FINISH LINE

Method matters on old dining room set, Jeanne Huber says.

Q We have several pieces of a dining room set that is 50 years old. The chairs and table legs in particular are dirty. What should I use to clean them?

A The best approach depends on if the finish is in good shape.

If there is no cracking or chipping, you can mix a cleaning solution of warm water with a bit of a mild soap, such as Murphy Oil Soap or even a non-creamy hand dishwashing soap. Dampen a soft cloth in the soapy water, wring it out well and wipe, starting with an out-of-the-way surface, such as the inside face of a chair leg. Check the results before you move on to more visible surfaces. As you clean each section, immediately rub with a dry cloth. If you need more scrubbing power, switch from the cleaning cloth to a white scrub pad, which is gentle enough that it shouldn’t damage an intact finish.

Using water to clean wood furniture might seem like a no-no, but if the finish is intact, you’re not cleaning the wood; you’re cleaning the finish. Plus, by wringing out your cleaning cloth first, you’re minimizing the amount of water involved.

If, however, the finish is cracked or peeling, don’t try to clean with water. The moisture is certain to get through the cracks and under the finish, which will then be likely to peel and crack more. Your dining set would look worse than it does now. Instead, proceed in the same way you would if soap and water didn’t get off all the grime because some of the residue wasn’t water-soluble.

Possible cleaners for cracked finishes or for grime that isn’t water-soluble include denatured alcohol, mineral spirits and wax strippers, or a solvent designed to take off wax and even the stubborn residue left by cigarette smoke.

Or take a chair (after the COVID -19 crisis) with you to a hardware store or paint store and ask if they have opened cans of solvents that you can use for testing.

You need just a few drops, and testing before you buy saves you from winding up with solvent that you might someday need to dispose of as a hazardous material. Note that there’s a system for testing finishes.