Using some warm water and mild dish soap, wipe down wood trim and molding to remove typical dirt and grime. Apply extra elbow grease to hardened spots, often in highly trafficked areas, such as where wood trim runs along busy hallways or entryways.
The cleaner you use on your wood trim will depend on the finish. If painted, your wood trim requires mild soap and water. Use a mild, natural wood cleaner on clear-coated or stained wood trim. If the wood has excessive buildup, add paint thinner to your solution to help, according to This Old House Magazine.
A quick wipe down with a damp microfiber towel and a drop of dish soap, or even a scrub down with Clean-A-Finish for the worst pieces, will ensure that you are enhancing the brightest, cleanest version of your wood finish possible. Just clean, dry, then buff in a little polish to shine.
Use a mixture of equal parts Apple cider vinegar, linseed oil and mineral spirits, apply it with #0000 steel wool to gently dissolve, and reconstitute the finish. It will smooth out the scratches and make it look like it's just been well cared for for the last 90 years.
Mix warm water, dish soap, and white vinegar in a bucket. Dip a soft cloth in the cleaning solution and wipe away dust and surface dirt. Use a melamine sponge dipped in the mixture to scrub away stubborn buildup or stains.
You can use either a small cup of vinegar or a paste of 1-part water to 1-part baking soda. Applied either of these to the caulking with an old toothbrush and scrub vigorously. Do not mix the vinegar and the baking soda. Some people advise mixing the two because the chemical reaction is dramatic.
As a first step to removing layers of grime from old wood furniture, use an oil soap and water. Rinse and dry well. If the finish still seems dirty, clean lightly with #0000 steel wool dipped in a cleaning product.
To make wood trim look more current and fresh, I suggest staying FAR AWAY from any very warm tone on the wall. Nothing is going to make your dark wood trim look more orangey or “dated” than choosing a warm color tone on your walls (yellow, tan, orange, red etc..).
If you need to remove stubborn grime from wood, one of the most effective substances to use is oxalic acid. You can sand the surface, and then apply the product onto the affected area. Let the substance sit on the stain left by the grime until discolouration fades.
Most experts agree that you should first try to clean your wood furniture with a mixture of dish soap and water. If this doesn't work, you can try slightly stronger cleaners, but this is usually sufficient.
DOWN AND DIRTY
Using some warm water and mild dish soap, wipe down wood trim and molding to remove typical dirt and grime. Apply extra elbow grease to hardened spots, often in highly trafficked areas, such as where wood trim runs along busy hallways or entryways.
Applying the Cleaning Solution
Mix a solution of warm water and mild soap. For tougher grime, add a small amount of white vinegar. Apply the solution to the woodwork using a soft cloth or sponge.
Unsealed Wood: Unsealed or unfinished wood surfaces can absorb vinegar, causing the wood to swell and potentially crack. For cleaning unsealed wood, use a mixture of water and mild dish soap.
All the time. I've had great luck cleaning soft-touch interior trim with them. My last car had a bunch of grit down in the crevices of the soft-touch sections on the door and dash and the eraser took it right out without damaging anything. And you can usually find a house brand for cheap.
As an added bonus, you can also use WD-40 to polish plastic surfaces on your car. Whether they're a black or chrome finish, they'll look as shiny as they did in the showroom. WD-40 Multi-use product is great for most plastic surfaces that have had a lot of outdoor exposure, so it's fantastic for garden furniture.
1. Mix the Murphy's Oil Soap with water and wash the piece with a rag dampened in the mixture. Be careful not to get the piece too wet — wipe down with a dry rag if there is a lot of water left on the surface. Repeat until rags no longer pick up any grime.
Use a mild soap and water solution or a wood-safe cleaner. For stubborn spots, a mixture of vinegar and water works wonders. Products like wood polish or furniture restorers can revive the finish. Look for restorers designed for your furniture's wood type and finish (e.g., oil-based or lacquer).
Like WD-40, vinegar won't magically dissolve silicone caulk. However, vinegar will loosen up particularly stubborn caulk if you don't have a commercial caulk remover in your supply closet. Vinegar can also be used to clean and disinfect gaps after you've pulled out all of the old silicone caulk residue.
Scrub the caulk with bleach diluted in water to kill and remove mold. Alternatively, spray the mold with white distilled vinegar and let it sit for 1 hour. Ammonia, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide are also great options for cleaning moldy caulk.