I have this barrel top that I'd like to clean up for a project.  Wood guy that I got it from said to just use water and a wire brush but I'd like to take better care of it than that.  The white specs aren't actually there; photo anomaly or something.  What kind of cleaner would go well with a nylon brush to clean things up here?

 

You might try a 50/50 mix of water and household bleach. Household bleach, even at full strength, won't change the wood's color. But, it will get the mold out. The residual staining might require oxalic acid. But, it will lighten the natural color.

I would add a bit of dish soap to Genes recipe to help get the dirt and such off it too.

Hydrogen peroxide is supposed to get in deeper to kill the mold's roots. 

Dish soap and water would be my first attempt.  If there is staining due to tannins, the oxalic acid approach is the right one.   A:B bleaches are usually a strong hydrogen peroxide along with a catalyst.

 

http://www.antiquerestorers.com/Articles/jeff/using_wood_bleach.htm

 

Ok sounds like I'll go with a combo of 1/2 diluted bleach and dish soap followed by H2O2 (peroxide).  Forgot to mention this is a bourbon barrel and I want to keep any color imparted by the bourbon so I'll have to stay away from the oxalic acid.

 

I've had another suggestion of using TSP which I think stands for tri-sodium phosphate.  Any thoughts on that one?

Edited April 17, 20215 yr by bradleyheathhays

8 minutes ago, bradleyheathhays said:

Ok sounds like I'll go with a combo of 1/2 diluted bleach and dish soap followed by H2O2 (peroxide).  Forgot to mention this is a bourbon barrel and I want to keep any color imparted by the bourbon so I'll have to stay away from the oxalic acid.

Bourbon barrels are made from white oak, if that makes any difference.    Like most cleaning jobs, start with the gentlest and escalate in steps if needed.