What is the best procedure for cleaning knotty pine panelling, and then what is the best protective, tung oil, poly, etc. I have this in the kitchen and it is absorbing dir and discoloring from cooking fumes etc.

How old is the pine? What finish is on it now? Ya got to get the grease and if any wax cleaned off for any finish to adhere. Might try scotch brite pads and paint thinner for heavier dirt areas. After that just keep stepping up the "heat" of the solvents. Lacquer thinner; Acetone etc. Do you know how to use a cabinet scraper? Scrape and sand the areas as needed. If you have color deviation in the pine you might want to apply a very lightly tinted stain such as Minwax Natural or another lightly colored stain. I would stay with a oil base stain if you use any. I obtain my color by mixing various stain colors; I never add tints. I really like Tung Oil as a finish. Never do a heavy coat; always wipe off all the excess, but build, build, build that finish coat. Remember Scotch Brite pads to sand the finish with and then another light coat of Tung Oil. Let the finish coat totally dry before applying another; sometimes this takes days; the more build the longer to dry. Knot Hole

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Originally Posted by Knot Hole

How old is the pine? What finish is on it now? Ya gotta get the grease and if any wax cleaned off for any finish to adhere. Might try scotch brite pads and paint thinner for heavier dirt areas. After that just keep stepping up the "heat" of the solvents. Lacquer thinner; Acetone ect. Do you know how to use a cabinet scraper? Scrape and sand the areas as needed. If you have color deviation in the pine you might want to apply a very lightly tinted stain such as Minwax Natural or another lightly colored stain. I would stay with a oil base stain if you use any. I obtain my color by mixing various stain colors; I never add tints. I really like Tung Oil as a finish. Never do a heavy coat; always wipe off all the excess, but build, build, build that finish coat. Remember Scotch Brite pads to sand the finish with and then another light coat of Tung Oil. Let the finish coat totally dry before applying another; sometimes this takes days; the more build the longer to dry. Knot Hole

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Thank you Knot Hole. I will use some scotch pads and paint thinner, and possibly sand some of the areas, there is no finish on it now. Then I will use Tung Oil. That was my preference. Thank you.