How to Restore Dry Window Sills

Interior Window Sills

• 1

  Dust off the interior window sills with a cleaning cloth to remove cobwebs and dust particles.

• 2

  Combine the turpentine, linseed oil and hot water in the top of a double boiler.

• 3

  Heat the solution until it is quite warm, but you can still place your gloved hand into the mixture.

• 4

  Saturate a cleaning cloth in the mixture and squeeze it out.

• 5

  Rub the cleaning cloth over the window sills, cleaning the areas thoroughly. This beauty treatment not only cleans the sills, it also restores the oils necessary to prevent the wood from cracking or suffering further damage.

• 6

  Wipe off the window sills with a clean cloth to absorb any solution left behind and prevent the wood from becoming tacky. This mixture leaves the windows sills shiny and restores the luster.

Exterior Window Sills

• 7

  Remove the old varnish or paint from the exterior window sills. Use a paint or varnish remover in a paste form and follow the directions on the can.

• 8

  Sand the window sill with a fine grit sandpaper. Dust off the residue with a cleaning cloth.

• 9

  Fill in any cracks or pits in the exterior window seal with a wood filler that is suitable for outdoor use. Allow the filler to dry.

• 10

  Paint the exterior window with an exterior primer and a quality paintbrush and wait for it to dry.

• 11

  Apply a coat of acrylic enamel paint to the exterior window sill and wait for it to dry.

• 12

  Sand the enamel paint coat lightly with the sandpaper and then dust off the windowsill.

• 13

  Add another coat of the acrylic enamel paint and wait for it to dry.

• 14

  Apply a coat of spar or marine-quality varnish to the painted windowsills. Wait for it to dry and then add another two coats, allowing them to dry in between coats. This protects the exterior window sills from drying out due to the sun's rays.