Last updated on April 21st, 2013
FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS: After extensive restoration work on my Music Room (we jacked-up the wing), its two sets of Victorian pocket doors are now functional. The bad news? The first time I closed the doors, I discovered — to my utter horror — that the ancient mahogany panels were badly caked with mildew. Here’s how I dealt with this fungal-issue and returned the doors to a state of lustrous beauty — for less than $20.
As a first step, I vacuumed the doors to free them of loose dust.Then I saturated a terry-cloth with mineral spirits, and thoroughly rubbed the mahogany.
Mineral spirits, or paint-thinner, is generally safe to use on antiques. It will not harm the finish. Not in my experience, anyway.
The mineral spirits removed decades of grime. But it did nothing to eliminate the white spots on the doors.
Plan “B” involved one 1/4 cup of household bleach, dissolved in a bucket of very hot water.
After saturating the cloth, I squeezed it out with all my might until it was just barely damp.
Success! With only a light rub-down, the bleach instantly removed the mildew.
I used cotton swabs, also dipped into the bleach solution, to clean crevices between the door-panels.
Then, because water can be harmful to wood, I immediately dried the the doors with a clean, soft towel.
Unfortunately, the bleached-soaked cloth was useless against the heavy mildew on the lower panels of the other, larger set of pocket doors.
What to do?
As an experiment,ย I grabbed a piece of fine (#OOOO) steel wool, and dipped it into the bleach solution.
And guess what? The steel wool worked like a charm. The mildew came off with only a light rubbing.
If I do say so myself.
As you can imagine, after the mineral spirits and bleach treatments, the doors looked dull and dry.
Hence my next dilemma — how to return the doors to the lustrous condition they enjoyed in 1850?
The answer, for me, was common Lemon Oil.
Are Victorian pocket doors supposed to make a sucking-sound when you coat them with oil?
Mine did.
I let the oil stand for 20 minutes.
Then, using an impeccably clean towel,ย I rubbed off the excess oil.
I can assure you these sliding doors have not received such attention in many, many years.
Unfortunately, once the doors were polished,ย I realized their frames looked rather atrocious.They were marked with hundreds of scratches, nicks, and dings.
Now, the frames, unlike the doors themselves, are not made of mahogany. They are made of a cheaper wood, faux-finished to look like mahogany.
How to cover the dings and dents without painting over the faux finish?
The answer was in a can of stain. This oil-based product effectively concealed the imperfections without covering up the faux wood-graining.
It took me only minutes to apply the stain with a foam-brush.
I’m not unhappy with the end-result. Frankly, I don’t think these doors have looked this handsome in over 100 years.
Oh. My next project will involve the brass hardware on the doors. I intend to polish them.
And would you believe I found the brass skeleton key that locks the sliding panels together?
I don’t know if you will ever have to deal with old wood that has developed a mildew-issue. But should the day arise, maybe the treatments I’ve described for my pocket doors and frames will prove of some value to you. The entire procedure — for the room-side of the doors, anyway — took not more than one hour to accomplish.ย And the total cost? Less than $20. The potential expense for whatย a contractor recommended — and that was to remove the doors and have them refinished off-site — makes me shudder.
Any cleaning-painting-staining projects on your horizon? Talk to me in the comments field below. As always, I love to hear from you.
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Related Posts:
Music Room Restoration, Part One
Music Room Restoration, Part Two
House Tour: The Entrance Hall
badger gardener says
I don’t know much about restoring fine wood , but I’m guessing you were a bit nervous applying that bleach. Glad it worked so well. The doors look amazing!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi badger gardener – Turns out that a weak bleach solution is commonly used by professional restorers to remove mildew from finished wood. Phew!
Debby says
Great work! They look beautiful, pat on the back for saving the heritage of those gorgeous doors!
Marjean says
I’m so happy you were able to clean those beautiful doors, Kevin. While having the foundation under the music room redone was an expensive headache, I think it was worth it just to see these doors functional again. And I LOVE the brass hardware and that key!!
Judy says
They look beautiful! I think I would find myself just looking at them for long periods of time enjoying them and wondering what secrets they hold. You did great…
Brenda Johnson says
Well done Kevin!!! They look wonderful!!!!
Jan Evancho says
Good work! The doors look rich and lustrous. You probably saved yourself hundred of dollars on refinishing.
Lee McLean says
Not only do your pockets doors look great, Kevin, but it always gladdens my heart when someone takes the time to save an original finish rather than have it all stripped away. It takes years to create an antique patina and it can all be gone in a flash. Lovely!
