Cleaning and Stain Removal - fingerprints on unstained wood doors

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Christie G
08-29-08, 06:58 AM
Hi can you help? My Parents are close to completing their dream home in France and unfortunately some of their over zelous helpers have gotten fingerprints on the doors. The doors are pine/beech and untreated! my father is convinced that they are impossible to remove and is thorougly miffed! Any advice out there? Please!


mitch17
08-29-08, 08:37 AM
Going to be tough. I'd start with glass cleaner first. Then I would try a 10% bleach/water solution to try lighten any remaining stains. Seal the doors to prevent this again down the road.

Gunguy45
08-29-08, 08:56 AM
Are the doors ever going to be sealed? They won't last too long or look very nice after a minimum of use if not. A light sanding normally will remove most surface prints before sealing.


marksr
08-29-08, 04:44 PM
I agree, sanding usually removes fingerprints from raw wood. Was there anything on the fingers that would complicate their removal?

It's fairly normal to have to clean up raw wood prior to finishing. Between sandpaper and denatured alcohol, I don't ever remember running into any problems getting wood, finish ready from shipping and installation marks.

twelvepole
08-29-08, 05:15 PM
You do not indicate what type of finish will be used on the doors. As marksr indicates, denatured alcohol will cut through the oily fingerprints. Sanding will remove light stains. Deep stains from hands coated with contaminants such as motor oil, grease, or other may result in greater challenges.
If marksr's suggestions do not work, you may have to stain the doors to camouflage the stains and then seal. This is often done with stains on hardwood floors. If going with painted finished, then sand, seal/prime with oil-based primer, and then paint. Another option is to follow marksr's suggestions; and, without results, insist that the contractor replace the doors if going with natural finish.
If in the US, the final payment is usually not made until the customer is satisfied. Not sure if that works in France, but I would think that people are basically the same around the world and aim to please and want to be paid in full.
Please post back and let us know how the doors turn out. Merci beaucoup!

Christie G
08-30-08, 03:03 AM
Thanks for your help everyone. I'll pass on your tips and let you know how they got on!