ᐅ What tips are there for cleaning Ikea HEMNES furniture when you have pets?

Hello everyone,

I have several Ikea Hemnes furniture pieces in my apartment, including dressers and nightstands made of solid wood with a white finish. Since I have pets—specifically two cats and a small dog—cleaning these pieces is a regular task.

I have gained some experience already, but I find that the combination of scratch marks, pet hair, and occasional small stains can be quite stubborn at times.

Therefore, I’m interested in knowing: What tips and methods do you recommend for thorough yet gentle cleaning of Ikea HEMNES furniture when pets are part of the household?

In particular, I’m curious about:
- Which cleaning products are suitable without damaging the white paint or surface?
- How can I effectively remove pet hair without having to wipe all surfaces constantly?
- Are there preventive measures that can help reduce the cleaning effort?
- And how can scratches caused by cats be best treated or at least concealed?

I look forward to your experiences and expert advice!

Hello Iliaja,

your question is very well formulated and concerns many pet owners with furniture made of light-colored, lacquered wood like HEMNES. I’m happy to respond with some practical advice:

- Cleaning agents:
Mild, non-abrasive water-based cleaners work best, for example a glass cleaner or a 1:10 mixture of mild dish soap and water. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners – they can permanently damage the surface.

- Removing pet hair:
I recommend using a well-wrung, damp microfiber cloth to wipe the surfaces. For larger areas, a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment is very effective, as vacuuming removes hair much faster and more thoroughly than wiping.

- Prevention:
One option is to treat the furniture with a special furniture wax or polish, which slightly hardens the surface and makes it more resistant to dirt. It can also help hide minor scratches at the same time.

- Repairing scratches:
For small scratches, Ikea offers a special wax stick set for HEMNES. This helps to conceal minor blemishes. For more severe damage, lightly sand the lacquer with very fine sandpaper (very carefully!) and then apply a suitable layer of lacquer.

If you have any further questions about specific methods, feel free to ask!

gregto schrieb:
Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners – they permanently damage the surface.

I fully agree with that. The white HEMNES furniture is usually coated with a lacquer sealant, which is quite sensitive to abrasive materials.

For cleaning:
- Use only damp microfiber cloths without any cleaning agents or very mild soap solutions. This prevents unnecessary wear.
- For pet hair, electrostatic specialty cloths that attract and hold hair have proven effective.

To prevent scratches:
- Avoid letting cats walk directly on the surface with their claws, for example by providing nearby scratching posts.
- Alternatively, a clear protective film made of plastic can help. It is almost invisible and protects against pet scratches when needed.

For removing stains or dried dirt, I recommend not using vinegar cleaners or alcohol, as these can damage the lacquer layer.

One more tip: Regular dusting prevents hair and dust from settling and becoming harder to remove.

I would like to add to the discussion about an important technical aspect: the type of wood and finish used in the HEMNES series.

The surfaces are usually painted white on pine wood or MDF substrates. This finish is sensitive to solvents and strongly alkaline cleaners. Therefore, please consider the following points:

- Use only neutral cleaning agents, ideally pH-neutral.
- A damp cloth is preferable to a wet one to prevent wood swelling.
- For stubborn dirt, use a gentle, non-abrasive sponge.

To protect the furniture, a special care oil for painted surfaces can be applied every few months, which protects the wood and enhances antistatic properties.

Since scratches caused by pets often occur at the edges, these areas should be closely monitored and, if necessary, treated with a color-matched repair wax.

Pet hair is primarily an issue caused by static electricity; a slightly damp cloth usually works well to reduce adherence.

Brief and to the point:
- For pet hair: vacuum cleaner with an upholstery nozzle.
- For stains: mild soap solution and microfiber cloth.
- To conceal scratches: wax sticks (such as those from Ikea) or furniture polish.
- Preventive: place a scratching post for cats near the furniture.
This is usually more than sufficient.

Marcellela schrieb:
- Preventive measure: place a scratching post for cats near the furniture.

This is a very practical piece of advice that I would like to build upon: cats are creatures of habit and usually prefer to scratch specific spots. By providing several attractive scratching options, you reduce the likelihood that the HEMNES furniture becomes a target.

Furthermore, positioning is crucial: scratching posts and cat furniture should be placed as close as possible to the vulnerable pieces of furniture.

For cleaning, I also recommend using a vacuum cleaner with a fine brush attachment combined with a damp microfiber cloth, as this prevents the fibers in the finish from being damaged. Simply wiping dry is not enough—it often just redistributes the hairs.