Natural wood finishes in the home are beautiful when properly cared for. Cabinets, wall and ceiling paneling and fine wood furniture can give the home's interior a certain richness that is difficult to achieve in other ways.

However, the natural beauty of wood can be diminished over time as a result of a buildup of wax or cooking grease and grime or even white rings.

Prevention plays a big part in keeping the finishes in the home looking good, and not just those made of wood. Properly sized ventilation fans in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room will exhaust excessive moisture and cooking grease.

Airborne dust is attracted to moisture and can form several layers on the surface of wood, obscuring its natural beauty. Worse yet, cooking grease buildup results in fingerprints each time a cabinet door or drawer is opened.

Here are some old-fashioned ways to clean up the natural wood finishes in your home:

White rings are damage to the waxed finish and not to the wood. To remove them, make sure that the surface is clean and dry. Next, place a small amount of mayonnaise (a tea-spoon or two usually does the trick) directly over the ring. Cover the area with a piece of plastic wrap and allow it to sit for about thirty minutes.

Remove the plastic wrap and, using a nylon scouring pad, lightly rub in the mayonnaise working in the direction of the grain. Wipe up all of the mayonnaise. Restore the luster to the area with some lemon oil or paste wax.

An alternative to the mayonnaise technique is the use of toothpaste or cigar ash. Simply rub a dab of toothpaste or moistened cigar ash into the wood surface with your finger. Then wipe the area dry and finish the job by applying a bit of lemon oil or paste wax. Old sticky finishes can be cleaned up with a concoction made from two tablespoons of boiled linseed oil, two tablespoons of turpentine and one quart of boiling water. The turpentine removes the dirt and greasy finger marks, and the linseed oil enhances the finish.

Mix the boiled linseed oil (it's purchased boiled) and the turpentine in a bucket or old coffee can and add the boiling water. Wearing rubber gloves, dip a rag in the cleaner and ring it out well. Do a small section at a time and wipe dry.

When the cleaner cools, the oil and turpentine will separate from the water. Properly dispose of it and make a new batch; don't try to reheat it.

Greasy finger smudges around cabinet door and drawer pulls can be removed with a bar of Lava soap. Rub the soap into a wet rag and scrub. If that doesn't work, rub the Lava onto a wet nylon scouring pad, scrub, rinse, and wipe dry.

After using a nylon scouring pad, touch up the wood surface with Old English Scratch Cover or lemon oil.

Mineral spirits or paint thinner are other ways to get rid of the sticky buildup around cabinet handles. Simply pour a little onto a soft cloth and rub vigorously.

Dull finishes can be brightened by using a solution of vinegar and water. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar and one quart of water. Using a cheesecloth, work a small area and wipe dry. Once all of the washing has been done, complete the job by polishing the surface with lemon oil.

Distressed or dry-looking wood can magically be brought back to life with a little lemon oil and a soft cloth. Lemon oil serves a variety of purposes. It's a great wood moisturizer, restoring oils which air has robbed from the wood over time and helping prevent drying and cracking. The lemon oil also will give the wood a rich sheen and provide a delightful fragrance.

Lemon oil also can be used as a cleaner to remove wax buildup. Apply the lemon oil and let it stand for about twenty minutes before wiping it dry. More than one application may be required for heavy wax buildup.

Those strange muffled noises you may have heard from time to time could be the natural wood finishes in your home crying out for a little tender loving care.