Everything you need to know about finding a furniture polish supplier

Polishes ensure our beautiful furniture looks its best and takes its rightful place in our homes. Also performing a protective and nourishing role, furniture polishes make sure our pieces stay striking for many years to come.

When choosing a furniture polish, there are a number of factors to consider, some of which include: the material you’ll be polishing; the function of the polish; and, the ingredients of the polish itself.

Furniture Polishes: Key Considerations

Finish and material: When selecting a furniture polish, ensure that it’s designed specifically for the material you intend using it on. Different polishes can be used on oil finished timbers, wax finished timbers, varnished timber, vinyl materials, ceramic, plastic, leather, stainless steel, laminate, marble and sealed or unsealed surfaces. Some can be used on all of these surfaces; others should only be applied to specific surfaces.
Function: Polishes perform a variety of functions. Some types only clean and polish, whilst others are specifically designed to nourish the surface as well. Polishes primarily rid surfaces of streaks, fingermarks and smudges; repel dust (although some tend to attract dust); and protect the furniture against water stains and other contaminants.
Form: Furniture polishes typically come in three forms: aerosol, liquid and wax.
Ingredients: There are a number of ingredients in furniture polishes that consumers should be aware of. Silicone, although helping with buffing, can be difficult to remove. In the case of repair, putting a layer of lacquer over it can result in damage to the lacquer (such as cracking). Gum turpentine helps to keep polish consistency; however, it can be toxic to humans and can affect the finish of the furniture. Petrochemicals are another ingredient in polishes that are mainly found in aerosols. These can also be toxic.

To overcome these issues, a number of alternative polishes have been manufactured and are on the market. Many do not have silicone and petrochemicals. They have no preservatives, fragrances and colours. Made from such ingredients as beeswax, carnauba wax and essential oils (e.g. canola, orange, lavender), they’re considered kinder to furniture, humans and the environment.

Polishes: Purchasing and Application

Furniture polishes can be bought at a wide range of stores. From a specialist furniture polish provider to the local supermarket, consumers are spoilt for choice. When purchasing the polish, ensure it’s designed for your surface. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines during application will produce the best result. Because