Expert: Eileen Cronk - 12/26/2007

Question
Hello-
I have an old Stanley/Basset bedroom set approximately 30 years old.  It was a beautiful medium blue color - sort of for lack of a better term - an antiqued/ colorwashed -   anyway it has yellowed - very dark, and it has turned the blue to an aqua color.  Actually some people like the new aqua color - its pretty funny - but I don't.   The yellow tint is very obvious  and it was blue to begin with.  Any ideas on what may have happened and how to fix it if that is possible?
Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Steve
Nice to hear from you
Its obvious whats happened here Steve.
You had an blue antiqued finish on the bedroom set.
Unfortunately the clear coat that was applied to protect it has yellowed.
Blue and yellow mixed together make green (or aqua as you call it). Thats whats happened.
Its impossible to reverse this yellowing Steve, but you could try dipping a steel wool pad in mineral spirits and give a test area a scrub in the faint hope some of the yellowing is dirt or perhaps cigarette smoke. I don't hold out much hope in that direction though but try it.
The only recourse is a new paint job.
Good Luck and great question.
Regards
Eileen