I just bought an antique / vintage quilt rack. I doubt it is actually valuable, but the size and color are just right for what I could use. Winter is coming! I have quilts! It is stained a light walnut color with a reddish tint, but seems to be just pine.

Seeing it in daylight (the store was dimly lit), it needs a good cleaning before I get to touching up the stain where it has been scuffed off. It seems like embedded dust rather than oily grunge. Areas of end grain are the worst. The finish looks thin.

I was going to just wash it down with soap and water, but that end grain is going to soak up a lot. Would mineral spirits be better?

I may want to add a coat of some finish to seal it better and spiff it up. If I don�t know what it is, how do I test? Thanks!