Good kitchen furniture can serve you for 20 years and longer — provided you look after it properly. Care is simple and takes only a moment, yet it protects against most damage. Here is a practical guide, front by front.
Everyday care of the fronts
Rule number one: wipe as you go, before the dirt dries on. Grease and steam are the greatest enemies of kitchen furniture.
- Use a soft microfibre cloth and lukewarm water,
- For greasy marks — a mild washing-up liquid diluted in water,
- Always wipe dry — moisture is the main cause of swelling,
- Avoid powders, cream cleaners and abrasive sponges — they scratch the surface.
Care by type of front
Lacquered fronts
Elegant, but sensitive to scratches. Clean only with a soft cloth, without abrasives. You can refresh the gloss with a product for lacquered surfaces.
Foiled fronts
The easiest to maintain. They are, however, wary of high temperatures — keep them away from the oven and kettle so the foil doesn't lift at the edge.
Wooden and veneered fronts
They like products based on natural oils. Avoid excess water and, every now and then, nourish the wood with a dedicated product.
The worktop — the heart of the kitchen
- Always use a trivet under hot pots — even resistant worktops have their limits,
- Cut on a board, not directly on the worktop,
- Remove stains from wine, beetroot or turmeric straight away,
- Once a year it is worth checking the joints by the sink and refreshing the silicone.
Fittings — quiet and smooth for years
Hinges and runners are the parts that work most often. Take care of them:
- Once or twice a year, clean the runners of crumbs and dust,
- A drop of machine oil on the runner restores smooth movement,
- Adjust the hinges when a front starts to sit crooked (screws on three axes),
- Don't overload the drawers — each has its own kilogram limit.
Ventilation and moisture
Steam from cooking is a silent killer of furniture. Always switch on the extractor hood while cooking and for a few minutes afterwards. After the dishwasher, open the door slightly so steam doesn't settle on the neighbouring fronts.
Five minutes of wiping today is years of a trouble-free kitchen tomorrow. Durability comes from habits, not from miracles.
Summary
Wipe as you go and wipe dry, choose products to suit the type of front, protect the worktop from heat, maintain the fittings and keep an eye on ventilation. That is all it takes for Furnipark furniture to look like new for two decades — because the quality we put into it likes to be looked after.
