Cleaning white painted French furniture

We all know how incredibly popular white painted furniture is nowadays. Commonly called shabby chic, hand-painted furniture –finished in white or cream- is a bestseller.

To achieve a more antique look, craftsmen can hand-paint the furniture through a process to lend a distressed appearance.
Looking after your painted furniture properly is essential to keep its crisp and original colour, and will enhance the beauty of your furniture.

Take note of the following tips:

1. Everyday Care

Painted French furniture is extremely easy to keep clean. Use a cloth dampened with water to dust or wipe clean your furniture. But watch out, make sure you don’t leave water spots on the surface, as they'll dry and could leave permanent marks. So use a dry cloth afterwards to absorb any water on the furniture.
You can also use a mixture of hot water and a tiny bit of liquid dishwashing detergent to rub off light stains. Immediately after, wipe off the surface with a dampened cloth and pat dry.


2. Special Care


If your piece of painted french furniture has stubborn stains or nicks and scratches on it, you can gently sand down any mars, taking care not to damage more painted finish than you have to. Sandpaper can damage painted furniture if used excessively, so only sand stains as a last resort.
I am a big fan of white shabby chic furniture, so I have my very own personal preferences: Instead of using fine grain sandpaper, I prefer fine steel wool, which is far more gentle on painted surfaces. My advice is to always test an unseen area first to see if the sandpaper or steel wool removes luster or reveals darker paint under the surface.
If a lot of sanding was necessary and the colour or texture of the surface has changed, you will need to add a fine lick of paint. Match the paint as best as you can or select a new color of paint to restore the piece to near-perfect condition. Only use specific wood paint on your furniture. Add an oil or wax finish for greatest protection.

Remember, the best maintenance is cherishing your French furniture