How To Clean The Inside Of A Cedar Chest

Product to by would be Scratch Cover (Medium) . Home remedies include: Mayonnaise - Vinegar - Teabag - Metal Polish..........

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Thank you! I appreciate your reply and great suggestions. I did not even think about mayonnaise, I know it removed water rings on another old piece of furniture. I am excited about getting this chest and am ready to start cleaning, etc. Thank you again!
You are most welcome...................

Murphy's oil soap is the right kind of cleaner for this project, which you have done. Now, the scratches, Old English has stain that comes in two shades. Buy the one for light furniture color, and put a few drops in the spaces where the scratches are. Put enough to cover them. Let sit for 2 hrs, then wipe off with a paper towel till the paper towel comes out clean. For scratches on the sides use a Q-tip. Pour a little on a jar cap and soak the Qtip and then fill in the scratches. Wipe with paper towel several times until the towel is clean. Good Luck!

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Thank you! I am surprised the chest is in as good shape as it is considering where it was stored for years. I have had success with Murphy's soap in the past on other older pieces of furniture so I know a good cleaning will help. Now to get the scratches taken care! Your assistance is greatly appreciated. I am having to rearrange everything in the room where I am placing the chest, including some rewiring done (not by me!). I am excited about getting all this taken care. Thanks again!
You are 100% on the mark. Murphy's Oil Soap and Old English are the best things to come down the pike! I just cleaned and then used Old English on an antique vanity that a friend gave me and it turned out beautiful! Go for it.
Thank you! Glad the vanity turned out so well. Enjoy!

I would sand with very fine sand paper (start @ 100 grit and finish with 300 - 400 grit) and then use "tung oil" or similar product to finish and bring out the natural glory of cedar. Cedar itself is a beautiful wood.

Thank you! You are right, cedar is a beautiful wood.

Mix gum turps with linseed oil 2/3 gum turps rub with the grain with cloth if it is still dirty or has vergi on it use fine pot scower if more is needed oooo steel wool don't be impatient let it dry wipe with soft dry cloth if it looks ok then spray it with Howard's bees wax oil and polish to the gloss that you want do not use anything that drys the timber it needs feeding, Cedar is beautiful but it is a soft timber

Thank you! I was unsure what polish I was going to use. I used another brand on another piece of furniture and was unhappy with it. I have heard of Howard's, but did not know much about it. I appreciate the recommendation.

I have had luck with the product.

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Lynda, thank you so much! I just watched the video and I am amazed at what this does. I can also use this on another old piece of furniture that really needs some help. This is greatly appreciated!
I have had good sucess wth Howard's. i think it wil do great on the exterior, but don't use it on the interior. it will defeat the idea of a cedar chest. Reactivate the cedar smell with some light sanding.

Try wiping it down with a little denatured alcohol

Emily on Sep 01, 2017

April, my advise does not have to do with the refinishing of your cherished cedar chest but rather the interior of it. I took a course called "saving things" which dealt with how to clean etc, valuable items (we used a book to follow along with the classes) anyway in that class we were told NOT to use cedar chests for storing valuable items. It seems the cedar exudes something that while being a bug repellant is also harmful to fabrics.

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Emily, thank you for passing this along. At this time I have no idea what, if anything I will store in it. I was just too happy to get this!!
DP on Sep 03, 2017

If storing quilts or other fabric place them in pillow cases so they don't actually touch the cedar and they will be fine. I store quilts in mine and no problems with stains because they don't touch the cedar
I know this post is from 2017, but, what about storing antique bone china and other antiques in a antique cedar chest? safe to do?

My husband used Howard Restorafinish on our kitchen cabinets and it covered the scratches perfectly and breathed new life into them.

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Thank you! I am hearing great things about Howard products. I need to check them out.
Deb on Sep 03, 2017

I used it on some old furniture my husband inherited. It works beautifully on minor blemishes, and helps conceal/camouflage bigger ones. There is a 1/4" scuff mark (not deep) that thankfully is much less noticeable. I used Dark Walnut, but you probably won't need anything quite that dark.

It's really as easy as wiping it on and off. IDK if I would use a cleaner with any oil in it first, as it may interfere with the wood soaking up the Restore product (JMO).

