In Sweden we have a little rhyme to remember the clock change: in fall you put the grill away and in spring you bring the grill out. This weekend we set our clocks back to standard time—what many Swedes simply call “the arrival of the dark.” It sounds somber, but I love this turning point.
Summer here is a joyful sprint—long light, gardens to tend, trips to take, friends to gather, endless dinners outside. Then fall arrives and nature flares like a fireworks finale before the leaves drift down. I find real satisfaction in tidying up, putting things away, and letting the pause of autumn settle in.
Last weekend at our centuries-old red countryside cottage (a torp—a traditional Swedish farmhouse), I scrubbed down the wooden outdoor furniture that lives scattered around the yard. I’ll admit I’d been lax; this year they needed extra love.
My Swedish secret: linseed oil soap
I clean wood with pure linseed (flaxseed) oil soap—a staple of Scandinavian building care for generations, especially for floors and outdoor wood. It gently lifts grime while leaving the wood nourished. Linoljesåpa hasn’t really made it to the U.S. yet, but here’s a simple home recipe that gives similar properties.
Simple “no-lye” linseed-feel cleaner (concentrate)
Makes ~1 quart (1 liter) of concentrate.
You’ll dilute with cold water when using.
Ingredients
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Unscented liquid castile soap: 2½ cups (≈ 600 ml)
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Raw, cold-pressed linseed (flaxseed) oil (not “boiled”): ¼–⅓ cup (≈ 60–90 ml)
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Vegetable glycerin: ¼ cup (≈ 60 ml)
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Sunflower lecithin (liquid or granules): 1–2 tbsp
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Distilled water to top up to 1 quart / 1 liter
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Optional: essential oil 0.3–0.5% (e.g., fir, cedar, lemon)
Method
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Combine castile soap + glycerin.
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Whisk lecithin with a splash of water, then whisk in the linseed oil to form a smooth emulsion.
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Slowly whisk the emulsion into the soap mix.
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Add distilled water to reach 1 quart. Stir until uniform. Add optional scent.
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Bottle and let rest 12–24 h; shake before use if it settles.
Use (always cold water)
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Deep clean: 1–2 cups concentrate in 2.5 gallons (10 l) cold water.
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Light clean: ½ cup in 2.5 gallons (10 l) cold water.
Scrub with the grain, let sit ~10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, air-dry fully.
Notes
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Never use boiled linseed oil (often contains metal driers).
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Test on a small area first, especially on previously oiled or varnished wood.
My outdoor furniture checklist
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Brush first. Sweep off loose dirt, algae, and debris with a stiff brush.
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Pre-wet (cold water). Slows absorption and gives an even result.
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Scrub with solution. Work with the grain; let sit ~10 minutes.
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Rinse thoroughly. Remove all residue to avoid streaks.
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Air-dry completely. Keep pieces out of new moisture while drying.
By the time I finished, the wood’s natural tone had reappeared. When summer returns, I’ll give the tables and benches a coat of linseed oil before they move back outside.
