How to look after laminated chipboard furniture: the secrets of a long life

2026-02-07CareLaminated chipboardEveryday use

Cabinet furniture made from laminated chipboard (MFC) is the most popular choice in Kazakhstan. It looks good, it is affordable, and when it is built properly it lasts for decades.

But a lot of customers make mistakes when cleaning that can ruin even the best-made kitchen or wardrobe. Here is how to avoid them.

What is laminated chipboard, and why is it tough?

Laminated chipboard is not just sawdust. It is a board faced with a special paper-based film impregnated with melamine resin.

In production, under enormous pressure and a temperature of 240°C, that film is literally baked into the board and becomes one with it. That is why good laminated chipboard — we use Egger — stands up so well to scratches, household chemicals and fading in the sun.

The worst enemy of furniture is water

For all that tough surface, laminated chipboard has a weak spot: the joints and seams, where the edging is glued on.

⚠️ An important rule: laminated chipboard cannot take prolonged contact with water!

If you leave droplets of water behind when you clean, especially on horizontal surfaces or at the corners, the moisture can work its way into the micro-gaps. The result: the board soaks the water up and swells. Sadly, that damage cannot be undone.

The secret weapon: wax polish

To keep furniture looking new and protected from moisture, we recommend one simple routine — treating it with a polish that contains wax.

What that gives you:

1. Moisture protection: the wax seals the micro-pores and the edging joints.
2. Anti-static: less dust settles on the surface.
3. Sheen: the colour goes deeper and small scuffs disappear.

Instructions: how to apply the polish (the first month)

The most important period is the first month after the furniture is installed.

1. Put the wet cloth away. For the first month, try not to wash the furniture with water.
2. Use the polish once a week. Apply it with a soft dry cloth (microfibre).
3. Do not panic about smears. Straight after you apply it the surface may look slightly greasy, or smeared when the light catches it. That is normal — the wax is soaking in.
4. The final polish. After a month, put on a last coat and buff the surface thoroughly with a soft dry cloth until it shines.

After this “sealing in”, your furniture will be far more resilient, and from then on you can do ordinary damp cleaning without worrying (but always wipe it dry afterwards!).

A tip from Meizer: we are not advertising any particular brand, but when you buy a product in the supermarket, look for the word “Wax” in the ingredients. That, and not silicone, is what gives real protection.