topic Re: How can I clean this? in Home

How can I clean this?

house_cat — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:37:34 GMT

I inherited my mom and dad's bedroom set.

It's vintage 1954. It's cherrywood and extremely well constructed. In all these years, not a screw has come loose nor has it sustained any structural damage. However, it's dirty from years of use and wax buildup - she used to "polish" it every week as part of her regular cleaning regimen. We plan to have it professionally restored eventually, as it's also scratched and worn. In the meantime I have tried everything I know to clean it and nothing seems to work. if anyone can lead me to the right product for this, I'd be very grateful.

Re: How can I clean this?

grandma r — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:41:48 GMT

@house_cat. Looks like a beautiful set. Try Amish Wood Milk. Use a clean cloth to rub it on. The product will bring your wood back to life. I love using it.

Re: How can I clean this?

luvmybeetle — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:46:53 GMT

I would like to know also. I have my original dresser from 1954 when I was a child. I would love to clean it really well as I waxed it also every week. I've never had to buy a new bedroom set in all these years as it is made from all wood, no plywood.

Re: How can I clean this?

ECBG — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:47:20 GMT

@house_cat

For decades the standard in fine furniture and antique care has been Minwax sold through hardware stores. There is a cleaning solution that removes the gunk. Their stains and furniture care items are wonderful!

I use Old English lemon oil. It nourishes the wood with no build-up.

Re: How can I clean this?

skatting44 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:47:53 GMT

Did you try Murphy's oil soap ? That is what I would use. You may need a very soft toothbrush to get around the carving where the English oil polishing settled.

I had a similiar problem with an old Thomasville dining room set with crendenza. It took me quite awhile to get all the residue Old English oil off the piece .

I am contemplating painting it with chalk paint .

Re: How can I clean this?

Biftu — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:57:48 GMT

@skatting44 wrote:
Did you try Murphy's oil soap ? That is what I would use. You may need a very soft toothbrush to get around the carving where the English oil polishing settled.
I had a similiar problem with an old Thomasville dining room set with crendenza. It took me quite awhile to get all the residue Old English oil off the piece .
I am contemplating painting it with chalk paint .

@skatting44 I have painted many prices both old and new with chalk paint and I love how they turned out. Do it!

Re: How can I clean this?

cantdrive55 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:00:13 GMT

Food for Varnish by Rowe Bisonite, available on Amazon. This outstanding product was developed for commercial & industrial use, and so, is not commonly known. Food for Varnish will restore and condition the finish without altering it. I used this on my new & antique furniture as well as natural woodwork & cabinets for decades & cannot recommend it highly enough.

Re: How can I clean this?

Still Raining — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:01:19 GMT

What a treasure you have!

What you want to do is to remove old buildup without removing the finish. Use a wood soap and water or dish soap. You will be floored what you get.

Never, ever go near a grocery oil or polish. Lots of wood unfriendly ingredients.

It would be worth it to have a consult with the eventual refinishing person about what to use in the interim.

Re: How can I clean this?

house_cat — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:04:59 GMT

@cantdrive55

That sounds helpful in refinishing the wood, but does it clean the gunk?

Re: How can I clean this?

Nonametoday — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:08:45 GMT

@house_cat

Howard Restorfinish.

see this video youtube/watch?v=0LmetydOUYY

Add dot com after youtube and then the backslash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LmetydOUYY

I am going to hope they do not take this down. It's not anything that is competing with QVC or any vendor.

PLEASE see this video before buying anything else or trying anything else.

Re: How can I clean this?

AuntG — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:13:27 GMT

Two years ago, I cleaned a seventy year old bedroom set. It sat in a farmhouse that was heated with a wood burning furnace, so it was dirty and had a few scratches. I used Howard's finish restoring cleaner and I'm happy with the result. Sure, a few minor scratches show, but they are not as noticeable as before. The quote to refinish was $900 and I'm glad I was able to keep the original finish for $20.

Re: How can I clean this?

house_cat — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:21:28 GMT

@Nonametoday

@AuntG

That's the product my RE agent recommended, but it seemed to me that was more restoration than cleaner. I'm going to watch the video posted. It certainly worth a try.

Re: How can I clean this?

AuntG — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:21:44 GMT

@house_cat I wanted to add that I think your set is a candidate for a thorough cleaning. If you want it to look perfect, then I understand doing a full restoration. However, I truly think the joy of family antiques comes from showing some of the wear. I think the bedroom set you got from your mother is beautiful.

Re: How can I clean this?

LindaSal — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:30:14 GMT

@AuntG ITA, I was thinking the very same thing. Would be nice to keep some of the charm. We had an old hutch refinished from my hubby's grandmother. It is worth the money because it removed all the gunk and restored the finish beautifully, it did lose a bit of the nostalgia but it was like a brand new piece. The best part, all we did was take it there and pick it up

Re: How can I clean this?

cantdrive55 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 19:38:21 GMT

@house_catYou are right, there is no point in putting any product on until the furniture is clean. To remove the gunk, you'll need to determine what was in the products you used; was it wax or silicone or a combination. I'm old school, so I would suggest searching wikihow on how to remove wax. The vinegar & water, or vinegar, water, and cream of tartar method sound reasonable to me.

Once you've cleaned and restored the finish, I would suggest you don't need to wax it more than once a year. I don't use use wax at all. In the spring, I use Murphy's Oil Soap on all my furniture and once it's dry, I put a few drops of the Food for Varnish on a damp cloth and wipe the furniture, or woodwork & cabinets down. Both Weiman & Guardsman make wax & silicone free polishes for regular use.

It sound like a lot of work, but you get into a groove & it goes fast. The finished result will be most rewarding, and you can tell yourself you won't have to go through that again! You may even decide the pieces don't need refinishing. Good luck!

Re: How can I clean this?

Desertdi — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:52:27 GMT

If it's of value to you, I would hire someone to do the restoration.

Re: How can I clean this?

Katcat1 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 19:36:24 GMT

@house_cat At one time I restored antique furniture from my grandmother. Stripped it and then stained with using Minwax products. I would Google to see if there is a home remedy like vinegar with something that will help you out. I know that vinegar aids with build up. BTW it is a lovley piece from what I can see.

Re: How can I clean this?

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 19:55:03 GMT

I have used this produdct to revive 40+year old cabinet doors...It did a great job but I do not think of it as a cleaner. I used dark walnut I believe, the doors look great.

Re: How can I clean this?

Foxxee — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 20:41:17 GMT

@house_cat

The piece in this photo looks like it was handmade, so it's very special.

Restoration is a no, no. It reduces the value of old furniture. I wouldn't do that. Nicks, scratches, and dents are expected on furniture this old.

I would use a good antique furniture cleaner that does not have silicone in it. I have used "Liberon Polish and Wax Remover." It's gentle for antiques...French polishes, varnish, lacquer and oil finishes. Test first in an inconspicuous area.

Then two thin coats of an antique paste wax again with no silicone in it. I use "Antiquax" used by museums on their antique furniture.

You shouldn't need to wax it again for several to five years. I dust with a very damp cloth making sure the surface is totally dry afterwards.

Touch up the scratches with a scratch pen the same color as your furniture. Minwax makes good ones. For deeper scratches and dents, Minwax furniture crayons work well.

Post a before and after photo when you're done.

Re: How can I clean this?

house_cat — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 20:48:07 GMT

@Foxxee

Thank you. I get the best information on this forum - it's the first place I look when I have this sort of question.

I will most definitely post before and after photos!