Clean tongue and groove paneling before painting or finishing.
Old tongue and often has a patina and warmth not found in new wood. Properly cleaned and finished, it makes a fine material for floors, walls and ceilings. Like any wood, it swells and warps when exposed to water, so careful cleaning is required to prevent damage. Cleaning may not remove all stains, but sanding the surface lightly with sandpaper will probably eliminate any remaining stains.
Instructions
General Cleaning
1. Vacuum the tongue and groove wood with the brush attachment of your vacuum to remove surface dust and dirt.
2. Shoot compressed air into the crevices to remove dust.
3. Mix 5 tbsp. trisodium phosphate with 1 gallon warm water in a bucket.
4. Dip a soft sponge or bristle brush in the solution and wring out or shake thoroughly to remove excess water.
5. Scrub the wood thoroughly. Trisodium phosphate removes mildew, dirt and grime.
Dark Water Stains
6. Mix 2 to 4 tbsp. oxalic acid crystals with 1 pint water in a glass jar.
7. Brush the acid mixture on any dark water stains on the wood. Brush the mixture on uniformly, coating the area around the stain as well. Feather the mixture out 12 inches past the stain so the bleached wood blends with the surrounding surface. Wait 10 to 20 minutes.
8. Mix 1 tbsp. clear ammonia with 1 quart of water in a bucket.
9. Brush the ammonia solution over the acid solution with a clean paintbrush or cloth to neutralize the acid and stop the bleaching action. Rinse with a clean cloth dipped in water.
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