Caring for Lacquered furniture
Lacquered furniture is usually that which has a glossy or shiny finish although this is not a universal characteristic and very much depends on the piece in particular and the colour which has been applied to it.
What a lacquered finish means is when a colour and then a polyurethane top coat is added for protection or in essence seals the wood. Having this lacquered finish means that the wood and the item it is made from is protected from liquid spills, hot and cold elements and general wear and tear.
Over time though the lacquer can wear thin and without the proper care and attention, an item which started off bright and vibrant can soon look dull and lifeless. With this in mind, we have composed a list of four essential care tips for looking after and prolonging the life of your lacquered furniture.
1. Dusting
Dusting is essential in order to maintain the appearance of your furniture and also ensures that you don't have to do more involved cleaning or re-lacquering any more often than is strictly necessary. Dusting with a soft cotton cloth should be done on a once weekly basis and for added appeal you should dust in the direction of the grain rather than working against it.
2. Tidying
Spilled food and liquids can be hazardous to your lacquer as the longer they sit there, the more chance of a permanent stain. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that any spills are cleaned up immediately and thoroughly.
3. Cleaning
Although many people think they need furniture polish, warm water with a few drops of a mild washing up liquid are all you need to clean your lacquered wood. The cloth should be wrung out rather than dripping wet and should be thoroughly worked on the wood in the direction of the grain. If this type of cleaning is done too often, it can damage the lacquer, so be sure not to do this too regularly.
4. Irregular Polishing
It may surprise you to realise that you only need to polish lacquered furniture about three times a year. Any more than this and you could create a condition called fish-eye which is where the oil from the polish causes craters in the wood. This is especially dangerous and will be extremely noticeable if the table is re-lacquered at some point in the future.
