Sticky wooden doors

[cathy comer]

I purchased a restaurant that has maple swinging doors that go from the kitchen to the dining. They are covered with grease and dirt. I have cleaned them with spic and span dap wall cleaner and mineral spirits. They look clean but are very sticky. How do I get this off? Or should I just strip and refinish. I bet there is 10 years of dirt and grease on these doors that we're never cleaned

[Mark W Pugh]

Try some TSP. http://www.homedepot.com/p/SAVOGRAN-1-lb-Box-TSP-Heavy-Duty-Cleaner-10621/202935861

[Howard Acheson]

The dirtyist surfaces in any space is anything near the kitchen. It sounds like these are the doors that all the wait staff push every time they enter or leave the kitchen. Their hands will always be greasy and dirty.

The best way to clean them and prepare them is to use a chemical paint and stain remover containing methylene chloride. Follow the directions on the can. Once you have them cleaned up, you can refinish them. I would use poly varnish.