How to care for and maintain painted furniture

After you've gone to the trouble of painting your furniture to make it look great, you'll want to take good care of it. With careful care, your paintwork will stay beautiful and durable for a long time. Here are the best tips for caring for painted furniture!

1. Be patient. Let the paint cure in peace.

All paints need time to fully cure. Although Frenchic dries to dust and touch dry very quickly, it takes up to three weeks to reach its final hardness. During this time, handle the painted surface with extra care:

• Do not place heavy objects on the paint surface during the first few days.
• Do not place cloths or pads on the painted surface during the first 48 hours.
  
• Avoid moisture and heavy wear.

2. Regular and gentle cleaning

It is a good idea to dust the surface of painted furniture regularly. This will prevent dust from sticking and avoid unnecessary rubbing:

• Use a damp (not wet) cloth to wipe.
• Choose a mild detergent or just water.
• Avoid strong, corrosive, antibacterial, disinfectant or bleaching cleaning agents.
• Do not use steam cleaning on painted surfaces.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools.

3. Protects surfaces from heavy wear

If painted surfaces are subject to heavy wear (for example, children's furniture, table tops or countertops), protect them well:

• Use placemats, coasters and trivets.
• Apply a Frenchic Finishing Coat , such as the matte Tuff Top Coat (heat resistant) or the glossier Finishing Coat for added protection.

4. Protect the surface from heavy decorations and objects

Heavy decorations such as televisions, lamps or large pots can stick to the painted surface or leave marks over time. To avoid this:

• Attach felt or cork paws to the bottoms of the decorations.
• Avoid placing rough or sharp decorations on the painted surface.

General tips for using painted furniture

• Value and protect your furniture according to its use.
• Realistically consider how much wear the surface will be exposed to and choose a finishing coating based on the intended use.
• Painted kitchen countertops usually need additional protection.

Remember: maintaining a painted surface also includes regular touch-up painting and maintenance. This will keep your furniture beautiful and functional for years to come.

Check out more painting and care tips on our Frenchic website .