freshening older woodwork prior to your home sale

Cleaning Wood Cabinets & freshening older woodwork prior to your home sale


Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
Step 1
Wipe down stained woodwork that has been treated with linseed oil or tung oil with a lemon oil polish. Linseed and tung oil dry to form a hard, protective film that is virtually invisible. A soft cloth dampened with lemon oil polish wipes away any surface grime.
Step 2
Use lemon oil polish as well as a mild mixture of white vinegar and water for stained woodwork treated with a wax that can both be felt and seen. Remember to reapply the wax layer after this step of cleaning to protect the wood.
Step 3
Clean wood the same as you would clean painted wood that has a semi-gloss or gloss finish .
Step 4
Use moistened baby wipes to clean woodwork and trim that has been painted or coated in polyurethane or varnish. Purchase a large bag of refillable baby wipes. Do not spend money on the expensive, scented brand names. Instead, buy the fragrance free, discount brand which can often be found in bulk.
Step 5
Wipe along the door frames, baseboards and crown molding with the help of a step ladder or taller ladder for high ceilings. You may be surprised at the amount of dirt you see on the wipe, and if cleaned on a monthly wipes will keep your trim work clean and shiny. These wipes easily remove surface dirt and more stuck on grease and grime without damaging the paint.