Polished furniture has been in demand among buyers for decades. This is due to its appearance - it is very beautiful, and in a modern version it is truly an item of luxury, style and status of the owner.
But many people prefer other types of furniture, because they believe that polished facades are not practical - they always accumulate a lot of dust, the slightest touch leaves unsightly marks and stains, and they are also not very resistant to damage.
What should you pay attention to when choosing polished and varnished furniture? How to properly care for it to keep it in perfect condition for a long time? Let's consider in detail all the important aspects of caring for polished furniture at home.
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Advantages and disadvantages of polished furniture
Polished furniture is distinguished by its mirror shine and unique gloss, which gives it an exquisite look. To achieve this effect, during its production, all facade edges are covered with special protective resins and varnishes, after which the polishing stage occurs.
Reflective elements of these products fit perfectly into the space, visually expanding it, and also make the room brighter. It is important that with proper care, polished interior items will serve their owner for decades.
Meanwhile, it is worth paying attention to the disadvantages inherent in products with a varnish coating:
- attracts dust;
- if not properly cared for, it quickly becomes dirty;
- fades when exposed to direct sunlight for a long time or when exposed to certain chemicals;
- high probability of mechanical damage.
What to look for when choosing polished furniture?
Before you go shopping for new lacquered furniture, you should decide on the main nuances - dimensions, shape, color of the product. This will help you correctly place the purchase in the room.
The following points should also be taken into account.
- Polished furniture should ideally “fit” into the interior of the room to set the overall style, or become a separate designer item that will bring notes of elegance to the space. Therefore, retro style, art deco or classic are most suitable for such furniture.
- Think about the desired shape/type of furniture (classic, built-in, modular, sectional).
- Look at the materials used in production. Wood is mainly used, but modern manufacturers use chipboard, plastic and other types of raw materials. Noble wood species (for example, oak, mahogany, walnut) are the most durable, they are less susceptible to moisture and corrosion. Cheaper varieties (pine, spruce) with proper processing, finishing and care will last for decades. But a product from this category of products can quickly dry out or become deformed if the operating rules are not followed.
- Carefully inspect the polished surface for scratches, chips, or cracks.
- Find out what varnishes/polishes were used in production. Products treated with high-quality materials are much more resistant to mechanical damage and various types of contamination.
- Check the quality and reliability of the fittings; they should be strong and durable.
Special products and types of polishes for furniture
The stores offer a wide range of special cleaning products for furniture with polish coating. Specialized mixtures are easy to use and do not require repeated cleaning.
Let's consider how to choose the right polish, taking into account the type of surface and the effect of its use.
| Type of product | Characteristic | Name of polishes |
| Wax based polishes | Designed for processing wood parts. Effectively masks small cracks/scratches. Easy to use, the result lasts for a long time. But fingerprints, dishes, etc. easily remain on the treated facade. | · Joy By Joy;
· Pronto; · Chirton; · Emsal. |
| Compositions with a tinting effect | Hides minor mechanical damage, abrasions. Contains antistatic components, therefore prevents dust from settling, gives the product an updated look for a long period of time. Suitable for any type of coating. | · Pronto;
· 5+; · Emsal. |
| Products for varnished surfaces | The main advantage is that the composition does not dry out the top layer and creates additional protection. | · Diva;
· Mebelux; · Luxurious. |
| Silicone based | Designed for ceramic, wooden, plastic products. They clean the surface qualitatively, add shine, hide minor defects, and have an antistatic effect. | · Cinderella;
· “Anti-dust” |
Improvised means
If you are not a fan of household chemicals, then use alternative methods that are no less effective and are suitable for daily cleaning.
- Mix equal parts of wine vinegar and oil (preferably olive oil), apply this solution to a dry cloth, and carefully wipe the furniture front.
Olive oil and wine vinegar make an excellent solution for varnished furniture fronts. - Burdock oil will easily remove any stains and give the polish its original shine. Just soak a cloth in it and polish the item, then remove excess oil with a clean cloth.
Burdock oil is a simple way to get rid of dust and small stains on polished furniture - Milk removes dirt well, wipe the facade with a cloth soaked in it. Then remove the stains.
Unusual use of a useful cleaning product in the dre - If you have sauerkraut brine, use it. Soak a piece of material in it (leather is better) and rub the furniture. Remove the remaining liquid, polish the surface with wax or shoe polish in the same color.
Sauerkraut brine can be used to clean furniture and then polish it with wax.
But what to do if the surface has lost its shine and has become dull over time? To restore the original gloss, use this method.
- Wipe the product with a cloth (no need to wet it with water) to remove dust.
- Prepare a mixture of linseed oil (50 ml), turpentine (50 ml), and table vinegar (2 tbsp).
- Using a cotton pad, treat the surface with this solution.
The following methods for cleaning polished furniture will help you remove heavy stains
| Problem description | Which product should I use? | How to apply? |
| Ink stain | Beer | · heat to room temperature;
· wet the cotton wool; · apply to the problem area; · let dry; · wax; · wipe with a woolen cloth. |
| Grease stain | Tea brewing | · Brew a small amount of black tea;
· then squeeze it out; · make a “bag” out of dry cloth and place the pulp in it; · rub the dirt with it; · Use a napkin to remove any remaining stains. |
| Traces from hot objects | Petrolatum
Salt | · apply the product to the desired area;
· leave it in this state for 10 – 12 hours; · then wipe the surface with a dry cloth; · additionally treat with polish or paraffin. · wrap the salt in a dry material; · soak the bag in sunflower oil; · rub the desired area; · clean with a napkin. |
| Scratches | Shoe cream | · lubricate the damaged area;
· polish carefully with a cloth (cloth, wool). |
| Water stain | Soap solution | · thoroughly rinse the contaminated area;
· Wipe dry with a cloth. |
| Wax | Knife + gasoline | · soak the tip of the device in warm water;
· carefully remove the hardened wax with the blunt side of a knife; · smear the stain with gasoline; · Wipe dry with a woolen cloth until completely dry. |
| Fingerprints | Talc/raw potato piece | · Rub the surface to avoid streaks. |
Tips for care and use
A few useful tips on caring for polished products will help maintain their appearance and significantly increase their service life.
- Dry clean all surfaces daily to avoid accumulation of dirt, dust and other foreign particles.
- Try not to use household chemicals, especially if there are allergy sufferers in your family. It is better to give preference to natural cleaning products, they are hypoallergenic and effectively clean any glossy coating.
- When cleaning, wipe the facades only with soft fabrics (flannel, velvet, suede, felt, pile, wool, etc.), with their help you will prevent scratches from appearing.
- Do not place hot objects (mugs, teapots, pots, irons, etc.) on it, or purchase special stands for them.
- If there are carved elements on the furniture, they should be cleaned using a soft-bristled brush.
- To avoid tarnishing the surface, do not use alcohol, cologne or acetone to remove stains.
- An antistatic agent will help reduce dust accumulation; it should be sprayed in a thin layer after each cleaning.
- When arranging furniture, please note that polished items are not recommended to be placed near heating devices. Direct sunlight should be avoided on glossy surfaces so that the color does not fade over time.
- Monitor the humidity in the room; its lack or excess can lead to deformation of wooden elements.
