We’ve been going through some steam trunks here lately and we never do receive them in good shape, but it’s not terribly difficult to restore them.  The thing is, they are rustic antiques, so you don’t want to want them to look too “new”. At least that’s what we tell ourselves.

Take the trunk above for instance. Below is the before shot.  We’ve come across quite a few trunks with ancient paper stuck to them. Here’s what you need for the job….

1. Vinegar
2. Scraper
3. Sand paper
4. Stain
5. Poly

To remove the paper, we like to use a solution of vinegar and warm water.  You can either spray it on or take a rag and wet the paper. Leave it sit for a few minutes, then it will scrape right off.  Vinegar doesn’t harm the wood and it kills mold.

Once the paper is removed, you’ll notice that the wood needs sanding. Make sure to clean the dust and you’ll probably want to wipe it down with mineral spirits.  You can also use more vinegar but make sure it’s dry before applying a stain.

We’ve been using oil based stains on our trunks. Sometimes it only needs one coat but it usually needs two. Depending on what your particular stain suggests, you may have to let it dry overnight.

You can polyurethane over the stain or just wax if you prefer that look.

For the interior….well that depends on the state of it.  If you find mold, use vinegar, bleach or a commercial mold solution. You can take it down to the wood or just cover anything nasty with fabric or paper collage, either which you can apply with Mod Podge.

And that’s it!  But if it’s too much work, that one at the top can be purchased here for $195.