Reviving an old Socket Box?

[Twertsy]

Folks,
Any tips on bringing the text back alive on this old Quickway socket box?  It appears to just be grease and dirt.  The text appears to be engraved into the wood slightly.  Anyone got a good way of cleaning old wood?

[Bill Houghton]

Any of the common cleaners: Murphy's oil soap, Simple Green.

If it's grease, mineral spirits on a rag should do quite a bit to clean it up; although real turpentine cuts through grease like anything (but it's spendy).

[Twertsy]

Any of the common cleaners: Murphy's oil soap, Simple Green.

If it's grease, mineral spirits on a rag should do quite a bit to clean it up; although real turpentine cuts through grease like anything (but it's spendy).

Use a rag, soft toothbrush, or.............?

[bill300d]

I agree with Bill on the products he listed. I will  usually use mineral spirits first  Keep rag damp and turn often when dirty get a new rag. Usually this is enough but if not murphys next and simple green if necessary, just be careful of the lettering. Oh tooth brush is ok too.

[leg17]

I suggest a couple of careful trial spots.
Using Murphy's, I have cleaned the printing right off with the grease and dirt.
The box looked great but the graphics were a lot weaker.

[Aunt Phil]

For the 9,753,271st time; there are cleaners and there are SOLVENTS.
Solvents do NOT clean.
Solvents, particularly on wood generally cause the DIRT to migrate deeper into the wood.

If it's dirty, wash it with a cleaner.  Murphys and Simple Green along with Fast Orange are CLEANERS.

Mineral Spirits is a SOLVENT.  It is also a penetrant.  Mineral spirits will carry dirt into wood just like it carries lanolin into steel. 

[turnnut]

OK, my 2 cents worth,   yes, Murphy's would be my 1st try,  and I would only start on the inside sidewalls for a test.

work any of the listed cleaners, bur I will state again, try it on the walls of the box 1st, not the bottom with the lettering.

good luck.

[bonneyman]

I agree with Bill on the products he listed. I will  usually use mineral spirits first  Keep rag damp and turn often when dirty get a new rag. Usually this is enough but if not murphys next and simple green if necessary, just be careful of the lettering. Oh tooth brush is ok too.

Just not your personal one, though! lol

[bill300d]

 

[Twertsy]

Folks,
I appreciate the tips and am going to attempt to clean a small portion this afternoon with Murphy's.  I'll post the results.