Terry: Water will not hurt lacquer. First I'd try to clean with maybe dishwashing detergent and water...dampen cloth and rub.....then clean water and dry. If that doesn't clean it then try cleaning with mineral spirits or Naptha. Just wipe with cloth soaked in either and then wipe with dry cloth. Neither will damage lacquer. Now to the chemicals I have found will damage lacquer if not used properly. If you believe you are dealing with wax buildup and neither mineral spirits nor naptha will cut the wax, I have used windex with ammonia BUT I spray and wipe dry immediately, clean with water and then dry again. You need to try a very small spot first. I would save this last technique when all else fails but remember you can rub hard enough on satin and end up with a shine. Lacquer thinner and alcohol will damage the finish. Don't use these two unless you are planning on wet sanding and respraying. I hope this will help. It is hard to diagnose without seeing. 0000 steel wool soaked in steel wool wax rubbed the complete lenght of the lid in light strokes will reduce the gloss and give it a rubbed look with very light stratches in the finish. On the other hand if you rub the entire length of lid with 400 grit sandpaper soaked in water or mineral spirits then this technique will also give a rubbed look. Each is different and usually done on gloss or semi-gloss lacquers. I would only attempt to clean this finish before I started the rubbing. I hope this helps but maybe I told you more than you really wanted to know therefore totally mixing you up. Sorry. If this finish has never been rubbed you will never get it to look the same by any rubbing. It will have to be just cleaned or sprayed to look exactly as it did when first refinished. Tommy Black Decatur, Ala.
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