Sherry Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 I'm nearly ready to start bashing my Duracraft, but it's really dusty. It has a beautiful floor that needs cleaning, and I need to do the outside also. All that was ever done to this house was to put some kind of shellac or clear varnish on it. Has anyone ever tried Murphy's soap on a house? It cleans beautifully, but I'm concerned it might leave some kind of residue that would keep my 'adobe' from sticking well, or that it would take so much water to remove it that things would warp. Any experience with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grynche Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 I read somewhere that Murphy's does leave a residue, so I stopped using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry Posted June 20, 2010 Author Share Posted June 20, 2010 So, what would you recommend to clean the wood, O wise one? I know you'd know a good way to do it, if anyone does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 I would use a soft brush and good old soap and water, just be careful you do not get the house soaking wet. When I started the rehab I am doing now it was horribly dusty. I first took a semi stiff brush and took it outside and dry cleaned it the best I could. Next I vaccumed the heck out of it. Then I used a soft brush barely damp and cleaned it some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry Posted June 23, 2010 Author Share Posted June 23, 2010 This one is pretty dusty too, Rhonda and complete with cobwebs. Maybe I should just leave them and make it a haunted house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 When I did work for the mini shop and even for myself later on, we always used Murphy's oil soap. We did not have the rag really wet and it cleaned the natural wood and even painted wood houses very well. We used a cotton cloth (Most times an old cloth diaper) and it worked very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry Posted June 23, 2010 Author Share Posted June 23, 2010 Thanks for letting me know. I know it does a wonderful job of cleaning wood and making it look pretty again, but didn't want to ruin that great floor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grynche Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 I'm hardly wise; I just don't buy specialty cleansers! My cleaning supplies are dish soap, laundry detergent, vinegar, baking soda and toothpaste. Olive oil and lemon juice makes a wonderful wood dusting/polishing solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry Posted June 23, 2010 Author Share Posted June 23, 2010 I am too, about most things, Freya! What Comet won't get, vinegar will. But with the antique furniture we have, I got started using Murphy's to clean and tung oil to finish, years ago when it was cheap, and still keep it around for furniture and woodwork in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 Another home cleaning agent that works very well on wood is Apple cider vinegar (not the white vinegar) . The smell isn't too bad either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 Vinegar! I use it for so many things! I did use Murphys on an old wooden chest that I wanted to paint. I scrubbed it well with a nylon brush and didn't get it toally soaked but it painted up nicely. I don't know about what stain would do since it supposedly has oil in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Vinegar & water will remove the oily residue from the Murphy's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 I have this picture in my mind of trying to convince DH to rinse the dollhouse off for me! Ok, Holly, maybe you'll know this, if anyone does. I looked up fabric softener/wall paper on google and it told me pretty much the same thing everyone told me here. But it said that after stripping, I would have to neutralize the wall. what do you neutralize fabric softener with....static? After stripping the wall...I'm not taking wallpaper down in the nude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Check the contents label on your fabric softener; if the active ingredient is alkyline, vinegar or lemon juice will neutralize it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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