Lovely old cast iron range in need of TLC... any ideas or experience?

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

We inherited a cast iron range, not enormous, but I could measure it in a mo if I find a tape measure. It really needs love and and attention. It is a gorgeous piece but does need an overhaul.

What do I use on it? Does anyone have experience?

In all the old books I read as a child I remember scullery maids doing stuff with black leading? I'm not sure they'd have that in Homebase!

It needs polishing and cleaning after a period of neglect, but then I want it as a nice piece in our kitchen/family room.

Help please!

a hopeful, cast iron bump?!

We used to have a cast iron range and lots of grates to clean when we lived in a Georgian town house - I think I used Zebo black lead polish. Have just googled and loads of grate polish comes up on Amazon - sorry don't know how to link, but try googling it. You don't need to put much on, and must rub it in well (or it will come off on anything/anyone who touches it) but gives a lovely matt black finish if that is what you want.

Thank you! So it still is essentially blackleading like the old days!

I shall check amazon out.
Thanks

OOOh you lucky thing !! I have used old oil(household ) on rust eg inside it. There are books that give ideas for natural cleaners like lemon and salt for brass, or maybe google it.

zebo do it or a company called hot spots - same stuff its nasty black stuff but looks lovely when done

at your range. They have character.

Are you going to be using it?

You will need rubber gloves, Zebo which you can buy at any hardware store, J cloths and an old toothbrush and soft shoe cleaning brush.

Apply a tiny amount of Zebo on to the toothbrush for awkward areas and for larger areas a tiny bit with J cloth then rub it in circularly.

Buff it to a shine with the shoe brush.

Zebo here too. I used it to renovate my parents' range and fire surrounds in our old house. they come up like new. But wear old clothes and don't stand too close for three days as it stains like boot polish.

I have a cast iron back plate to my fire, I use WD40 - spray it on and buff with a cloth. This is what I was told to use when we bought it. Apparently its important not to get it wet with ordinary water based cleaners...