I just got an Illinois 206 strop. It's very old but seems to be in decent condition so I've been working on it. So far, I've cleaned up the metal bits (they had a lot of green gunk) and I've been cleaning the leather part of the strop. It has no creases but a slight wave in it. I took off a lot of the gunk on the leather with some 0000 steel wool and wow is it soft. The linen side is still and discolored but otherwise in good shape. So as I continue this project I have two questions. I looked around the site for info and didn't find quite what I was looking for.

1. The leather is smooth, but still has some marks on it. They would not come out with steel wool or light soap and water. When I pass my hand over these marks, it feels as smooth as the rest of the strop. Do I need to get these marks out or are they ok to stay? They are right in the center of the strop. I can't get a clear picture but the marks almost look like a track from a bike tire...

2. What do I do to the linen side? I'm thinking of soaking it in some laundry detergent. I don't have bleach. Would a little soak and rinse in some water and detergent make it usable?

After I have the strop cleaned, I plan on treating it with some mineral oil and pressing it. Anything else I should do?