Hello everyone, I have a problem and hope to get some practical advice here. I own several IKEA Malm furniture pieces, mainly dressers and nightstands with light birch veneer. Since I have cats that occasionally scratch the furniture or sometimes leave small claw marks, I’m wondering how to best care for my Malm furniture so it stays nice for a long time and doesn't get damaged. Specifically: Which cleaning products are suitable, how can the surface be best protected, and are there any special home remedies or products that help with wear caused by pets? I don’t just want to wipe them superficially but also want to maintain the furniture to minimize scratches or discoloration. Thanks in advance for tips, preferably ones you have tried yourself.
rotofra schrieb:
Regular maintenance: Treat furniture once a month with a special furniture oil or wax to keep the surface smooth and make it more resistant to wear.Exactly that! And one more thing: I’ve had great results gently sanding small cat scratches with fine sandpaper (grit 400 or higher) and then reapplying furniture oil. It sounds like a lot of work, but it really brings back the wow factor. And hey, sometimes a slight worn or "used" look can be quite charming. 😉
If you do this regularly, you’ll enjoy your Malm furniture for a long time—I also sometimes laugh when my cat acts like the secret interior designer of my home! ;-)
Wow, thanks for all the great tips so far! 😊 I also have cats and own Malm dressers – what really helped me was applying vinyl protective films to the spots where the cats like to scratch. Of course, they’re not invisible, but they do a very good job of protecting the surface. Especially if you don’t have time for constant polishing, it’s a great solution!
Also, a friend advised me to spray a catnip spray only on the scratching post so that the cats prefer it over the furniture and also have a nice distraction.
I also recommend keeping the claws short without stress, which saves a lot of trouble. You can do it!
Also, a friend advised me to spray a catnip spray only on the scratching post so that the cats prefer it over the furniture and also have a nice distraction.
I also recommend keeping the claws short without stress, which saves a lot of trouble. You can do it!
Hello paujohnny,
an additional perspective: Basically, furniture made from birch veneer, like Malm, is sensitive to moisture and mechanical stress – so this should always be taken into account. All the tips mentioned here are valid, but I would like to add that ventilation is also important when caring for the furniture to prevent moisture from accumulating over time or mold from forming, especially if there are pets in the room.
It can also be useful to clean the furniture occasionally with a mild wood cleaner that is specifically designed for veneered surfaces – but really only every few months, to avoid damaging the protective coating.
That’s a very important point. Products with natural ingredients and without silicones are best, as silicones often do more harm than good.
Good luck with caring for your Malm furniture!
an additional perspective: Basically, furniture made from birch veneer, like Malm, is sensitive to moisture and mechanical stress – so this should always be taken into account. All the tips mentioned here are valid, but I would like to add that ventilation is also important when caring for the furniture to prevent moisture from accumulating over time or mold from forming, especially if there are pets in the room.
It can also be useful to clean the furniture occasionally with a mild wood cleaner that is specifically designed for veneered surfaces – but really only every few months, to avoid damaging the protective coating.
LENNAU schrieb:
There are special furniture oils or care sprays for surface maintenance that help keep the wood supple for longer and conceal minor wear.
That’s a very important point. Products with natural ingredients and without silicones are best, as silicones often do more harm than good.
Good luck with caring for your Malm furniture!
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