Cleaning dirty antique wood

[deliakate]

Well, Arts and Crafts, so not ancient antique. Have bought a lovely bed, which we are just about to put together, but the wood feels all sticky, and is pretty grimy. Its quite dark too, and the inlaid pattern isn't really showing up with the contrast it should.

I've been over and over with the damp e-cloth (no product), and got into all the mouldings etc with a wooden block. Cloth still coming away filthy though when I rub. I guess I want to protect the wood, but currently its far too grimy for me to imagine my guests sleeping on, so what else can I try? Loathe to get out the Pledge.....

Definitely don't go for the Pledge - that would just add a layer of silicon on top of the dirt! You can use a bit of washing up liquid & warm water, or you can buy special wood-cleaning liquid form a DIY shop which should take off the dirt and layers of old wax etc. Once its clean and dry, you can use a wax polish on it, that will keep it in good condition - it needs much more elbow-grease than a can of Pledge does, but that's what an old wood needs, as it doesn't have the same kind of polish that they put on more recent furniture.

Thanks. Would it be soapy wood cleaner I need to look for in the DIY shop?

Watching this thread. I attempted to clean my Arts and Crafts staircase yesterday, but when I tried to get the really grimy bits off with soapy water, it made the varnish kind of bobble up, so I ended up abandoning it. Soapy wood cleaner then?

No,soapy wood cleaner is for floors.For inlaid furniture use special antique furniture cleaner and very fine wire wool.I would go to a antique shop and get advice or look online.I have some somewhere........

Liberon Wood Cleaner after a rapid google.

Yes, I googled too, and all the articles were about Liberon - which rang some bells because not sure if they are genuine articles or "advertorials".....

I take it back, Liberon looks good.

Yes, that Liberon stuff is fantastic - takes off all of the sticky nasty gunk and old wax without being too harsh.

Wax and Polish remover is the one I've used before.

Do you need to retreat after that though?

You need to rewax with either a traditional wax [with beeswax] or a spray polish with no silicones in specially for antique furniture.Liberon is a very well known good quality brand tbw.

OK, thanks. Am hugely preg and was hoping to do this quickly ie. whilst toddler is napping. Hmm. Peed off now we didn't just get a new bed.