Cleaning solution for old furniture

[LandfillLumber]

Anyone have a good site or advice on cleaning an old chest before I make a few repairs???I need help with just the cleaning not the actual restoration as its just some simple fixes.Any cool web site about restoration would be great as I'm always having people ask for things to be fixed.Thanks,Victor

 

[nava1uni]

Formbys makes products for cleaning and restoring furniture. First wash it with Murphy soap, a product made for cleaning wood. Follow directions on bottle. It will clean a lot of dirt off of wood. I restore furniture and do upholstery and use Formby's restoration and other products. PM me if you have questions.

 

[NewLondon88]

I'll second the Murphys, it will give you a good idea what you're dealing with
under the grime. Another good cleaner is a gallon of HOT water with 2 tbsps
of gum turpentine and 4 tbsps of BLO. Be careful around any glue joints, as
some of them can let go with the hot water. But it's a good overall wash.

If you're looking for a more aggressive cleaner, 1/3 each of BLO, turps
and mineral spirits is my go-to cleaner for bad grime. It will clean the heavy
stuff and the BLO puts some needed oils back into the wood.

 

[KenV]

Boiled Linseed Oil will hook up with existing finish and darken several years down the line --

Murpny oil soap cleaning followed by a drying cycle then mineral spirits and a fiber or scotchbrite pad (non metallic) is a good cleaner. The mineral spirits helps cut wax and grease missed by the Murphy.

The antique store special restoration is to coat a piece with mayonaise and wipe it off (sounds strange, but works for the short term).

 

[Rmartin]

If it's an antique or just very old, be carefull, you can destroy it's value.