How to Maintain a Lacquer Finish

Wipe down your lacquer finish with a soft, non-abrasive cloth regularly. This will remove debris from the surface without scratching the surface or deteriorating the lacquer finish. For routine cleaning, avoid liquids altogether to ensure you get the longest life from your lacquer.

Wipe the lacquer finish with a lightly damp cloth when dusting alone does not suffice. This method can remove problems such as smudges and fingerprints. Wring out the cloth as much as possible to remove all excess liquid before you start cleaning. A saturated cloth can weaken the finish.

Wipe down the finish with a dry cloth immediately after you finish your damp wipe. Whenever you must apply a bit of moisture to the lacquer finish, you must dry it completely to preserve the varnish.

Apply a small amount of solvent-based furniture cleaner to a soft cloth. This method can help you attack especially stubborn dirt and stains. Before wiping down the entire finish, briefly scrub a small, inconspicuous area to verify that your particular finish can handle the solvent. If the appearance of the varnish changes at all, do not use the solvent to clean. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.

Wipe down the lacquer finish in small sections with your solvent. Immediately after wiping each section, use a dry cloth to wipe the area again, removing the solvent from the furniture surface.