Allison says
Hi Kevin, the doors look really nice but as a person who just moved out of a moldy home I need to point out that you really need to have a professional mold person come out and look at what the doors were making contact with on the interior of the wall. There is likely mold growing in the area where the doors are stored. Bleach doesn’t actually kill the spores, either. It just makes it look better by changing the color. You need a kind of biocide like hydrogen peroxide to actually destroy the organism. Please PLEASE get someone out to look at your interior walls and figure out the true source of the mold. It could be a slow leak from a pipe or trapped moisture but it is likely you’ve only cleaned up half of the problem. Sorry to bring up such and icky topic in an otherwise lovely post! xoxo
Vicki says
Alison is so right. We are in the midst of recreating an entire bathroom due to mold caused by a slow leak that went undetected for years under a tile floor. Our contractor is “following the trail” out into the hall to make sure there are no further lingering problems. We will end up with a new tile floor in the back hall as well once that wood gets taken up and the area fixed. But, that issue aside, your post is great, Kevin, full of usable tips. I look forward to seeing those new pocket doors soon (next DAS lecture?) Thank you!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Allison & Vicki – I’ve spent the morning researching mold and mildew. Mold – the black stuff – is dangerous indeed, and can not be removed once it has permeated a porous material like drywall. The spots on my doors, from what I’ve read, were mildew. This mildew had not permeated the finish of the wood. When the contractors were here, I peered into the “pocket” of the doors, and found no black growth whatsoever. Mildew on doors, and even on old paintings is fairly common in the Northeast, in houses that do not have central air-conditioning in summer.
Robin says
Beautiful restoration! We’re restoring an old table with a turtle shaped top and some lovely turnings underneath. Lots of cracked paint to remove and when we got to the wood we thought it might be mahogany at first, but it turned out to be walnut. So beautiful. It is always exciting working with old wood.
Laurene Stopford says
Beautiful!! Congratulations on a job well done. My father would be thrilled!
Tracy says
Your pocket doors are gorgeous! How wonderful that you have the key to them. ๐
Donna B. says
Oh Kevin, how beautiful they look now!
Isn’t it amazing how much a contractor would have charged to do the cleaning, but it’s all something ANYONE could do for pennies? Shocks me.
I cannot wait to see the shining of the hardware… the detail on them are stunning!
[and that key! That keeeyyy! โฅ]
Lovey O says
You are a miracle man! And it looks ike the rumor’s true- you don’t sleep! Thanks for your generous sharing. And LOVE that little key! So happy for your well deserved sence of satisfaction.
Angela Willis says
Kevin, those doors look fabulous- you have such a lovely house!
What a great job you did! I don’t have any problems with my wooden doors, but my bathroom wall has an awful time with mildew! The bleach works… but then it comes back within a month or two… I am thinking a heavy duty coat of mildew resistant paint! Watch your doors… so that the mildew doesn’t come back… if it does you may need to take care of the source of the mildew.
Barb Gilligan says
Kevin I hear amazing things about this companies’ products. I used the leather cleaner, which I love, but plan to use the restore as well.
http://www.howardproducts.com/prod-restor-a-finish.php
Alyce says
An electric toothbrush and toothpaste are good cleaners for those crevices and small spots. The toothpaste has enough grit to clean and the brush saves elbow grease and won’t dig in.. A dab of baking soda is a good cleaner too. #0000 steel wool rubbed with the grain polishes.
Heather O'Shaughnessy says
Kevin they look wonderful and how amazing that you were able to restore them without refinishing which would have taken away all the history they have absorbed over the years.
I don’t know about you but when I repair or restore something it gives me great pleasure every time I look at it. I know the energy in the music room is more fresh and harmonious now that the doors are lovely again ๐
Bravo!!
Chuck says
Nice job!
Judy walker nalda says
Kevin, have you thought how much mildew there is in the pocket which the doors slide into?
Cristy Sheehan says
Omg…they look great! Where did you find the key to them? Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Judy Walker Nalda – Fortunately, no mold or mildew in the “pocket” space on each side of the doors. I checked both areas thoroughly, as did the contractor.
Cristy Sheehan – The key was in its key-hole on the hall-side of the door. I never noticed it before. I guess cleaning can pay big dividends!
cecile graven says
@ angela willis: mildew dies when dabbed with a solution of essential oil of tea tree and water, 1: 10.
@kevin, your doors look wonderfull again ๐
Froot Bat says
They look great Kevin. We live in a mildewy /mouldy area; Northern New south Wales. High humidity for much of the year. White vinegar and clove oil are great for killing mould and mildew, and a good preventative.
Robert Meehan says
Good job Kevin. As you know, refinishing antique wood LOSES value when stripped of it’s original finish. You did a great job by going slowly and gently. With the escutcheons, they look like brass so be very, very careful undoing the screws. Be sure to use a screwdriver that best fits the entire slot on the screw head. And again, go slowly and gently. You’re doing that old house proud!!
Beverly, zone 6 eastern PA says
Again, you impress me with your myriad talents!
The finished product is stunning !!!!
Michelle says
Well I am anxious to grab the bleach and follow your lead … I too salvaged many beautiful doors and did the thinner and steel wool- worked well, but not 100% – I will try the bleach …thanks again for the hint and post!
despina says
The doors look beautiful. The hardware is just so nice. You did a fantastic job
Cathy Haynes says
Kevin, the doors look fabulous!!! I can imagine they sucked up quite a bit of the lemon oil!!
Great job!
