Looking for old wood fruit crate cleaning & preserving tips...

Diana Wearing
by Diana Wearing
I have these great old fruit crates I’d like to clean up and preserve (including the labels if possible) does anyone have any tips on what the best products are to use on them? Oil, wax, varnish etc. Thanks!
  11 answers
  • Irish53 Irish53 on Mar 25, 2015
    Clear spray varnish to seal labels . Keeping the crates out of high humidity is really all that should be done. Keeping the print on the crates out of the sun so the print and labels don;t fade.
  • Cyndi Neumann Cyndi Neumann on Mar 25, 2015
    Maybe a craft sealer spray or modpodge with brush, these are beautiful! I hope you successfully get them preserved! Smiles, Cyndi
  • SEAL INSIDE AND BOTTOM-- PUT POTTED PLANTS IN WITH SAUCERS, I WOULD KEEP BOTTOMS OFF DAMP CONCRETE
  • Jean Thompson Jean Thompson on Mar 26, 2015
    Make sure all wood parts are securely nailed together. Secure the loose labels first with ordinary white Glue/Mod podge spread under neath loose parts with small brush. Press down gently and let dry over night. . Use a Indoor/outdoor Spray Polyurethane, , let dry then Spray several coats inside and out . or you could brush it on..
  • Hilarie Ellen Hilarie Ellen on Mar 28, 2015
    LOVE The crates!!!!
  • Irene Irene on Mar 31, 2015
    I would use Murphy's wood soap but avoid getting the labels wet. I think I would work on the labels first. I would use modpodge first, clear seal spray and them Murphy's soap.
  • Michelle Michelle on Oct 30, 2020

    An antique dealer told me to use Deft varnish. All of his wooden items looked great that he had for sale. I've used Deft ever since. It is an easy to use varnish

  • Dee Dee on Dec 22, 2020

    Wow what nice boxes! I would clean them with a light cleaner degreaser. Let dry completely. Make sure they are all well put together and fix anything that needs fixing, like loose nails. Then get Spray on Lacquer. It comes in many applications, as gloss, semi-gloss and matt. I would probably use Matt. Let dry, do several coats.


    Merry Christmas

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Dec 23, 2020

    Ensure that all wood elements are firmly nailed together. First protect the loose labels with ordinary white Glue/Mod podge distributed with a small brush under neighboring loose pieces. Gently push down and leave to dry overnight. Use a Polyurethane indoor/outdoor spray, let it dry, then spray multiple coats inside and out.

  • Deb K Deb K on Jul 02, 2022

    Hi Diana, hope this helps you out, you can mask off a frame around the logos and put a matte coat of mod podge on. then coat the entire box with tung oil or your teak oil.