How do I clean old wooden chairs?

Here's some info on using turpentine and linseed oil. You do need to be very careful with your rags once you use them and get everything clean. The rags are combustible so dispose of them properly! My MIL actually had a rag soaked with linseed oil burst into flames on her wooden deck. The rag was laying on the deck in the hot sun. Luckily someone saw it before it caused a fire!

www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-dirt-build-up-from-wooden-furniture

Sticky buildup and grime on wood comes from cooking grease and vapors, layers of furniture polish, cigarette smoke, moist hands, and even the breakdown of the original finish. Follow these steps to cut through the film and reveal the wood’s natural beauty.

1. Dust thoroughly with a microfiber cloth to grab as much dust as possible. Rinse the cloth out well if you want to use this same cloth for the next step.
2. Mix equal parts vinegar and water; dip a soft cloth in the mixture and wring out really well. Wipe the wood in the direction of the grain, rewetting and wringing your cloth often.
3. After several passes to remove the buildup, dry the wood thoroughly with a cloth.

If this method doesn’t remove the sticky grime completely, move on to a product made specifically for cleaning wood. These can be found in most home improvement and hardware stores.

I recommend using Murphy's Oil Soap on any wooden furniture. Use it according to the directions on the bottle. The soap will clean the wood and the oil will restore it.

Murphy’s Soap and a lot of elbow grease.

Do you put the murphys oil in water or use just the oil?