Linda Shore says
We inherited some heavily nicotine encrusted lovely antiques; a dry sink & a pie cupboard. I cleaned them with murphy’s oil soap & water. When the finish turned white I cleaned it all off. Low & behold, a beautiful wood grain appeared. I finished both pieces off with lemon oil also. Gorgeous & nicotine free.
Patricia says
Kevin,
So glad to hear you feel you do not have a mold problem and to learn the difference between mold and mildew. The doors look amazing.
Ellen says
You and your readers are all well versed (now) and I want to congratulate you on the finished results, the doors look wonderful. If this mildew issue should arise again, having spent many years in the environmental field, may I suggest a solution of vinegar/water/clove (as Froot Bat said) or tea tree essential oil (as Cecile Grave says) because, as they both said and is true, unlike bleach, which simply changes the color and lulls you into a false sense of accomplishment, these suggested ingredients do actually KILL the mold spores. They all work well with wood as long as you don’t over saturate and of course let the wood drench in some wonderful restoring oil afterwards (as you did). My personal favorite finish for all antique, finished wood is a combination of beeswax and olive oil. Buy beeswax (I get ‘beeds’), place in an old glass wide-mouth jar and gently melt in a ‘ban-marie’ (double boiler) add 6X olive oil to 1X wax, mix together, cool and voila! instant excellent old wood polish (works as an excellent hand cream also!) After working into the wood, leave ~ 24 hours or longer and return to buff quickly and easily to a wonderful lasting shine. Once you’ve tried this, I believe you’ll never use anything else. Recipe is my father’s, may he rest in peace, used thousands of times in his antique restoration business in Ireland.
BTW I love all your readers’ wonderful ideas especially Alyce’s suggestion to use an electric toothbrush and also agree with Robert Meehan’s suggestion to go easy on your own strength when working with brass. I’ve learned the hard way by stripping the notch in the head!
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Riversana says
The doors look lovely, you did a great job! I would suggest not being quite so thorough on the hardware–what awesome hardware! I personally think a little tarnish makes hardware look so much more intriguing.. but either way I’m sure they’ll be beautiful to behold! Can’t wait for the pictures of the next stage of things!
Sara says
Just interjecting as a science nerd because there seems to be a lot of misinformation about molds. (As examples: Bleach does kill mold on the surfaces of things, as long as the mold doesn’t extend beyond the bleach’s penetration–this is why drywall is problematic. The term “mildew” is used as generic layman’s term for surface molds. It is also a subset of a specific fungus order.)
Here are some reliable science-based quick reads on molds, mildew, and mushrooms:
http://www.minnesotamolddoctor.com/FAQ.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildew
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold
http://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm
And for anyone worried about black molds, please keep in mind most black molds are not problematic and that there is a million dollar industry revolving around homeowners and fear of exposure. ๐ I think the cdc link is most helpful in this regard–if you’re allergic to something, then you’re allergic, regardless of the type or strain or color.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Sara – Great advice. Thank you.
Frank says
I enjoy your notes each week. Thanks for the pointers on the pocket doors. I have wood panering in my basement woth some of the same problems you had. Your plan worked just fine on my wood paneling, right down to the Q-tip. Thanks.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Frank – So glad the technique that I used worked successfully for you, too.
Antonio says
Hi Kevin! Thanks for the great blog. I just read your post on restoring the pocket doors and found it full of good information. I’m an American, but living in France now, and in the process of restoring and remodeling an old stone house just a mile from the Atlantic. It has some lovely oak and mahogany woodwork. I just did the oak front door, which involved stripping it down to bare wood, staining and varnishing with a marine grade varnish (this is boating country). But at some point I’ll be tackling the interior stairs, which are mahogany. Your blog post should come in very handy at that point. Thanks again.
If I may toot my own horn, I have a website, Historic Home Plans, where I offer plans of original historic American homes for sale. They are not full construction drawing sets, but still very useful for people interested in learning more about America’s traditional architectural styles.
Jan D says
Great job!! I wish I had the original doors to be restored! My husband and I bought our house 30 years ago. After we bought the house we found the pocket doors in the garage and the carpenter ants ate most of them. It took very little to break them up and put them out for the garbage men.
I wish I had saved the hardware because seeing what you’ve done, makes me wish to have somebody build pocket doors for me and put them back in the wall. I guess it’s too late now.
Paul says
I have heard peroxide is better for the wood than bleach for cleaning mold.
Susan Turner Bankard says
A folding key. How clever. I have no keys to my 3 sets of pocket doors. Lucky you.
Isela says
Thank you for your great help. I’m glad I read your article, it as of great help with my dining room table.
Paula Beattie says
Stunning – well done!
Tatyana says
This article was very useful and entertaining, thank you! The doors look magnificent and I gasped a little when I saw the key! Way to go!
Lora says
What did you do inside the pockets to eliminate mold and mildew?
CJ says
My dad worked at Hearst Castle for over ten yrs caring for the antiques there. His favorite combination was linseed oil and turpentine. Mix half and half. Cleans the wood while conditioning it all at once. One of the Hearst remarked how well one of the pieces looked and my dad told him. He hit it with the rag each time he pasted by it. The curator on the side said it looks great but check with him before doing any other ideas!