cleaning old roof timbers

[1806mill]

Hello
I am fortunate to have a sound 200 year old roof complete with an excellent condition oak and baltic pine structure, great original workmanship. However, I will be using the roofspace as habitable accommodation when it has been restored, and here is the question;

The timbers are grimy with dust, dirt and grease (the building is an ex- watermill), and I would like to clean them without resorting to sand blasting. Does anyone know of a brew which might make cleaning/scrubbing them easier, and how about finishing the wood, is beeswax/turps the best option? Any tips?

Many thanks.

 

[oilman]

I would just try a dry, stiff scrubbing brush and a vacuum cleaner to start with. Once that's done you might, with luck not need to do anything more. You will have seen otherwise untreated timbers in buildings which look fine.

 

[1806mill]

Thanks Oilman, I'll see how it goes.