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Cindy Lou Who 03-24-2011 04:34 PM

quote=Cindy Lou Who]Glenn,
What would you use to clean what looks to be a faux leather-like rectangle on the sideboard of the cabinet? .......Thanks,
Cindy Lou Who[/quote]

If it is not leather, try a foam cleaner(fabric spot cleaner) or you can take dish soap and a little water and sponge. Dip the sponge in the soap mixture and massage several times until the sponge is very foaming but not dripping wet and rub lightly. The only problem with the old faux leather is they are sometimes not color fast so if you see a lot of color on the sponge stop. So test a small spot first. If it bleeds on the sponge, take corn starch and sprinkle thickly covering the whole thing and let set for several days then vacuum off. I really could use a good picture. If it turns out to be real leather I have a potion for that two. Glenn[/quote]

Pictures on my agenda for this weekend - it definitely isn't just old crazed or built up finish - actually set into the wood.
I'll see if I have any foam fabric cleaner stashed, too.
Thanks for your help again Glenn!
Cindy

GwenH 03-25-2011 09:18 AM

Thanks for the information Glenn, I have an old Singer Treadle that my Dad got on a trade in for a washing machine or dryer years ago, it had been sitting in their attic for many years and has a bit of water damage, water marks mostly, would this technique work to remove or hide the water marks?
I was thinking about totally re-doing it, sanding etc, cause to me the antique monetary value isn't really important, but if this will work I will definately give it a shot before I sand it all down and re-stain it. Thanks so much.

Oh and one more question, how what should I do about the rust castors that don't move anymore, is there a way to restore them?

klarina 03-25-2011 10:54 AM

Thanks for sharing this useful info.

cabbagepatchkid 04-11-2011 01:55 PM


Originally Posted by Glenn
Cleaning solutions needed:
Solution One--4parts white venegar, 4parts boiled linseed oil, 4parts mineral spirits, 1part denatured alcohol and 3-4 drops of household ammonia.

Where can I purchase mineral spirits and denatured alcohol? Are mineral spirits and mineral oil the same thing?
Thanks Glenn, I'm going to give this method a try.

milp04 04-11-2011 02:06 PM


Originally Posted by Glenn
Cleaning solutions needed:
Solution One--4parts white venegar, 4parts boiled linseed oil, 4parts mineral spirits, 1part denatured alcohol and 3-4 drops of household ammonia.

Solution Two--4parts mineral spirits, 1part boiled linseed oil

Stept 1-- with a course lint free cloth(blue jeans is good) charge the cloth with Solution one and rub in a circular motion, turning a recharging the rag with solution one. Replace rag as it gets dirty. Continue until the whole is cleaned. Hard to clean areas use 0000steel wool with the solution. The final wipe down should be with the grain of the wood. This finish will be cloudy and dry looking at this point.

Step 2--with a lint free cloth charged with Solution Two rub in a circular motion turning rag and recharging with solution two. Replace rag as it gets dirty. Continue until the whole is cleaned and the finish is not cloudy and dry lookeing. Finish by wiping the whole with only minaral spirits.

Step 3-- Apply a good coat of wax( such as a tinted briwax or any of the antique paste waxes that can be found in antique stores) according to the directions on the can. Apply thinly and buff like crazy to a nice clean shine. The looks of the piece can be maintained by waxing once a year and regular dusting and buff to shine. Nothing else needs to be done. I do not recommend endust or pledge. No need for lemon oil or anything.

This is the accepted method of proff antique restorers. After you can say I did not refinish the piece I restored the finish. Happy cleaning Glenn


Thanks so much for posting this information.

I do have a question for you. Another posting asked about what to do with the treadle that was dusted and rusted, would you be so kind as to give your answer as a posting here? It would help any others reading now and in the future who are searching how to restore their treadle machines and cabinets.

Thanks so much.

Pam M

Glenn 04-11-2011 03:51 PM


Originally Posted by cabbagepatchkid

Originally Posted by Glenn
Cleaning solutions needed:
Solution One--4parts white venegar, 4parts boiled linseed oil, 4parts mineral spirits, 1part denatured alcohol and 3-4 drops of household ammonia.