My Grandmother had mostly cloth items stored in her cedar chest. They are still in good condition. I'm 65 now and I'm sure a few are older than me. She always laid a blanket over the top for protection or used a pretty piece of material.

Deanna, I found my Mother's wedding gown preserved in a specialized bag in this chest. It was placed in there in 1955 and I was amazed at how good it looked

I have a similar chest that has some heat damage to it, but it was my grandmothers and like you, I have sentimental attachment to the pure look of the cedar. Don't paint it!

Deb, I know you are pleased to have your Grandmother's chest. It is wonderful having special family items. This chest was my Mother's. She had it before she got married in 1955. It has been in storage for about 35 years. A wonderful neighbor and his daughter helped me get it home today. His daughter was amazed, as I was, at the surprisingly good shape it is in. I am so excited about it! I am having to completely rearrange the room it is going in, including getting rid of items that do not have much meaning. When my husband and I unearthed it in the rear of a storage building I told him it needed a little work and absolutely
no
way would I paint it. Best wishes!

Restore a Finish!!! It's a FABULOUS product!!

Thank you, I will check this out.

Nancy on Sep 02, 2017

Part of the charm of something old are the dings dents and scratches that come with it. Just like the lines on our faces, each has a story! If this were mine, I would clean it with Murphy's and then put a coat of paste wax on it. Wait 15 minutes and buff. If the top is really bad, either buy or make a cushion that fits on it. It can be removable or tack it down. Good luck?

Nancy, you are so true about the charm of something having it's scratches and dings. I will not do anything to compromise what I call the "integrity" of the item. I also have the rocking chair my Mother would rock me in. As I starting walking I would love to stand in the chair and hold on to the back and rock back and forth. Over time the seat got scratched. A friend of my Mother's wanted her to get it professionally refinished to "fix it". She never did understand why my Mother said it was perfect the way it was. My mother tried to explain that each scratch was a wonderful memory. My mother is gone now and I proudly have the chair with the wonderful memories. You and I apparently think alike. Thank you and best wishes.

S on Sep 02, 2017

olive oil and vinegar solution will cover the scratches and make it look like new. Look on Pinterest for directions to make the solution.

Nancy on Sep 02, 2017

the look of "old" tends to keep those memories alive! Great minds think alike!

I have used Old English for years. It has served me well. Good luck with your new found treasure. I too, have a few passed down family pieces. I wrote a note and placed it in each one so my children would know the stories behind each piece.

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Thank you Susan. I just finished giving it a good cleaning, and it looks much better. Don"t you just love passed down pieces and the memories they invoke? That is a great idea about leaving notes in each piece! I am going to have to do that. Thanks again and best wishes!
Anyone have suggestions for starting points for cleaning a antique, hand carved, Japanese cedar trunk?

Use very fine steel wool & clean with a damp cloth then stain with a light stain that matches, go over the whole top with stain when dry put a few costs of top clear coat on it. Good luck

Ginny on Sep 04, 2017

There restorative products available at big box hardware stores and Ace Hardware that will help you bring this chest back to life. DON'T paint it.

Thank you. After a good clean the chest looks much better, but I will check out the restorative products. I agree, there is NO way I will paint it.

Be careful. This looks like a cedar chest we have. If it is, it's an Art Deco, waterfall chest. Although it is solid wood, the V pattern is veneered. Ours has a few pieces which have ripped off. If yours has been improperly stored, I wouldn't recommend sanding it, even lightly. Don't over wet it with polishes either.

Ours is similar to this one:

http://www.hometalk.com/8678546/cedar-chest-upcycle

http://www.hometalk.com/26528767/chipped-veneer-art-deco-cedar-chest-restore

http://www.hometalk.com/6918174/vintage-waterfall-chest-in-linen

http://www.hometalk.com/18675973/waterfall-hopechest

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Thank you for including the links.I am going to research some more on this type of chest. I have been careful about cleaning it. It is looking better. The top is just lightly scratched, nothing has ripped off. I live the V pattern. Thank you again, the links have been helpful.
You're welcome! I'm sure it will turn out beautifully.