Several years ago I bought a new tongue (ash, I think) and a set of single trees and double tree. I've never put any paint or preservative on them and they look gray and dirty. I've recently put mineral oil onto my entire wagon box and running gear and they look great IMHO. Please don't tell me to sand they tongue & trees, (ain't gonna happen), but how else can I (somewhat easily) remove some of the gray color so that when I oil them they look good? Thanks for the ideas. kelly

Perhaps pressure-washer, then use linseed oil for preserving when wood is very dry

Go to the paint section of the hardware store and look for wood bleach. Usually oxalic acid is the main ingredient. Still may not come out to your liking without some elbow grease.

Barb

Have you thought about lightly sand blasting them? It would also brighten up the steel hardware.
Set them in the sun to warm them up, then put a coat of boiled linseed oil on them.

A pressure washer and let them dry back out should have them taking oil.

pressure washer... i use it when i have greyed out logs for making wood log furniture let them dry for a day then oil

I use wood bleach on some stuff but it is hard on any metal fittings like tongue cap and evener hardware. It will rust any bare metal in a blink. Painted metal has the protection of the paint, but anywhere that paint is scratched off, you'll get a hard bloom of rust.