Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

OK...I posted an answer over on the AACA forum a few months back:forums.aaca.org/topic/79973-cleaning-wood-grain-dash/#findComment-2746351

Here is the text:

For Wood-grained painted metal surfaces:

Do NOT use ALCOHOL or alcohol-containing products.

Instead, use Simple Green concentrate on a soft light-color cloth (so you can observe the dirt, etc coming off). I've cleaned several mid-30's metal with woodgrained surfaces, lightly, to remove old grime, finger oils, dirt, etc with no damage to the surface. If you are cleaning it to touch it up, Simple Green is also the only cleaner (in my aerospace optics realm) that we ever found that actually REMOVES silicones that contaminate space optics; alcohols and other substances only smear silicones around and damage wood-graining and clear coats.

On the AACA posting, read down a few entries and I discuss lightly waxing on metal with painted woodgrain finish.


For Actual Wooden garnish moldings/trim:

Simple green (not too wet; wipe it and follow immediately with a dry cloth...don't puddle it or saturate the surface.
Also, Murphy's oil soap should be fine as noted. Most oil soaps for wood should be fine on home furniture (varnish) as well as original automotive moldings (varnish or clear lacquer) or on restored auto moldings (1960's and newer restorations likely used polyurethane or clear lacquer).

I usually just wipe mine with liquid wax using a microfiber towel... Main idea is to dust it off and protect the paint from the UV radiation