how to clean dirty wood furniture ?

[Deleted User]

My Mum's neighbour is moving and clearing out old furniture. She's given mum a little fold down wood table - very pretty (with those twisted legs ... whatever they're called ... ) but it's FILTHY in places (really ingrained). has been stored in her garage for years.

Anyone know how best to clean it without damaging the wood?

Alton_Towers

Pledge do a soapy wood cleaner suitable for furniture and floors, that with a bit of elbow grease may work.

marmiterulesok

Could you sand it and then revarnish?

[Deleted User]

Alton_Towers wrote: »

Pledge do a soapy wood cleaner suitable for furniture and floors, that with a bit of elbow grease may work.

Thanks - I'll bear this one in mind.

What i should have said was that I was hoping for something low cost / using old fashioned methods such as oil, vinegar, bicarb, etc. stuff like that. Sorry.

splodger_seedswapper

try very fine wire wool (or old rag) dipped in meths - clean it in a well ventilated room or outdoors, and allow to dry out fully before sanding and or polishing/waxing

M.E.

Firstly use a damp rag. Then with fingers and old toothbrush liberally spread washing up liquid. Leave for about five minutes. A lot of grime will be removed/loosened by this.
Again with toothbrush and damp cloth/toilet paper/kitchen roll remove the loosened dirt. Use a clean damp/slightly wetter rag and remove more debris. Do not allow the wood to get too wet, if possible. The wood should not have soap remaining, carry on wiping with the damp cloth until it is all gone.
By this stage you should be able to assess what the surface finish is and how much more dirt is left. Repeat until you are satisfied with the patina remaining... do not confuse patina with dirt. Dirt feels grainy on your fingers, patina is smooth.
For a really cheap cleaning/shining tip, use any vegetable oil or handcream even with fingers or lint-free cloth and polish. A little goes a long way,

None of the above will harm the finish as long as you use sparingly and use elbow grease and toothbrush/old tee shirt etc.
Tell us how you get on

foxgloves

I would get all the loose dirt off, then give it a thorough going over with a mixture of lemon juice & olive oil. If it still looks bad, then probably sanding it & re-waxing is your best option.