Where can I purchase mineral spirits and denatured alcohol? Are mineral spirits and mineral oil the same thing?
Thanks Glenn, I'm going to give this method a try.

You can buy the denatured alcohol and the mineral spritis from Lowes or home depot. Any hard ware store will have them.

Glenn 04-11-2011 04:18 PM


Originally Posted by milp04

Originally Posted by Glenn
Cleaning solutions needed:
Solution One--4parts white venegar, 4parts boiled linseed oil, 4parts mineral spirits, 1part denatured alcohol and 3-4 drops of household ammonia.

Solution Two--4parts mineral spirits, 1part boiled linseed oil

Stept 1-- with a course lint free cloth(blue jeans is good) charge the cloth with Solution one and rub in a circular motion, turning a recharging the rag with solution one. Replace rag as it gets dirty. Continue until the whole is cleaned. Hard to clean areas use 0000steel wool with the solution. The final wipe down should be with the grain of the wood. This finish will be cloudy and dry looking at this point.

Step 2--with a lint free cloth charged with Solution Two rub in a circular motion turning rag and recharging with solution two. Replace rag as it gets dirty. Continue until the whole is cleaned and the finish is not cloudy and dry lookeing. Finish by wiping the whole with only minaral spirits.

Step 3-- Apply a good coat of wax( such as a tinted briwax or any of the antique paste waxes that can be found in antique stores) according to the directions on the can. Apply thinly and buff like crazy to a nice clean shine. The looks of the piece can be maintained by waxing once a year and regular dusting and buff to shine. Nothing else needs to be done. I do not recommend endust or pledge. No need for lemon oil or anything.

This is the accepted method of proff antique restorers. After you can say I did not refinish the piece I restored the finish. Happy cleaning Glenn


Thanks so much for posting this information.

I do have a question for you. Another posting asked about what to do with the treadle that was dusted and rusted, would you be so kind as to give your answer as a posting here? It would help any others reading now and in the future who are searching how to restore their treadle machines and cabinets.

Thanks so much.

Pam M

you can clean them and sand them and repaint them. Or you can clean them and oil them down and they should look good. I usually have them sand blasted and then repaint them.

Glenn 04-11-2011 04:18 PM


Originally Posted by milp04

Originally Posted by Glenn
Cleaning solutions needed:
Solution One--4parts white venegar, 4parts boiled linseed oil, 4parts mineral spirits, 1part denatured alcohol and 3-4 drops of household ammonia.

Solution Two--4parts mineral spirits, 1part boiled linseed oil

Stept 1-- with a course lint free cloth(blue jeans is good) charge the cloth with Solution one and rub in a circular motion, turning a recharging the rag with solution one. Replace rag as it gets dirty. Continue until the whole is cleaned. Hard to clean areas use 0000steel wool with the solution. The final wipe down should be with the grain of the wood. This finish will be cloudy and dry looking at this point.

Step 2--with a lint free cloth charged with Solution Two rub in a circular motion turning rag and recharging with solution two. Replace rag as it gets dirty. Continue until the whole is cleaned and the finish is not cloudy and dry lookeing. Finish by wiping the whole with only minaral spirits.

Step 3-- Apply a good coat of wax( such as a tinted briwax or any of the antique paste waxes that can be found in antique stores) according to the directions on the can. Apply thinly and buff like crazy to a nice clean shine. The looks of the piece can be maintained by waxing once a year and regular dusting and buff to shine. Nothing else needs to be done. I do not recommend endust or pledge. No need for lemon oil or anything.

This is the accepted method of proff antique restorers. After you can say I did not refinish the piece I restored the finish. Happy cleaning Glenn


Thanks so much for posting this information.

I do have a question for you. Another posting asked about what to do with the treadle that was dusted and rusted, would you be so kind as to give your answer as a posting here? It would help any others reading now and in the future who are searching how to restore their treadle machines and cabinets.

Thanks so much.

Pam M

you can clean them and sand them and repaint them. Or you can clean them and oil them down and they should look good. I usually have them sand blasted and then repaint them.

Charlee 02-22-2012 03:43 PM

Wanted to bring this one back up too!! :)

Glenn is my idol when it comes to woodwork!

Quilt Mom 03-05-2012 07:40 AM

A lot of good information! Thanks so much. I will give it a shot.


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