- What is the difference between laminated and melamine furniture? (1)
- The melamine wood panel, the main component of our kit furniture (2)
- Layers of paper sheets, quite logical for making laminated furniture! (3)
- No more scrapers and other abrasive sponges to clean this type of furniture! (4)
- Window cleaner is your ally on melamine surfaces (5)
- Other natural products can overcome more stubborn stains: (6)
- Soapy water to maintain your laminate furniture (7)
- Use a melamine foam sponge to remove micro-scratches (8)
Laminated or melamine furniture appeals to professionals and individuals alike. From the kitchen to the bedroom, including the living room, its functional and decorative assets make it a must-have in our interiors. Laminate furniture, due to its properties, is particularly resistant to heat and the hazards of everyday life. Although this furniture makes our lives easier, it does not, however, escape specific proper cleaning, at the risk of seeing its lifespan shortened!
What is the difference between laminated and melamine furniture?
Before you start cleaning your laminate or melamine furniture, let's take a few moments to clearly differentiate the properties of each. Because if laminated furniture is more resistant to the application of cleaning products, such as household alcohol for example, this is not the case for melamine furniture surfaces .
The melamine wood panel, the main component of our kit furniture
- A chipboard panel is covered with a sheet of paper soaked in melamine resin, hot glued to the panel;
- There are a plethora of finishes, aspects and decorations to create melamine furniture;
- Most of the flat-pack furniture, storage shelves in our wardrobes, bed cabinets and chests of drawers, kitchen units and their fronts are made of melamine;
- Although treated, melamine furniture is more sensitive to impact, abrasion and UV rays and heat.
Discover our melamine wood tables
Layers of paper sheets, quite logical for making laminated furniture!
- Several dozen superimposed sheets of kraft paper are covered with resins, glued and pressed together hot to form a single block;
- Just as with melamine, the furniture finishes are infinitely customizable;
- The kitchen furniture, Formica tables, worktops and also the floor coverings are made of laminate;
- More resistant than melamine, laminate is more resistant to shock and heat.
To go further, discover models of modular tables in melamine wood available in numerous finishes.
No more scrapers and other abrasive sponges to clean this type of furniture!
If your cooking sessions are closer to “Nightmare in the Kitchen” than to “Top Chef”, it is possible that a few food tasks have slightly permeated your beautiful kitchen. Whether it's the worktop, the facades or the interior of your furniture, the temptation is great to use the scraper side of your sponge. Don't rush, there are other tips at your disposal to protect your furniture from scratches!
Window cleaner is your ally on melamine surfaces
- Take a soft cloth or absorbent paper soaked in window cleaner;
- With circular movements, tackle the stain by rubbing gently;
- Once the latter has disappeared, repeat the operation over the entire surface.
Other natural products can overcome more stubborn stains:
- The traditional baking soda: the baking soda-warm water mixture will work wonders;
- The effective Marseille soap: after rinsing, your furniture will look like new.
Soapy water to maintain your laminate furniture
This may seem a bit incongruous to you, but a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid or black soap can be perfectly suitable for cleaning your laminate furniture. Let's take the example of the coffee table in your living room which has difficulty resisting fingerprints as well as your meal trays:
- Lightly dampen a sponge or cloth with soapy water;
- Make circular movements over the entire surface;
- Rinse then dry the furniture using a soft cloth.
For more stubborn stains, household alcohol or white vinegar can be used except on glossy laminate surfaces . Don't hesitate to carry out a test on an invisible part of the furniture before starting!
Use a melamine foam sponge to remove micro-scratches
Despite the care taken with your furniture, micro-scratches may tarnish its appearance. Some well-known brands offer melamine foam sponges, or “magic sponges”, to make them disappear.
- Moisten the sponge with lukewarm water;
- Pass the sponge without rubbing on the micro-scratches or encrusted stains.
Without adding maintenance products, the magic sponge, as its name suggests, can work small miracles. Be careful not to overdo it: the colors could disappear in certain places and leave halos.
Good to know: The wood particles used in the composition of laminated or melamine furniture do not mix well with water. So wring out your rags and sponges as much as possible before tackling cleaning!
With their quality/price ratio, laminated or melamine furniture is particularly popular. Opt for regular maintenance of these surfaces with natural products to preserve them as long as possible. The key: a beautiful shine, preservation of the environment and the air quality of your interiors!
