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Cleaning Tips Furniture Design Dilemma

How to clean up this antique piano stool

3 years ago

Hello everyone. I bought this antique piano stool and it could use a good cleaning. I am new to cleaning or restoring antiques or anything that resembles an antique. Does anyone have any ideas on what to use to rejuvenate this piano stool please?

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Patricia Colwell Consulting

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

IMO use some soap and water to begin with to see what the finish is actually like before going to any harsh chemical or oil. Do not sak the piece for sure but that is where I would start. I am really not sure about the rough finish wether it is an acyual finish or as mentioned damaged from heat.

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Comments (10)

RedRyder
3 years ago
Before you consider stripping it (which is certainly an option) try cleaning it with Lemon Oil and 0000 steel wool. Then you will know what the real problems are. The legs look like the finish is "pickling" - possibly from being near a heat source. Try cleaning it first, then reassess.
Donna Fallon
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you so much I will clean it with the lemon oil and see how it looks. If it cleans up nice should I do anything else to it to protect it?
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lindac92
3 years ago
NO lemon oil!!.... begin with mineral spirits.....which will just remove greasy dirt.
You are probably going to have to do an "easy strip"...that is brush on and wipe off a mixture of denatured alcohol ( shellac thinner) and lacquer thinner 9 acetone)...2/3 to 1/3...it will soften the old checked finish and smooth it out and you wipe off the excess.
Lemon oil is mineral oil with a lemon scent....won't do anything but make your piece greasy. Won't "sink in" won't "feed the finish" will soften oily dirt....but will leave an oily residue.
Donna Fallon thanked lindac92
lindac92
3 years ago
The rough finish is caused by the oils outgassing from what likely is a varnish. all the soap and water won't change that.
I have that piano stool's twin in my basement. makes a very good piano stool for a short person. It was what I used as a child.
And the metal on the claw legs isn't brass....so don't waste your time trying to shine it up.
Donna Fallon
Original Author
3 years ago
Ok thank you.
Jackie VN
8 months ago
I have a similar stool that I want to refinish. Are the feet supposed to be so dark?
Jude Heimbecker
last month
Do You know what the finish is on it. we have the same stool in fairly good condition but some hand sanitizer was spilled on it and removed the finish. do you have any ideas.
ci_lantro
last month
I'm 99.9% certain that is a shellac finish.
Lorraine Leroux
last month
The finish is shellac. Age causes that bumpy look since it is a very soft finish and tends to soften, get dirt in it then shrink. Best to strip it all back as you will never remove it all with just soap and water or anything else.

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