How do you clean the outside of a cedar chest?
Clean the outside of your old cedar chest with mild soap and water. Wring out the cloth until almost dry and wipe the surface, corners and crevices. For small corners or decorative details, use a cotton swab. Wipe the exterior of your cedar chest a second time with mineral spirits if the surface is particularly dirty.
Can you use Murphy’s Oil Soap on cedar chest?
Keeping your cedar chest clean on the inside and outside is the best way to maintain its beauty and function. Pour some onto a clean polishing rag, and wipe in the direction of the grain. For medium cleaning, use white vinegar or Murphy’s Oil Soap and a lint-free cloth.
How can I clean a cedar chest?
- Vacuum the inside of the cedar chest using the hose with a long, angled attachment with a narrow opening.
- Mix a solution of 3 tablespoons liquid chlorine bleach to 1 cup water.
- Rinse the cleaning cloth with water and wring it out.
- Wipe the inside of the chest with the cloth.
How do you revive an old cedar chest?
Just take a 220-grit sandpaper and lightly sand the inside of the chest. The interior is unfinished so you can easily do that. Just make sure that you sand in the direction of the grain. A fine sandpaper sanded in the direction of the gain will work wonders to restore the aroma of a chest!
Should I oil my cedar chest?
Do not finish the inside of the chest. That will stop the natural oils in the wood from acting as a natural bug repellant. I’ve made several pieces from red cedar and my favorite finish is tung oil. It brings out the grain and is easy to repair.
How do you keep a cedar chest from smelling?
Vacuum inside the chest, and wipe the inside and outside with a lint-free dust cloth. Air the chest out, ideally outdoors, on a non-humid day. A screened porch is perfect, as it helps keep the chest as clean as possible. The fresh air and daylight will help banish musty odor.
How long does a cedar chest last?
So, in the best conditions, about a year. In okay conditions, 6 months.
Are old cedar chests worth anything?
Online auction sites, antique shops and secondhand stores often sell Lane cedar chests — based on their age, condition or rarity — starting at $99 and as high as $700 or more for older chests. But most chests, on average, are valued between $200 and $400.
What should you not put in a cedar chest?
Wood, papers and plastics emit gases and oils that can damage items packed in a cedar chest. Acid-free tissue paper is specially formulated paper that does not produce gases or acids that will damage belongings.
How do you store blankets in a cedar chest?
If you are storing clothing in a cedar chest or another wooden container, be sure to line it with acid-free paper, muslin or even old, clean, cotton bed sheets. This will keep the wood from contacting the clothing directly, which could stain or damage the item.
What should you store in a cedar chest?
A cedar chest lets you store linens, clothing and even pictures without the fear of dust, dirt, moths and other unwanted debris and insects destroying the items. The chests vary in size and types, and certain model chests even come with compartments for holding small items like jewelry and keepsakes.
How much is a 1960 Lane cedar chest worth?
Your Lane cedar chest is not considered a true antique because it is not over 100 years old; however, many use the term “antique” loosely. My research indicates yours would have an estimated retail value of $450-550 assuming good condition and depending on sale geographic location.
Why are hope chests dangerous?
The hope chests made before 1987 are dangerous because they auto-lock. Fourteen children have suffocated inside of them, including a 15-year-old girl from Reynoldsburg. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned of this danger for years.
Why do they call it a hope chest?
The term hope chest symbolizes hope in a marriage. The hope chest itself is an important vessel that a newly married woman could one day hand down to her own daughter. Most traditional hope chests were constructed with cedar, a type of wood that naturally repels insects and fungus.
Who gives a hope chest?
Parents traditionally bought the hope chest for their daughters. Nowadays, it’s also acceptable for young women to buy their own hope chest, and sometimes family or friends gift one to the bride-to-be after she announces her engagement.
How do you unlock an old cedar chest?
How to Unlock a 1949 Cedar Chest With No Key
- Go to an antique store, suggests Lockpicking 101. Some antique shops have boxes full of old keys, and one of them might fit the cedar chest.
- Write the manufacturer, if you can identify one. Ask if you can order a replacement key.
- Fall back on force, if finesse has failed you.
How do you get the key to a Lane cedar chest?
To order your replacement kit, contact Heritage Home Group at 800-327-6944, by email at by email at newlock@LaneFurniture.com, or on-line.