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.

Caring for your bathroom vanity cabinet

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