What do you clean a cedar chest with?

Author: Ellen Corkery  |  Last update: Monday, June 27, 2022

Mild Maintenance– Furniture polish and furniture polish rag. Wipe down the exterior, wiping towards the direction of the wood grain. Moderate– Murphy's Oil Soap or White Vinegar (especially if there is mold or mildew spots). Use a lint free cloth, wring out excess moisture and wipe down the exterior.

How can I make my cedar chest smell good again?

Wet a lint-free white cloth with white vinegar, wringing out excess moisture. Wipe down all interior surfaces of the chest, then let the chest air dry while open. Repeat if needed to remove any remaining spots or slight odors.

How do you clean and refinish a cedar chest?

Sand the surfaces of your chest with ultrafine-grit sandpaper to remove any uneven staining. Wipe the surfaces down with a clean, damp rag. Apply a coat of polyurethane sealant using a clean paint brush. Coat the entire surface evenly.

How do you clean cedar wood?

The Cedar Bureau recommends using a solution no stronger than one-part bleach to three parts water. Apply it with a pump sprayer and let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with a garden hose. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles.

How do you clean old cedar furniture?

  1. Combine 1 quart of water, 1/4 cup of ammonia and 2 tbsp. ...
  2. Dip a soft scrub brush into the cleaning mixture, and scrub the surfaces of the cedar furniture to remove dust, dirt and grime. ...
  3. Rinse the furniture thoroughly with a water from a garden hose.

How to Revive a Cedar Chest

Can you use Murphy's Oil Soap on cedar chest?

Wipe Down the Exterior

Moderate– Murphy's Oil Soap or White Vinegar (especially if there is mold or mildew spots). Use a lint free cloth, wring out excess moisture and wipe down the exterior.

How do you clean outdoor cedar?

  1. Pour one gallon of water into a bucket, mixed with 2 ounces of oxalic acid. This type of acid can be found at any hardware or home improvement store and works well on cedar.
  2. Dip a cleaning brush into the solution, then scrub the solution into the wood.
  3. Rinse outdoor areas with a hose.

How do I make cedar look new again?

The best way to restore your cedar siding or cedar fence to its original glory is with soft washing. Instead of the robust streams of high-pressure water used in pressure washing, soft washing uses a low-pressure technique with a special mixture of highly effective and biodegradable cleaning solutions.

Can you use bleach on cedar wood?

The best woods for bleaching include oak, beach, ash, and gum. Varieties like poplar and pine are already so light that removing further natural wood color might render them bland and lifeless. Others, like cedar, redwood, rosewood, and cherry don't take bleach well.

How do you keep cedar wood looking new?

A natural, water-based cedar wood stain — like Owatrol Aquadecks (Honey) — will also keep the timber in good condition whilst providing a beautiful finish. A good oil or water-based protection typically lasts for 2 years up to first maintenance.

What can I do with an old cedar chest?

18 Fantastic and Creative Ways Uses for a Cedar Chest
  1. Coffee table. Coffee tables provide the perfect spot to rest your cup of Joe while relaxing after a long day. ...
  2. Nightstand for a Bedroom. Nightstands are ever so handy! ...
  3. TV Console. ...
  4. End of the Bed. ...
  5. Entry Way. ...
  6. A Catch-all – Organization Space. ...
  7. Resilient Storage. ...
  8. Window Seat.

How do you clean an old wooden chest?

  1. Vacuum the inside and outside of your antique trunk. ...
  2. Wash wooden antique trunks and leather handles or decorations with a mixture of warm water and three capfuls of saddle soap in a bucket. ...
  3. Clean metal antique trunks with a mixture of one part white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle.

Should a cedar chest be stained?

Whether the chest is new or not, a stain provides years of beauty without peeling or chipping. If you want to add color without sacrificing the natural beauty of the grain, choose a semitransparent, oil-based wood stain. Oil-based stain hardens the wood's surface and adds durability to the cedar chest.

How do I get rid of a musty smell on my chest?

Pour 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the inside of the drawers and leave the drawers open to air out. The vinegar will eliminate any remaining musty odor.

How do you revive cedar smell in a cedar chest?

How to Recharge the Smell of a Cedar Chest
  1. Remove all items in the chest and wipe down the lining with warm water to remove dust and the surface coating of grime. ...
  2. Sand the wood by hand with 60-grit sandpaper. ...
  3. Apply a few drops of natural cedar oil to a clean cloth and rub the wood to enhance the natural aroma even more.

How do you clean unfinished cedar wood?

You can use water mixed with a bit of mild detergent for a basic cleaner. If you need a stronger cleaner, you can dilute bleach with water for a cleaner that will accentuate the natural luster of the cedar. This is particularly effective in the removal of mildew. Wipe the wood gently, and avoid excessive scrubbing.

Can you use OxiClean to clean cedar siding?

Absolutely! The official OxiClean website gives step-by-step instructions on removing stubborn stains from decks, patios, deck furniture, and more. Since these surfaces are made from wood, it is perfectly acceptable to clean cedar siding with the product.

How do you remove black mold from cedar?

Algae and molds can be cleaned quite easily and effectively with bleaching agents such as sodium hypochlorite (liquid household bleach) and sodium percarbonate (the active ingredient in some commercial cleaners). Bleaching agents quickly kill mold and algae, but they also can degrade wood.

How do you restore faded cedar?

Paint the cedar siding with primer, once the caulk dries. Wait for the primer to dry, then paint on a layer of exterior house paint, picking a color that matches the original or a fresh color. Apply additional coats as needed, making sure each paint layer dries before adding others.

Can weathered cedar wood be stained?

Staining Old Cedar:

If a few steps are performed, staining an old cedar siding comes out almost flawlessly. You should always remove all old flaking paint or stains on the top layer of wood by using power washing.

How do you keep cedar from turning GREY?

To prevent cedar from fading to gray, you need to seal cedar fence with a stain that blocks ultraviolet light and contains a mildewcide, according to Family Handyman.

Can I pressure wash cedar?

Can pressure washers be used on cedar siding? As long as the sprayer is set to a low pressure, pressure washing can be used to clean cedar. It is important to avoid damaging the wood's soft surface, so using a low pressure and not working too closely to the siding is necessary.

Will bleach hurt cedar?

Chlorine bleach is the traditional and most popular form used in households, most often in the washer to get stains out of laundry. The powerful ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, which is a toxic substance and is not good for your cedar siding, as it can damage the wood fibers.

Can I use Dawn to clean my deck?

Liquid dish soap (ammonia-free) is safe for use on cleaning your deck when mixed with a little warm water. Simply mix 1 gallon of water, 2 tablespoons of ammonia-free dish soap (such as Murphy's), 1 pint of rubbing alcohol, and 1 quart of oxygen bleach.

Why does my cedar chest smell like mothballs?

The mothball chemicals are designed to vaporize and condense on the clothing stored in the chest, but they also condense in the wood, which is somewhat porous, and a bit oily--the cedar oil is why cedar chests work to protect clothing. So it takes a long time for the chemicals to re-vaporize and leave the wood.

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