Re-doing windowsill

[HettyMeg]

We're planning to sell the house and I have left it until the 11th hour to revarnish a windowsill - biggest one in the house- as the aged varnish had worn off and looks bad. Has anyone any advice on how to get this done quickly/efficiently? Google seems to suggest it's going to take days !

I wouldn't bother. One windowsill being a bit shabby isn't going to mean your house doesn't sell.
If you really need to smarten it up, paint it. Quicker, one coat of white gloss will probably do the trick. Doesn't need to be perfect, just look smooth and fresh and clean.

Is this the board, inside the house, where you place your China ornaments, Christmas cards and flower vases?*

If the varnish is stained and scratched you could, if you wanted, sand it down to remove all damage, but if you do not already have an orbital sander, this would be quite arduous. If the colour is not even you would need to use a wood dye. Black water stains can be bleached out with oxalic acid.

But I seriously don't believe the effort would be repaid by a hundred pounds extra on the selling price. The new buyers will probably slap white paint on it.

You could hide it with extra ornaments and cards.

*this is actually called a window board. A sill is on the outside of the house, under the frame, and typically made of stone.