Care and maintenance of painted furniture – how to extend the life of the finish

How to care for your painted furniture and paint finish

Have you already painted your kitchen cabinets, wardrobe doors, chests of drawers, chairs and sideboards? After putting in the effort to make your furniture look fabulous, you’ll surely want to take good care of it. 

With careful care, your painted surfaces will stay beautiful and durable for years.

Here are the best tips for caring for painted furniture!

1. Be patient. Let the paint cure properly.

All paints need time to fully cure. Although Frenchic paint dries remarkably quickly to the touch and dust-free, it can take up to three weeks to reach full hardness. During this time, treat the painted surface with extra care:

• Do not place heavy objects on the painted surface during the first few days.
• Do not place cloths or cushions on the painted surface for the first 48 hours. 
  
• Avoid moisture (steam cleaning), abrasive cleaning tools (magic erasers) and heavy wear.

2. Regular, gentle cleaning

Regularly dust painted furniture surfaces. This prevents dust from settling and helps you avoid unnecessary scrubbing:

• Wipe with a damp (not wet) cloth.
• Choose a mild detergent or just water.
• Avoid harsh, corrosive, antibacterial disinfectants and bleach-based cleaners.
• Do not steam-clean or use hot water on painted surfaces.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools (such as magic erasers).

3. Protect surfaces from heavy wear

If painted surfaces will be subject to particularly heavy wear (for example, children's furniture, tabletops or countertops), protect them well:

• Use placemats, coasters and trivets.
• Apply a finishing coat to the surface, such as the matte Tuff Top Coat (heat-resistant) or the glossier Finishing Coat, which provides extra protection.

If the painted surface on a piece of furniture was previously worn in a particular spot, consider whether that spot is still exposed to wear. Choose Finishing Coat for extra protection and include touch-ups as part of caring for the furniture and surfaces. 

4. Protect the surface from heavy ornaments and objects

Heavy ornaments, TVs, lamps, or large plant pots may stick to painted surfaces or leave marks over time. To prevent this:

• Attach felt or cork pads to the bottoms of decorative items.
• Avoid placing rough or sharp decorative items on painted surfaces.

General tips for using painted furniture

• Care for and protect your furniture according to how you use it.
• Consider realistically how much wear the surface will be exposed to and choose a finishing coat to suit its intended use.
• Painted kitchen countertops usually need extra protection with Finishing Coat.

Remember: Maintaining a painted surface also includes regular touch-ups and care, depending on how it is used and the wear it receives. This will keep your furniture beautiful and functional for years to come.

Try to clean the entire surface at once, such as a whole wall or another painted area. Cleaning marks can stand out, especially if strong cleaning solutions, powerful solvents, abrasive or scratchy cleaning tools, or water that is too hot have been used. If stubborn dirt has been removed by damaging the painted surface, repaint the entire area rather than touching up only the affected spot. 

Please note that many cleaning products (especially disinfectants and bleach) contain chemicals that soften painted surfaces over time. For this reason, a diluted cleaning solution is safer than an undiluted one. 

Discover more painting and care tips in the Frenchic knowledge hub.