Laminate and melamine furniture is everywhere: wardrobes, dressers, bookcases, shoe cabinets and office furniture. The surface is tough and easy to wipe, but the core underneath, usually particleboard or MDF, hates water. This guide explains how to clean laminate and melamine furniture, remove stains and scuffs, protect the edges and fix small chips.
Laminate vs. Melamine
Both are decorative surfaces bonded to an engineered-wood core. Melamine is a resin-saturated paper fused to the board; high-pressure laminate is thicker and layered. Both can be printed with wood grain, stone or textile textures. The Tela Lumi Wardrobe, for example, has a textile-grain melamine laminate finish, and the Travero 7-Drawer Dresser has a travertine-look melamine finish.
What You'll Need
- Microfiber cloths
- Warm water and mild dish soap
- Baking soda
- A soft brush for textured surfaces
How to Clean Laminate Furniture
- Dust: Wipe with a dry microfiber cloth. On textured finishes, a soft brush lifts dust from the grain.
- Wipe marks: Use a cloth barely dampened in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap.
- Rinse with a cloth dampened in plain water.
- Dry right away, paying special attention to edges, corners and joints.
Many makers recommend dry cleaning for everyday care. The Tela Lumi Wardrobe's care instructions say to wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth, and the Travero dresser's instructions add avoiding abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals and excessive moisture, cleaning spills promptly, and using protective mats to prevent scratches and heat damage.
Protect the Edges
The weak point of laminate furniture is the edge banding and any exposed core. Water that gets into an edge or screw hole can swell particleboard permanently. Never leave wet cloths, drinks or plants with standing water on laminate tops, and dry spills along edges immediately.
Removing Stains and Scuffs
| Stain | Try |
|---|---|
| Fingerprints and grease | Warm water with mild dish soap; rinse and dry |
| Food, coffee, wine | Soapy cloth; then a baking soda paste on a soft cloth |
| Scuffs | Baking soda paste, rubbed lightly |
| Marker or crayon | Baking soda paste; test a mild cleaner if needed |
| Sticky residue | Warm damp cloth, then a drop of oil, then soapy water |
See also how to remove sticker residue.
What to Avoid
- Soaking or standing water.
- Steam cleaners, which push moisture into seams.
- Abrasive powders, scouring pads and steel wool.
- Acetone and strong solvents, which can soften or discolor some surfaces.
- Furniture polish and wax, which leave a greasy film on laminate.
- Hot pans and heavy heat directly on tops.
Fixing Chips and Peeling Edges
- Small chips: Fill with a color-matched laminate repair paste or wax fill stick, level it and let it set.
- Peeling edge banding: Re-glue with contact cement or wood glue, clamp or tape it in place, and wipe off excess. Iron-on edge banding can be reactivated with a warm iron over a cloth.
- Swollen edges: Swollen particleboard can't be shrunk back. Seal it to stop further damage, or replace the panel.
Textured and Wood-Look Finishes
Textured melamine (textile, linen or open-grain looks) holds dust in its texture. Brush or vacuum with a soft brush attachment, then wipe. The Wood Pantry Cabinet with Mesh Doors, Drawers and Open Shelving, for example, has a textured melamine laminate finish.
Keeping Laminate Furniture in Good Shape
- Dust weekly.
- Wipe spills right away.
- Use coasters, mats and felt pads.
- Keep humidity moderate; damp rooms can affect the core. See humidity and furniture.
- Check and tighten hardware, since screws in particleboard can loosen. See how to adjust cabinet hinges.
See also how to clean MDF furniture and our furniture care guide.
Related: see our what melamine furniture is.
FAQ
What is the best cleaner for laminate furniture?
Warm water with a drop of mild dish soap on a well-wrung microfiber cloth, followed by a dry cloth.
Can you use vinegar on laminate furniture?
Diluted vinegar won't usually harm the surface, but mild soap is gentler, and you must keep liquid away from edges.
How do you fix swollen laminate furniture?
Swollen particleboard can't be reversed. Seal the area to stop further damage, or replace the panel.
Can you polish laminate furniture?
No. Polish leaves a greasy film. Just dust and damp-wipe.