How do I clean antique oak furniture?

Question

Just short of refinishing, I wish to get rid of 20 years of grime.
The 100+ year old roll top desk is oak, refinished in 1946. The finish is generally solid. I await advice with toothbrush in hand.

Answer 1

Bruce, the floor cleaner people, make wood cleaner too. But what's wrong with Murphy's Oil Soap? It is thorough, fast, and doesn't harm the finish or the wood at all.

When the grandmothers used to clean the oaken church pews at the Catholic churches in Philadelphia when I was little (grandkids were taken along, of course), there was a bottle of that oil soap in each one's workbucket.

Answer 2

Dont use a toothbrush on anything wooden and antique. The best thing to do is take Murphy's oil and wipe over it with a curniture cloth. If there are carvings in the wood you might want to use qtips...not the really fuzzy ones but the cheap ones that you get at the dollar store that are really hard, so you dont get any cotton left on the wood.

Answer 3

If you ever expect to sell it, don't clean it! It will lessen the value, Just clean the grime off with soap and water, or use furniture polish, nothing stronger. If you don't care about the value, then simple green, krudd kutter, any type of cleaner. If it were mine, I would lightly go over it with a rag dipped in stain similar to what is on it.

Answer 4

You really need a professional restorer. If you do this yourself, you could end up damaging the finish. Consult a professional furniture restorer.

Answer 5

I would speak with a refinisher for some tips so you don't damage the wood

Answer 6

Doozy products. There are two products; one to clean and one to "polish". It is what is used in furniture stores. www.doozy.com

Answer 7

have you tried Murphy's oil soap and water?it's what they use in churches

Answer 8

pinesol and pledge wipes