Painted Furniture Care
Painted Furniture
Painted furniture has long been a popular choice of wooden furniture, and why shouldn't it be? After all, the wide range of painted finishes out there allows you to invest in a piece of furniture that looks good in its own right, in addition to fitting in perfectly with all of your home's existing decor.
But what should you be thinking about as far as the longer-term maintenance of this type of furniture is concerned?
Basic maintenance tips
First of all, don't be tempted to think that a painted furniture piece is also one that is invulnerable to the sun and heat damage that other wooden furniture types are. The fact of the matter is that painted colours can fade when exposed to direct sunlight, so be careful in the positioning of your painted furniture.
Also bear in mind that when painted furniture is exposed to different temperature and humidity levels, the wood can expand and contract, which in turn leads to the painted surface cracking, chipping and peeling - so make sure that the climate in which you place your painted furniture is as stable as possible.
And of course, it's also important to protect the painted surface as much as possible while you are actually using your furniture, with the use of the likes of mats and table cloths to prevent scratches.
Cleaning your painted furniture
In the event of a light stain appearing on your painted furniture, you can clean it with a soft cloth that has been dampened by a mixture of hot water and washing up liquid - but remember to thoroughly wring out the cloth and lightly rub the furniture surface in circular motions, before using a clean, soft towel to promptly dry the surface.
Even when you have a more stubborn stain to deal with, you should only really use mild liquid detergents rather than abrasives. It's possible, however, to create a smoother paste with which to remove tougher painted furniture stains by mixing 2 teaspoons of borax with white vinegar, using a soft cloth to gently rub the mixture into the affected surface. Once the stain appears lighter, you can then use a damp cloth to remove it, before drying the area with a clean towel.
Many people might even attempt to remove the most difficult of stains with light grain sandpaper, but although this can be effective, it can also easily cause damage, which is why it really should be a mere last resort.
Use furniture conditioner
Many owners of painted furniture - whether they simply own a Jamestown 2 drawer bedside cabinet, or instead a full set of furniture from the Mottisfont Painted Pine collection - may also be advised to use a light wax-based furniture conditioner as part of their regular cleaning routine. This can be applied by rubbing a light layer of the conditioner into the painted surface, before buffing with a clean cloth... but don't forget, first, to use a clean, soft cloth to rid the surface of any excess dust.
