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One of the greatest benefits of laminate office furniture over solid wood or veneer is that laminate is a breeze to maintain and clean. Laminate doesn’t scratch or stain easily, but you should still take care to clean your laminate furniture correctly to ensure that it will last for as long as possible.

Dust Regularly

How often you need to dust your laminate furniture depends on how often it’s used. A small desk that you use every day may not need to be dusted often, but a bookcase in the corner of the room that isn’t cleaned much will probably need regular dusting. Use an oil-free furniture spray for dusting. You can use furniture polish on laminate, but be sure to wipe up any excess. Furniture polish does not soak into the laminate, so any left sitting on top may soak into your clothes and cause stains.

Wash Using Warm, Soapy Water

When it comes time to wash your laminate furniture, use a mixture of liquid dish soap and warm water. Rinse with cold water and then dry with a paper towel or soft dish towel. Always rinse your laminate after cleaning—if left unrinsed, cleaning solution or soap will remain on the surface and may eventually cause marring.

Remove Stains Carefully

Remove grease and difficult stains with a mixture of hot water and baking soda. Work this mixture into a paste and gently apply it to your laminate using a soft bristle brush in a circular motion. Because baking soda is a mild abrasive and a bristle brush can also be abrasive, don’t press too hard when working the paste into your furniture. As with regular soap and water, rinse the paste off when the stain has been lifted.

Other Laminate Care Tips

Keep your furniture out of direct sunlight. Furniture standing in direct sunlight may be subject to discoloration over time.
High-temperature items, including hot coffee mugs and bowls, may create heat stains and mar your furniture. Use a hot pad to protect your desk or table.
Do not use bleach or abrasive cleaners as these may discolor or mar your furniture.
To fill in small scratches on laminate, use a touch-up marker.

Furniture Maintenance

Real Wood vs. Wood Veneer vs. Laminate: What’s the Difference?

Years ago, in a much different environment than I work in now, a coworker said, "We spend more time with each other at work than we do with our families—I'm glad I like you guys." How true, I thought. I still think so today in my corporate office environment. Unless you work with your spouse or teach in your children's school, you likely spend more waking hours in close contact with coworkers than with your family.

The same goes for your office furniture. Even if you sit in the same spot on the couch at home to put your socks on in the morning and watch a show before the news at night, you still can't top the number of hours you sit in your office chair or use your desk or filing cabinet.

If you’re a decision-maker or influencer concerning office purchases at your workplace, there’s a lot to consider when you make the leap to new furniture. You'll be using it every day for years, so it needs to be aesthetically pleasing and functional for the long haul—not to mention durable. Even the graceful among us occasionally slam a drawer or roll their chair into the edge of their desk.

Most of your choices for wood desks come in veneers or laminates. You would be hard-pressed to find a solid wood desk (at a price most any of us could afford) these days. Despite its beauty, solid wood can warp or crack more easily than its veneered counterparts. Here are some facts about veneers and laminates that might help you choose between these 2 viable options. If you have already been desk shopping, you’ll know that veneers tend to be more expensive than laminates. Here’s why.

What Is Veneer?

Wood veneers are thin slices of hardwood bonded to a less expensive wood like birch or a wood composite like plywood, particle board, or medium-density fiberboard. Manufacturers can do marvelous things with veneers that give a beautiful appearance to furniture.

What Is Laminate?

Laminates are printed surfaces often made to look like wood. Laminate is produced on tough paper, plastic, or foil and bonded to a composite base. High-pressure laminates are molded and cured at 1,200–2,000 pounds per square foot, resulting in a very smooth and durable surface.

Choosing Between Veneer and Laminate

Knowing the differences between furniture materials won’t necessarily help you choose between them. Some thin veneers will curl away from their core while good laminates stay firmly in place for years. There is a range of design, material quality, and craftsmanship within each of the material types.

It can really pay off to look around, see what you like, and then investigate options in your personal range of design, craftsmanship, and price. Ask yourself the following questions before making your decision.

