How do I clean my furniture,
so that it lasts for years? expert suggests

How long your furniture will last depends not only on the quality of its manufacture, but also on how it is cared for. Proper maintenance will determine the lifespan of your favourite wooden chair, metal table or chest of drawers made of laminated board. We suggest what to clean your furniture with so that it stays with you for a long time.

Furniture is subject to damage or splashes every day - especially when small children and four-legged friends live in our home. The key to keeping their fronts and carcasses in good condition is to not expose them to excess moisture, to use the right cleaning products and to remove stains as soon as they appear. In the process, we can protect the furniture from the bad elements and further increase the anti-static properties of its surface, which will make it less susceptible to dust.

What should we use to clean lacquered furniture? How should furniture made of matt laminated board be cleaned? We share our tried and tested methods.

What should I clean veneer and laminate furniture with?

Due to the attractive value for money and the multitude of shades for our interiors, we often choose veneer and laminate furniture. Made of durable furniture board and finished with aesthetically pleasing decors, they are very easy to keep clean. Thanks to their good mechanical properties, they also remain stable and durable. The use of modern technology in their manufacture makes their surface highly resistant to damage and scratches.

VOX's advanced technology and many years of experience are a guarantee of precise furniture production, the excellent quality of which you can convince yourself of at your nearest VOX showroom. Before buying, it is worth seeing and touching the pieces from the various collections to select your favourite furnishings for each interior. Regardless of the finish, each piece of furniture will be able to accompany us for years, and its durability will be prolonged by proper maintenance.

Cleaning laminated board furniture - how should it be done?

Laminated and melamine faced boards are a combination of raw chipboard or MDF with a decorative layer. Their surface is coated with thermosetting resin, which allows different structures and patterns to be given to the furniture. As a result, there is an almost unlimited palette of colours and finishes to choose from. How do I care for my laminate furniture so that I can enjoy its impeccable appearance for years to come?

Frequent wiping with a damp cloth will remove dust and other dirt. Use a small amount of water and dry the surface well at the end, especially at any joints and edges. A second dry cloth will come in handy to get rid of excess moisture, which can cause the furniture to swell over time. Be careful not to leave moisture in niches such as the recesses of the table. If you are cleaning a folding piece of furniture, it is also important to dry the pieces completely before putting them together.

When cleaning laminated board furniture, it is worth reaching for microfibre cloths, which make cleaning much easier. They work best in combination with water alone. Thanks to their nylon content, their fibres act like a magnet, attracting and retaining dirt and dust particles. They are also environmentally friendly - they can be washed dozens of times.

If water alone can't manage to remove the stain, add a mild detergent to the water, such as grey soap or a dishwashing liquid based on natural ingredients. Before starting, check the maintenance recommendations provided by the furniture manufacturer. For example, it is a good idea to use Marseilles soap mixed with warm water to clean painted Simple furniture with a matt finish. If we are dealing with a painted surface, we should pay particular attention to using safe and proven tools and products without harsh chemicals.

A wine cork can also prove useful. By gently rubbing the surface of the piece of furniture, you can remove white water marks. Later, simply wipe the area with a damp cloth.

When cleaning your furniture, remember also about the legs and handles. Every time you clean them, wipe them with a damp, soft cloth and if a stain appears, react immediately by removing the fresh dirt. Avoid scrubbing metal surfaces - in the extreme case, a rough sponge can rub off a layer of paint. Also keep an eye on all hinges and tracks. Regularly remove dust from them, which can accumulate in sensitive areas and cause malfunctions.

How do I clean wooden furniture?

Wooden furniture is not only distinguished by its noble appearance, but also by its exceptional durability. Over the years, this natural material can look just as beautiful - all we need to do is care for it properly. How? Try to position the furniture so that it is not exposed to intense sunlight. In addition, pay attention to the air humidity in the room - the optimum level, which will benefit the wood, is between 55 and 65%. Importantly, it is not only the furniture that will benefit, as this humidity is also best for our health and for keeping plants in good condition.

Care should be matched to the way the wood has been treated. Such furniture can be covered with oil, wax or varnish, and in shops we can find the right specifics for this type of surface. The VOX range includes wooden furniture from the Nature collection finished in matt varnish. There is no need to use special agents for their daily cleaning - a soft microfibre cloth and a bit of lukewarm water with Marseille soap will suffice. When removing dust, remember to wipe the furniture in the direction of the wood grain, and then immediately dry the surface.

Although impregnates are designed to protect furniture from harmful elements, care should be taken that the wood does not come into prolonged contact with water or high temperatures. In order to ensure that the Nature table lasts for many years, we have included a metal recess in its top, which allows you to put down hot dishes without worrying about discolouring the oak top. It is also a good idea to provide the table with placemats.

