Cleaning Oily Gunky Mildew Guns?

[Cavalry]

Long story short, I am involved in an estate with a substantial amount of firearms that have been neglected for a couple years. I am not a stakeholder but phrased it as I would be interested in helping out for first picks at a discounted rate. They were oiled but left to sit out in the open in a house with no attention. Dust, dander, etc has fallen on any horizontal surface and mildew has formed and is eating the dust as well some mildew on the oiled wood, fabric and leather. The mildew/dust on metal comes off but is very sticky.
If they were mine I would do a detail strip and just do it right. But I do not have that sort of time or inclination.

Thought #1 Pull the wood, wipe with water/vinegar. Metal goes in the solvent tank and gets scrubbed with a soft brush, blow off and oil

Thought#2 Go to town with my steamer on them assembled (outside). It will flash dry almost immediately so I am not worried about rust. As long as I dont dwell on the wood or damaged finish I do not foresee issues with the steam. Oil and send it.

 

[Saltwater60]

Try a diluted citrus based cleaner to see if it takes the sticky gunk off. It should. You can use fine steel wool and then oil it.
I like option one, but not the steamer idea.

 

[togmaster]

Do it right or do nothing.

 

[Cavalry]

Do it right or do nothing.

If they were mine I would completely agree. I would say at least an hour each to detail strip and clean which is not worth the time investment. This is more like make them not look disgusting.

 

[Robin]

I'd try windex spritz, let it sit for fifteen minutes and soak a rough terrycloth rag with windex and start a wipe down, rinsing often. If that works, wipe down the steel parts with oily rag, wood parts with lemon pledge aerosol, leather parts with neatsfoot oil. Easy!
Robin

 

[fresch]

Are they collectable? Take the time.
Are they run of the mill shooters? Clean em off and keep those doggies movin.

 

[FP1201]

Long story short, I am involved in an estate with a substantial amount of firearms that have been neglected for a couple years. I am not a stakeholder but phrased it as I would be interested in helping out for first picks at a discounted rate. They were oiled but left to sit out in the open in a house with no attention. Dust, dander, etc has fallen on any horizontal surface and mildew has formed and is eating the dust as well some mildew on the oiled wood, fabric and leather. The mildew/dust on metal comes off but is very sticky.
If they were mine I would do a detail strip and just do it right. But I do not have that sort of time or inclination.

Thought #1 Pull the wood, wipe with water/vinegar. Metal goes in the solvent tank and gets scrubbed with a soft brush, blow off and oil

Thought#2 Go to town with my steamer on them assembled (outside). It will flash dry almost immediately so I am not worried about rust. As long as I dont dwell on the wood or damaged finish I do not foresee issues with the steam. Oil and send it.

Smokers in the House? They get covered with a film of nicotine and dust that's nasty and difficult to get off without a serious solvent such as Acetone or Lacquer Thinner (which I recommend with proper PPE) The Furniture will dry out and look devoid of finish, but that's really just the surface and really should be thoroughly cleaned including a light sanding with Copper or Stainless Wool.
I suppose one could cheat to get a quick & dirty by spraying the action or surfaces needed for inspection with a can of Carburetor Cleaner and paper towels.
On the inverse, I had to recover and preserve about fifty guns from a House Fire: smoke & water only, so I bought gallon cans of WD-40 with Spray Bottle: sopped and slathered it on and inside...worried about "cleaning" them all later...worked.

Another simple chemical that works remarkably well is "Foamy Glass Cleaner with Ammonia" it's astounding how much gunk will come up with that stuff, and it works great sprayed into Bores/actions after shooting corrosive ammunition.

 

[Saltwater60]

Smokers in the House? They get covered with a film of nicotine and dust that's nasty and difficult to get off without a serious solvent such as Acetone or Lacquer Thinner (which I recommend with proper PPE) The Furniture will dry out and look devoid of finish, but that's really just the surface and really should be thoroughly cleaned including a light sanding with Copper or Stainless Wool.
I suppose one could cheat to get a quick & dirty by spraying the action or surfaces needed for inspection with a can of Carburetor Cleaner and paper towels.
On the inverse, I had to recover and preserve about fifty guns from a House Fire: smoke & water only, so I bought gallon cans of WD-40 with Spray Bottle: sopped and slathered it on and inside...worried about "cleaning" them all later...worked.

Another simple chemical that works remarkably well is "Foamy Glass Cleaner with Ammonia" it's astounding how much gunk will come up with that stuff, and it works great sprayed into Bores/actions after shooting corrosive ammunition.

A fire is my worst nightmare

 

[Cavalry]

Smokers in the House? They get covered with a film of nicotine and dust that's nasty and difficult to get off without a serious solvent such as Acetone or Lacquer Thinner (which I recommend with proper PPE) The Furniture will dry out and look devoid of finish, but that's really just the surface and really should be thoroughly cleaned including a light sanding with Copper or Stainless Wool.
I suppose one could cheat to get a quick & dirty by spraying the action or surfaces needed for inspection with a can of Carburetor Cleaner and paper towels.
On the inverse, I had to recover and preserve about fifty guns from a House Fire: smoke & water only, so I bought gallon cans of WD-40 with Spray Bottle: sopped and slathered it on and inside...worried about "cleaning" them all later...worked.

Another simple chemical that works remarkably well is "Foamy Glass Cleaner with Ammonia" it's astounding how much gunk will come up with that stuff, and it works great sprayed into Bores/actions after shooting corrosive ammunition.

Non smoking home. They leave their windows open in the summer so its not humidity controlled, entrance of pollen, dirt, etc. Dude was sick for a couple years. He wasn't able to keep up on the maintenance for that environment but did previously.

Sprayway glass cleaner is a good idea. I have not tried it. That might work soften the gunk and blow it off with compressed air.

 

[Cavalry]

Are they collectable? Take the time.
Are they run of the mill shooters? Clean em off and keep those doggies movin.

Not collectable in a sense of high dollar but not beat up Montgomery Ward field guns. Mixed but there is a fair amount of milsurp

 

[Saltwater60]

Non smoking home. They leave their windows open in the summer so its not humidity controlled, entrance of pollen, dirt, etc. Dude was sick for a couple years. He wasn't able to keep up on the maintenance for that environment but did previously.

Sprayway glass cleaner is a good idea. I have not tried it. That might work soften the gunk and blow it off with compressed air.

Just cooking or living in your home will cause that sticky crap to form. We have it in our home and we don’t leave the windows open much.