Where is the furniture manufactured?
Will shipping the furniture to your location be costly?
Is the manufacturer reputable; do they have a reliable history?
Is there a guarantee on the furniture? (Don’t worry—you’ll get a lifetime guarantee through NBF!)
How are the parts of the furniture held together? If joins and joints loosen, will you be able to fix them?
Does the manufacturer use wood or veneer from sustainably grown forests?
How thick is the veneer? Can it be easily sanded and retouched, if necessary?
If it’s a laminate, how is it produced and with what materials? Is the result durable?
Does your manufacturer supply a retouching kit or instructions on repairing any scratches or dents to your laminate?

If you’re still having trouble choosing between wood veneer and laminate, consider turning to a professional for help—NBF offers free space planning and design services. You can also check out our guides to learn how to clean laminate and how to clean wood veneer.

How to Protect Wood Veneer Desks & Tables

How to Protect Wood Veneer Desks and Tables

If you plan to use your veneer desk or table for years, you’ll want to know how to keep that beautiful finish looking its best even after daily use. Make a habit of performing these regular maintenance tasks, and you’ll thank yourself for it in the long run.

Use Desk Pads and Coasters

Writing on a piece of paper directly over your veneer conference table or desk can irreparably damage the beautiful surface. Instead, try using a desk pad, and provide employees with desk pads around your conference table. Be careful not to use desk pads with a plastic backing, as these can cause scratches. However, leather and fabric desk pads are soft enough to protect your veneer. In addition to writing over a protective surface, you should also keep coasters within reach to prevent water and heat damage caused by beverages.

Keep Your Desk or Table out of Direct Sunlight

Sunlight can damage veneer over time, so do your best to keep your desk or table out of its reach. If the desk or table has to be under direct sunlight, you may want to rearrange items on top of it occasionally to ensure the entire surface is exposed to an even amount of sun over time.

Add a Glass Top

If you want to keep the veneer looking new, purchase a custom glass top. This option is a great alternative to needing desk pads and coasters. If you decide to go this route, use felt or silicone bumpers in the corners between the glass and veneer so that the glass isn’t directly on the wood.

Clean Your Desk or Table Regularly

Don’t wait until your table is already damaged before giving it a good wipe-down. Take the time to clean your veneer often, and consult the manufacturer of your furniture for specific cleaning instructions. For general cleaning, use a soft, lint-free cloth. You can use a dry cloth or dampen it in a mild soap and water mixture. Avoid using aerosol cleaners, polishes, or oil-based or wax cleaners.

How to Clean Wood Veneer

If you have any type of wood veneer furniture, whether it be a desk or a bookcase, it’s important to know how to best clean and maintain it. Wood veneer consists of natural wood, which requires a detailed cleaning process to ensure that the wood is not damaged.

There are some general cleaning guidelines for wood veneer furniture, but please note that your product could have other guidelines, so you should always consult the manufacturer of the product to ensure you are using the proper cleaning method for your furniture.

General Cleaning

To clean your wood veneer surface, use a soft, lint-free cloth. Keep the cloth dry if you are dusting or slightly dampen the cloth with mild soap and water for cleaning. Be sure to wipe the veneer dry after using the damp cloth. It’s also important to wipe with the wood grain—that is, be sure to work in the same direction as the pattern in the wood.

Treating Stains

If your wood veneer furniture becomes stained, don’t treat it with any harsh chemicals. This can irreparably damage the finish. It is best to consult the manufacturer of your product.

Things to Avoid

It is best not to use aerosol cleaners or polishes on wood veneer surfaces. You should avoid any products that are oil-based or contain wax.

For everyday maintenance, remember that wood veneer is softer than laminate and can more easily scratch or stain. A protective surface (coasters, desk pads, glass, etc.)—especially on a desk or table—ensures that your furniture stays beautiful for years while still showcasing the rich, natural grain of the wood veneer.

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