Interior T And G Pine Board Cleaning?

Tongue and groove wood ceilings are often made of knotty pine, cypress, or cedar and are usually coated with a urethane sealer that protects the wood. To maintain the appearance of these ceilings, follow these steps:

1. Fill a bucket with warm water and add a squirt of dish soap.
2. Wash the tongue and groove wood ceiling with the soapy water.
3. Apply the soap solution with a soft cloth, cleaning in a circular motion. Rinse the soap from the ceiling with clear water and a damp cloth.
4. Dry the ceiling after cleaning.
5. Uninstall the panels carefully, strip them or scrape them (much easier to scrape boards when they’re horizontal), and then refinish and reinstall.

To clear coat the tongue and groove pine, use a roller or spray gun. Sand the siding with 100-grit sandpaper and wipe clean. If painting the pine paneling, prime it thoroughly with an oil-based stain killer and then prime the paneling.

For dust build up, use a static dusting brush or vacuum cleaner with a dusting brush attachment. On flat boards like 1×6, use an old-fashioned scraper or worn down 220-grit sandpaper. Mineral spirits is a good solvent for cleaning wood because it won’t cause fibers to swell like a water-based cleaner.

When wiping the whitewash mix off the pine, use a cotton rag instead of cheesecloth. Wipe the wood after scuffing with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits and let it completely dry before the next coat.

Mix a cup of automatic dishwasher detergent in a 5 gallon bucket and add a couple of tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Murphy’s Oil Soap is great for cleaning wood without damaging the finish or your hands. Use a bucket of hot water with a good glug or three of the product.