When you talk about cleaning it, Are you talking about the machine? Is'nt it a metal housing? I'd use a cleaner for general cleaning, such as 409, or one like, since it's a metal, for the actual cabinet, which appears to be wood. I'd use Murphy soap oil, then a lemon oil, after cleaned. I'd oil it with a lite weight machine oil. She/He is really a old pretty machine. Is it electric or treadle? Aren't you lucky..........