I use Murphy's oil soap for cleaning anything considered fine furniture.
If that doesn't do it, and it still looks dingy, I might step up to Paint
Thinner, Simple Green (don';t let it stand too long at first),  or Krud
Kutter, depending on how gross it is.  Krud Kutter worked fine on a tool
box with all kinds of foulness on top of it, not sure I'd try it on
something nice as my first attempt.

See before and after here
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Tool-Chest-Two-Drawer/i-89nCbPw

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Tool-Chest-Two-Drawer/i-JmsFjG9

Kirk in Half Moon Bay, Ca

On Wed, Oct 5, 2022 at 10:41 AM John M. Johnston 
wrote:

> Gentles,
> I need to clean (NOT refinish) a 1920s oak barrister's bookcase. It’s been
> indoors all its life and is just dark and dingy. Suggestions for
> cleaning??  Thank you.
>
>


-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA