I think cleaning depends on how grimy the piece is. Although I hate the smell, Murphy's Oil Soap does a good job on mildly dirty surfaces. On old, darkened, smoke-stained wood furniture I have successfully used a mixture of 1 Tbs. Murphy's & 1/4 cup mineral spirits in a gallon of lukewarm water, applied with a wrung out rag. Rinse with plain water. Dry, then a quick finish with tung oil. I would not use this on fine antique wood or finishes like shellac or lacquer, but it's great for vintage oak and pine.
Use alcohol like any other cleaner. You will need one or more soft cloth because your furniture is probably dustier than you realize. Use a new spot of cloth every time you pour more alcohol on it. Get into every curve and corner, using a toothpick or bobby pin to get into small spaces. You may need to really some areas that have been polished or varnished heavily. Alcohol is not strong enough to remove paint or stain, but it will give you a good surface to work on. Be sure the room is ventilated because even rubbing alcohol can be overwhelming. And please take photos so you can post on Hometalk. Best wishes, ☺️
Every time I clean my mirrors, they end up having tons of streaks and almost look worse than before I started. What could I use to clean them that won't leave streaks...
See more
It was mentioned that you should clean wood furniture with solution and a cloth before painting. What kind of solution should be used? Do I also need to strip the fin...
See more
Here is an article that might help you - https://www.hunker.com/13413993/denatured-vs-isopropyl-alcohol-for-furniture-refinishing
Try WD-40 in a small area and see what you think.
I think cleaning depends on how grimy the piece is. Although I hate the smell, Murphy's Oil Soap does a good job on mildly dirty surfaces. On old, darkened, smoke-stained wood furniture I have successfully used a mixture of 1 Tbs. Murphy's & 1/4 cup mineral spirits in a gallon of lukewarm water, applied with a wrung out rag. Rinse with plain water. Dry, then a quick finish with tung oil. I would not use this on fine antique wood or finishes like shellac or lacquer, but it's great for vintage oak and pine.
Use alcohol like any other cleaner. You will need one or more soft cloth because your furniture is probably dustier than you realize. Use a new spot of cloth every time you pour more alcohol on it. Get into every curve and corner, using a toothpick or bobby pin to get into small spaces. You may need to really some areas that have been polished or varnished heavily. Alcohol is not strong enough to remove paint or stain, but it will give you a good surface to work on. Be sure the room is ventilated because even rubbing alcohol can be overwhelming. And please take photos so you can post on Hometalk. Best wishes, ☺️