And unfortunately i learned this the hard way.
Cleaning old wood beams.
I used minwax polycrylic water based protective finish in clear satin you guys this stuff is amazing.
Avoid using wire brushes as this can damage the timber s appearance.
There are two other possible techniques both of which ought to be approached.
Use the hose attachment and run over the beams following.
The most important lesson i ve learned with reclaimed wood is when to lightly clean it vs.
The vinegar is a natural cleaning and disinfectant that.
No matter what you do take some basic precautions when working around animal droppings.
The easiest way to dislodge the dirt is to use a pressure washer.
If you want to go for a more natural way of cleaning your wooden beams you can create a vinegar and water solution by mixing two parts water and one part vinegar.
Fill a spray bottle with 2 cups water and 1 cup vinegar.
To clean your oak beams you can simply brush them down with a soft brush so you can remove dirt and dust.
Cleaning up beams and posts in your old barn more aggressive approach greater risks.
Cleaning old wood beams.
Give it a scrub or sand down.
But i noticed recently the living room beams seem spotted with mildew or some kind of mold at least that s what it looks like to me so i got out a step stool and.
Beware the little mouse.
Make sure not to use too much.
Therefore the first thing to do is give the salvaged wood a thorough cleaning.
I ve lived in this civil war farmhouse since 1975 and in all this time i ve only cleaned the ceiling beams with a vacuum cleaner.
Soda blasting uses sodium bicarbonate and as baking soda is an extremely friable material it completely fragments on impact cleaning and stripping the timbers and beams.
Spray the solution.
Years ago when i started cleaning reclaimed wood i would sand it down with a hand sander which would get rid of that beautiful patina and some of the character.
Just be sure to turn the tool down to its lowest.
The last step to clean and refinish your reclaimed wood is to properly seal the wood.
If your oak beams are stained or blackened you can make use of chemical free blasting or soda blasting but be careful of the chemicals used to treat the wood.
Once the wood was dry from its cleaning i used a regular paint brush and sparingly applied the minwax finish.
How to clean wood beams step 1.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle spray it on a clean rag and use the rag to wipe the surface of the beam.