warm water, at about 30 degrees Celsius, until fully dissolved.
2. Test on a hidden spot first.
3. Wring out a soft, lint free cloth until it is just damp, and wipe a thin, even layer along the grain.
4. Treat whole surfaces rather than patches, and leave to dry. Repeat if the timber does not look evenly saturated.
5. If the grain has risen and feels rough once dry, sand lightly along the grain with 220 grit paper. On a solid tabletop, treat the underside as well as the top.

How to use it on leather

Use the same solution of 100 ml of flakes in 5 litres of warm water. Test on a hidden area first. Wipe the leather with a soft, lightly wrung cloth, working in light circles without rubbing, and dampen every panel evenly so it dries without patches. After about ten minutes, wipe over with a cloth wrung out firmly in plain water, then buff off any dull film with a dry cloth. If the hide feels dry, follow with a leather conditioner such as the Guardian Leather Care Kit.

For wiping on the solution and buffing the surface dry, we use our bamboo polishing cloths, which suit soap as well as wax and oil.

How often

Guardian recommends treating furniture about six times a year. A soap finished tabletop in daily use can be washed with the solution whenever it needs cleaning.

Why we stock Guardian

Guardian makes its furniture care in Vejen, in southern Denmark. Soap finished oak and beech are part of the Danish furniture tradition, and soap flakes are still the simplest way to look after that finish at home. Our introduction to Guardian explains more.

Further reading

Our guide to soap finishing a table covers the Danish method step by step, from taking a top back to bare timber to mixing the paste and building the coats. Our care guide covers everyday care for every finish.

Details

Size: 300 g
Maker: Guardian Protection Products, Vejen, Denmark
Made from: palm kernel oil and coconut oil
No perfume, colour, optical brightener or bleach
Suitable for: untreated and soap finished timber, smooth leather
Not suitable for: suede or nubuck

Not sure how your furniture is finished? Message us a photo and we will let you know.