It is often possible to find old kerosene lanterns at flea markets, antique stores, or garage sales. Many of the old lamps and lanterns look like they are in good condition on the outside, but the inside will most likely need to be cleaned.

Kerosene is not a volatile fuel such as gasoline, but it does precipitate a waxy deposit that gums up the lanterns and wicks, and when burned they are sooty and smelly. To restore them to like new condition on the inside, the lanterns or lamps must have the waxy deposits removed. The easiest way to do that is to fill them with gasoline, let them sit overnight, then swish around the gasoline and pour it out. Let the lamp dry, replace the wick, and you are in business.

If you do not wish to use gasoline as a solvent, then hot water, detergent and a brush will often do the trick. Most wax varieties melt at approximately 150 F.  Hot water from a tea kettle is about 215 F. Drain any kerosene from the lamp, fill with boiling water and detergent, let it sit for a few minutes, then pour it out on a gravel driveway if possible - anyplace but a sink, where the wax can harden and clog the plumbing.  It takes 4 or 5 treatments with boiling water to get most of waxy deposits removed, and a final boiling water bath and cleaning with a long, thin brush will often remove any remaining wax.

With Dietz style railroad lanterns, cleaning gets more tricky. The side supports on these lanterns were designed for a purpose: they move heated air from the top of the burner unit down to the tank, so the oxygen being burned is heated, making the lantern more efficient. But that means the hollow side supports can become clogged with both waxy deposits from kerosene and soot and spider webs at the top.

To properly clean a "railroad style" or Dietz lantern, remove the globe, pour out any old fuel, fill it half way with gasoline or paint thinner (Be careful: both are highly combustible!), then hang on to one side support like a handle and swish the cleaning fluid around in the tank and through the hollow side support/air chamber. Reverse handles and do it again. Pour out the fuel and look at it. You will probably see that it is an awful cloudy white or yellow color. Repeat the cleaning procedure, sometimes 3 or 4 times, until the cleaning fluid comes out clear.

Remove the wick, leave the cap off the fuel tank, and let the lantern air dry for at least a day. Then clean the entire body of the lantern, replace the wick and globe, and the lantern should work like new.  If you need to use the old wick, lay it on a board and pour boiling water over it a dozen times, let it dry thoroughly, and it should work until you can obtain a new wick.  Sometimes the wicks have to be soaked in 90% alcohol to remove any residual water.  Note: this is for cotton kerosene lamp wicks only - not kerosene heater wicks!

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