How should I refinish the wood trim throughout my 1920's house?

10 years ago

My house has wood trim throughout and I am wanting to clean it up. I don't know if I need to strip it and refinish it or if I can match a stain and just wipe it on to cover up the dents and scratches. I love the character and charm and don't want to eliminate all of it. I'm just looking to clean it up a bit. Any advice would be great. Thank you!

Featured Answer

PRO

Wesley Zimmerman - Lay it Straight

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Use a mixture of equal parts Apple cider vinegar, linseed oil and mineral spirits, apply it with #0000 steel wool to gently dissolve, and reconstitute the finish. It will smooth out the scratches and make it look like it's just been well cared for for the last 90 years. If you want a version that's faster and better, mix two parts of each of the aforementioned ingredients, to 1 part denatured alcohol. You have to work far quicker with that version as alcohol will dissolve shellac, the original finish. Alternatively, strip the original finish with alcohol and steel wool, and apply new shellac. Do not, under any circumstance apply polyurethane to the wood. It is nearly impossible to remove in the future and it flakes away after a number of years exposure to light.

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Comments (10)

makaelajo
Original Author
10 years ago
There are more pictures on my blog as well, www.simplehomeandhappiness.blogspot.com
Janice Sweeney
10 years ago
Hi makaelajo--First congratulations on your vintage home! I live in an historic 1920's home and can relate. Before you do anything to the wood--please have someone knowledgeable in historic preservation take a look at your house. In my case, much of the wood was original mahogany and it would have been a travesty to paint it. Please talk to a pro. All the best!!
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dclostboy
10 years ago
It looks like you can lightly sand and stain darker to match with a gel stain.
PRO
Rockin' Fine Finish
10 years ago
For a true refinish sand it to bare wood and then stain this will give you the best look and finish
boo0035
9 years ago
Hello. I love the woodwork in your pictures. I think it may be the same douglas fir that I have in my 20s house. If so, it may well have been finished with orange shellac. These are purchased as flakes and dissolved in denatured alcohol in particular ratios referred to as "cuts" - for example a 2lb cut would be 2lbs of shellac dissolved in one gallon of denatured alcohol. It is quick drying, but requires a number of coats. If this is the case, you could try applying another coat, but as a word of caution, since the application is solvent based, you may end up making the situation worse. For small scratches you could always use brown shoe polish in an appropriate shade. I hope this helps.
boo0035
9 years ago
Another thought - if the problem includes a grubbiness that extends beyond what one might call "patina," I have found foaming bath cleaner and a soft cloth work well.
flopsycat1
9 years ago
Year old post.
mdscarpa
9 years ago
makaelajo - I have the exact same trim in my house and I am trying to both clean it up and I had a few pieces that needed to be replace, were you able to come up with a method that worked well for you? Thanks!
sheilaskb
9 years ago
You might try the Amish wood milk or Murphy's oil soap for cleaning. Sometimes you can hide scratches by rubbing a walnut half over the scratch as the brown tone of the walnut will come be transferred onto the wood.