Lemon oil will help get oak furniture clean. Apply to a soft cloth rather than directly to the furniture itself to ensure even distribution and to avoid staining the oak furniture at the application site. Furniture polish can be used on most oak furniture and can add a desirable sheen. When considering whether or not to polish your furniture, keep in mind that polish can leave behind a slight residue that can attract and hold dust. If you choose to polish your oak furniture, it's even more important that you dust it regularly. Any moisture can result in a stain on unfinished oak furniture.