When thinking about what to use to wash lacquered furniture, beware of rough sponges and strong milks with microbeads, which could dull the lacquer. It is also inadvisable to use products containing alcohol, acetone or ammonia, as they may dissolve the varnish and damage the protective barrier of the furniture.

For cleaning wooden furniture, do not use floor care products or wooden interiors. Remember to apply all products first on a cloth and then on the surface to be cleaned. Do not rub these products directly onto the furniture.

If minor scratches occur on the surface of the wood, it is advisable to fill them. Varnished pieces can be protected with a clear varnish using a brush or quick-drying varnish pen, and in the case of oiled furniture, we can reach for a repair oil in a colour similar to the original staining. Larger cavities in the wood can be filled with wax and a soft plastic spatula. To cover minor scratches, you can use Vaseline or peeled walnut to polish the surface," explains the VOX expert.

If you want furnishings with a natural look and an affordable price, you can also opt for veneered furniture. They contain HDF or MDF on the inside and are finished with thin sheets of wood on the outside.

How do I remove stains from white furniture?

Any stains are particularly noticeable on white furniture. Fortunately, we can remove them quickly and conveniently. White cabinets and fronts can be easy to keep clean. A perfect example is the Simple collection, featuring functional white furniture with an elegant matt finish.

How do I remove stains from white furniture? The right technique is important, more specifically rubbing the cloth in one direction (up and down or right and left instead of circular motions). If yellow stains have appeared on your desk or coffee table, you can deal with them by using home remedies. What should you use to clean white furniture? Use a solution of water and vinegar or water and soda. These natural ingredients are great for removing dirt from upholstery as well.

How do I remove glue from furniture?

During minor household chores and creative activities, we sometimes spill glue on the top of a piece of furniture. Warm water will help us get rid of it. Fresh glue can be removed with a wet cotton cloth. However, we often find out about the stain after it has dried. In this case, it is worth using a little acetone or nail polish remover. Before cleaning, test the product on a hidden area to make sure it will not discolour the furniture. Before experimenting with cleaning, check the properties of the glue - water-based glue can be removed without solvent.

And how do you wash stickers off furniture? Steam or a hair dryer will come in handy. A warm stream of air directed at the sticker should dissolve the adhesive. This will make it easy to remove a decoration which has become boring. We can use a soft plastic spatula to undermine its edges.

Another homemade method is based on using petroleum jelly, margarine or butter. Simply grease the sticker with the fat and wait a few minutes. After this time, the glue should dissolve. Wipe the area with a soft cloth and then remove the greasy stain with a cloth dampened in a solution of water and mild dishwashing liquid.

Matt and glossy furniture - home methods for cleaning

We are increasingly choosing matt or glossy furniture for our interiors. Both of these finishes can be demanding in terms of maintenance - fingerprints or minor scratches may be visible on their surface. How do I clean matt furniture? It is best to use homemade methods to avoid unnecessary chemicals. Avoid polishes and those containing oils and waxes.

A solution of warm water and vinegar will help to remove dirt. Add a glass of organic detergent to a litre of water and use this mixture to wipe down all surfaces. Alternatively, you can add baking soda to water in the ratio of four tablespoons of baking soda per litre of water. However, be careful not to overdo the amount of powder - too strong a solution could discolour the furniture. Also remember to use the right technique. By moving from top to bottom, you will avoid transferring dust to surfaces that have already been cleaned.

High-gloss lacquered furniture is considered to be equally difficult to keep clean. However, it is enough to remember to be systematic. Regular cleaning will help to keep your cabinets in impeccable condition. Wet wipes, microfibre cloths and a paper towel to dry the fronts and cabinets will come in handy on a daily basis. If water stains form, we can use a mild glass cleaner without alcohol to clean.

What should we use to clean glossy kitchen furniture? We can also use water with vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda to degrease their surfaces. Such homemade concoctions will make it easier to achieve the effect of perfectly shiny cabinets without streaks.

We can also choose from a range of ready-to-use products, among which those with nanotechnology stand out positively. They are pH-neutral, do not leave streaks or marks and, what is important, create an invisible layer on the surface of the furniture with self-cleaning properties, thanks to which dirt does not remain on it.

Furniture should not only be properly cared for, but also used. If possible, place them at least half a metre away from heat sources such as radiators. Do not expose the surface to sources of hot air and steam, especially around edged edges. Let's also be careful not to unnecessarily expose them to impacts and deformation through excessive strain. This will ensure that they remain in good condition for many years," comments the VOX brand expert.