Caring for your bathroom vanity cabinet
No doubt, a newly installed bathroom vanity cabinet looks stunning, but how exactly do you keep it in showroom condition? It is incredibly important that you clean your vanity properly, ensuring that you receive years of service out of it. Of course, each one is different, and a wide range of materials are used in their construction. Let’s take a look at a few tips for caring for your vanity cabinet.
Standard cleaning tips
First up, a few standard everyday cleaning tips.
- Dusting
Try to dust your vanity cabinet at least every second day. Leaving dust to form over time can cause later problems. When dusting, make use of a softer cloth, free of lint and more importantly, clean.
- Cleaning
Once a week, clean your vanity cabinet using a soft cotton cloth. This can be placed in warm water and wrung out before use. If you need to use a cleaning solution of some kind, put a few drops of a mild hand wash in the warm water. Once you have cleaned, be sure to dry all surfaces with a soft, absorbent cloth. Under no circumstances do you want water penetrating any wood. For this reason, never leave a damp towel hanging over any wooden area of the vanity.
- Spills
Spills may occur, even in the bathroom, especially if you have kids. These should be cleaned straight away and the area washed and dried as described above.
- Wax or polish
It is not advised to use any form of wax or polish on your vanity cabinet. These products usually only build up a waxy layer on the surface which eventually results in a duller, hazy or streaky finish.
- Glass
Many vanity cabinets come with built in mirrors or even glass doors in some instances. To clean these, use a glass cleaner free of ammonia. Wipe clean with either a soft cloth free of lint or a paper towel. In fact, a paper towel is inexpensive and probably provides the best overall results. Never spray the cleaner directly on the glass, rather apply to your cleaning cloth and wipe.
- Scratches
In the unfortunate case of a scratch mark, contact the manufacturer of your cabinet. Often, they will have a colour-matched touch-up kit which can be used to cover small scratches while a colour putty can be employed for deeper gouges. This putty should also be available from the manufacturer.
Advanced cleaning tips for marble
Marble topped bathroom vanity cabinets need special care and cleaning. Follow these tips.
- Seal the marble
Your marble top may have already received a sealing treatment from the manufacturer, be sure to check with them before applying another. They will also be able to tell you which is the correct sealant to use. How do you know when to reseal? Place a few drops of water on the marble. Once the water stops beading together, a reseal is necessary.
- Protect the marble
Although marble is a hardy material, it can stain. Luckily, this is not too much of a problem in the bathroom as in the kitchen, but note that citrus juice, vinegar and the juice from tomatoes can leave marks on a marble finish.
- Cleaning marble
Finally, to clean your marble consider a tile and stone cleaner. Dust, then wipe the marble with a damp cloth. Now apply the cleaner but remember to follow each manufacturer’s specific instructions. Finally, dry the surface.
Additional Articles about Bathroom Vanities:
- Caring for your bathroom vanity cabinet
- Choosing the perfect bathroom vanity cabinet
- Should you consider DIY or use a professional
- Choosing the perfectly sized bathroom vanity
- How to install a bathroom vanity
- Getting the most out of your bathroom vanity storage space
- Choosing the correct top for your bathroom vanity
- Caring for a wooden bathroom vanity cupboard
- Bathroom vanity cabinet design trends
- Painting your bathroom vanity cabinet
