Reclaimed wood table has been delivered filthy - how to fix it?

[teaandkittens123]

I ordered a table and bench from a company on Etsy. IT's arrived and I've very sparingly used the 'wood silk' polish on it as recommended in their leaflet included and the cloth has come off filthy. Anyone who leans on the table or the kids who sit up on their knees on the bench comes away with masses of brown, slightly greasy, marks on their clothes. It's like the wood was never cleaned properly from wherever it was reclaimed from or it wasn't finished properly. It's oiled rather than varnished or anything. It looks lovely, but this can't be right?! We've only had it a day or so, but some of the colour of the finish has already lifted from me wiping up spilt squash with a damp cloth. I daren't use anything on it that they haven't suggested, but is this normal? Does the dirt, or whatever it is, settle after a bit? Is there some way I can get it all off and start again? I emailed them yesterday, but hoping I can get an unbiased opinion here in case someone knows more than me for when they come back to me. Help!

Sounds like it's been oiled rather than waxed or whatever. Makes for a lovely soft deep finish, but only as long as it's something you're not touching or putting fluids onto! No good for practical use.

Give it a really good wipe down with a rag soaked in white spirit, you'll get a lot of colour off it but that's to be expected. You can go over it with wax based polish, or a solvent-based varnish to seal it properly. Don't use anything water based ("low odour" is often code for this, make sure it the side of the tin doesn't say you can wash the brush in just water).

It wasn't designshack was it?

Hi, no, it wasn't designshack - should I avoid?!
Thanks @spoonBlender, I'll give that a go if they don't give me anything practical to help on Monday. I'm inclined to just get a refund and start again if they'll do that, but that sounds a good shout if they won't as we can't use it at the moment, it's not come out of the clothes I washed today that had got marks on from slightly leaning against the side when I was eating last night.

Do you reckon this would clean it? Says water based though? www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CDPML2A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1_1_1?smid=AOZBHTV0IL7BE&psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Not sure - if it is oiled then that probably won't do much. I'd wait for the contact back from the shop, throw a sheet of plastic over it all to keep it off your family! Permanent staining is a bit much.

Under the sale of goods act it's not fit for purpose and under distance selling regulations you have 7days to change your mind and get a full refund, so you can and should argue for a full refund, if that's what you want.

Thanks for your advice, I knew the bottom would be unfinished, but I didn't realise how unfinished it would be and was snagging clothes if you sat at the table (I'm making it sound lovely I know! It does look lovely, but isn't really working!) so we had to sand the bottom of it before assembling, so I'm doubtful about whether they'll take it back. I hope so.