Flea-market finds sometimes turn out to be real treasures. Often unsightly furniture can be made to look like new with just a little cleaning. Wear rubber gloves when handling furniture-cleaning products. The first product you should try is oil soap added to water. The mixture needn't be strong: a cup of soap per gallon of water should be plenty. Use the diluted oil soap and a clean cloth to wash the furniture. If that doesn't do the trick, mix equal parts turpentine, linseed oil and white vinegar, put a lid on the container and shake vigorously. This mixture produces smelly vapors, so use it where there's adequate ventilation. Dip a piece of very fine steel wool into the mixture, and use it to lightly scrub dirty furniture (figure A). A third option for cleaning furniture is heavy-duty hand cleaner or self-scrubbing bathroom cleaner. Don't leave such products on furniture very long: they might dry the wood. After cleaning the wood, wipe it down with lemon oil, which will help prevent moisture loss.
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