What to Use on Chinese Laquered Furniture

Lacquered accessories and furniture may be cleaned with a simple damp cloth.

Damp cleaning cloth

For newer pieces of lacquered furniture and accessories, wiping with a clean damp soft cotton cloth will keep the item clean and will not cause damage to the design. Dry the item immediately after cleaning with a separate cloth.

Specialty Oils, Soaps, and Cloths

There are several products available which are specifically designed to clean lacquered furniture. These treatment products may include a soap to clean the piece with, a cloth for drying and an oil such as tea tree for conditioning. The soap product may help to remove any build up of conditioning oils, with the dry cloth giving a nicely buffed finish. Oil conditioning is recommended once a month in dry locations and once every two to three months in more humid regions.

Bottom Line

The care and up-keep of lacquered furniture and accessories may be done on a daily or weekly basis with a simple damp cloth then dried to prevent streaking, while a more thorough cleaning may be accomplished with soaps and oils designed specifically for the lacquered pieces.

References

• Oriental Furnishings
• Fine Lacquer Furniture

Resources

• Chinese Lacquered Furniture