How to Restore a Victrola Cabinet

Mix the gum turpentine, boiled linseed oil and hot water in a plastic bucket. Use water that is just short of boiling, but still feels hot to the touch. Dip a soft cloth in the mixture and squeeze out any excess liquid from the fabric.

Wipe the cloth across the surface of the Victrola cabinet, following the natural grain of the original wood. Dip the cloth back in the water once it feels dry and squeeze again. Keep rubbing the cloth over the wood until you remove all dust and debris from the cabinet.

Clean Bakelite surfaces with a combination of dish soap and warm water. Victrola cabinets sometimes feature Bakelite handles or inlaid patterns. A few drops of dish soap squeezed into a cup of warm water is strong enough to cut through dirt on the Bakelite.

Rub a specialized polish designed for Bakelite on those surfaces. Bakelite is similar to plastic and manufacturers used the material for telephones, jewelry and other items prior to the 1950s. Rub on the polish with a circular motion and rub any excess polish off with a microfiber cloth.

Dip 0000-grade steel wool in paraffin oil and rub against any white marks, scuffs or scratches on the cabinet. Follow the grain of the wood and wipe off any excess oil with a soft cloth. The oil helps combat minor damage in the wood.

Apply wood polish or wood oil soap to the Victrola cabinet with a soft cloth. Rub the solution across the wood grain and let sit for five to 10 minutes. Buff the surface with a second cloth, leaving behind a natural-looking shine.