ᐅ How do I care for MALM furniture with a matte finish?

Hello everyone, I have some Malm furniture (from Ikea) with a matte lacquer finish at home and would like to know how to properly care for these pieces so that the surface stays in good condition for as long as possible.

Specifically, I’m interested in which cleaning products and methods are best to use on the matte lacquer without damaging it. It would also be helpful to know how to treat small scratches or dull spots that might develop over time.

I want to avoid the matte finish becoming shiny or developing streaks. If you have any tips on preventing stains or dirt buildup, I would appreciate those as well. Thanks in advance for your advice!

For cleaning MALM furniture with matte lacquer, I recommend simply using a damp, soft cloth without any harsh cleaners.

Avoid alcohol, abrasives, or ammonia, as these can quickly damage the surface.

Basically, it is important to handle furniture with matte lacquer carefully to avoid damaging or unintentionally polishing the matte finish.

For cleaning, a slightly damp microfiber cloth without any soap is recommended, as harsh cleaners can damage the lacquer layer.

For stubborn stains, it is better to spot-treat with a mild, pH-neutral cleaner specifically designed for coated surfaces. Afterwards, immediately wipe the area dry with a dry cloth.

Small scratches in the matte lacquer can often be minimized using special care products for matte finishes that contain fine polishing particles. However, caution is advised, as excessive polishing can alter the matte appearance.

letar schrieb:
Small scratches on matte finishes can often be reduced using special care products designed for matte surfaces that contain fine polishing particles, but caution is advised because excessive polishing can alter the matte appearance.

Thank you, that sounds very helpful. Could you give examples of such care products? I find many polishes online, but they are usually for high-gloss furniture.

Also, can I use this on newer furniture to prevent small scratches from forming in the first place? Or would that be risky on a new matte finish?

Most polish products specifically designed for matte furniture are based on a very fine abrasive foam, which works only minimally on the surface.

For example, I recommend products like "Innopedia Mattlack-Pflege" or "RUCO Mattlack Pflegefluid" – these are well suited for furniture such as MALM.

In general, I would only recommend applying them to new furniture if needed, for instance, if small scratches are already visible. Otherwise, it’s better to just clean and let it dry thoroughly. Applying a permanent protective layer can sometimes affect the appearance of the matte surface.

ahmed schrieb:
Can you give examples of such maintenance products?

It’s interesting that some maintenance products are recommended here which supposedly preserve the matte appearance.

However, I wonder if these polishes might gradually alter the matte finish by partially polishing the surface and possibly even creating some shine.

Does anyone have long-term experience confirming that these polishes do not, on the contrary, cause damage to the furniture over time? I think with a specifically matte coating, it’s better to clean carefully without using any polish.