06-07-2018, 10:00 PM
I've been using GoJo cream hand cleaner, or a store private label equivalent hand cleaner, for years, on and off, to clean old finishes. I often use it to find out what the original finish looked like under the layers of wax, grease, and dirt, that typically build up on old furniture over the decades, even if it does need to be stripped and refinished. I was never under the delusion that it does anything other then cleaning the cabinet, it's not a substitute for refinishing or a proper touch up or repair to an existing finish, but it gives you a good base line as to what you are starting with. As Russ says the lanolin and other solvents in GoJo evaporate over time, so the temporary glow to the existing wood goes away after a short time, but the cabinet still looks much better then what you started with. The best part is that hand cleaner is cheap, and much easier to use then something like turpentine, and it isn't harsh on your hands, doesn't stink, all that I have ever used to apply it is ordinary paper towels, no steel wool.
Regards
Arran
Regards
Arran