We've been scrubbing and sanding the cupboard and it's drawers endlessly. The reality of old furniture is that it takes a ton of WORK to get it to a point where you can use it functionally and love it asthetically.
In hindsight I realize I could have went to a superstore and installed brand new shelves. But then again, I wouldn't have these beautiful hardwood pieces to wax and buff and be in love with.
I decided that everything should be washed-out white like in a seaside cabin. I went with an environmentally friendly "Bienenwachslasure" which is a beeswax stain.
The recommended tool cleaning says to use soap and water followed by a clear water rinse. Hmm. I guess water must be a different substance in Germany if it can clean wax. Silly me.
It gets even better. Turns out that once you get a couple of coats of this stuff on your wood surface, you have to rub and buff according to how thick and sticky it is. One board has taken me over 30 minutes just to smooth out. Oh well, only like 100 more to go.
A little tip for you if you decide to work with this stuff; you may want to apply it a little thinner than the recommended "even generous coatings."
At this point, I think it's worth the extra muscle and the wait... but then again I could change my mind if I don't start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel by the end of the week!
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