How the Right Furniture Finish Makes Cleaning Easier and Faster

Who doesn’t want to speed up the school furniture cleaning process?

Cleaning desks, tables, surfaces and every germ-infested nook and cranny of a school is no easy task. Cleaning staff are busy people with limited time and resources. The right furniture finish can slash cleaning times and keep your students healthier.

…but here’s the thing…

When most schools purchase new furniture, they never consider furniture finishes. All they think about is price, size or colour. But the furniture finish you choose for your height adjustable school desks and classroom desks has a HUGE impact on how easy they are to clean day in and day out.

And with more than 16 million students across the country being labeled chronically absent last school year alone, keeping your furniture clean and hygienic is more important than ever. If we can keep furniture clean, we can help keep kids in school.

Let’s dive in…

What you’re going to learn:

1. Why Furniture Finishes Are More Important Than You Realize
2. Furniture Finishes That Make Cleaning A Breeze
3. Height Adjustable School Desks and Furniture Finishes
4. Maintenance Tips To Keep Finishes Clean

Furniture Finishes Are More Important Than You Realize

Think of furniture finish like a protective layer.

Good furniture finishes give you a smooth non-porous surface. Dirt, bacteria and accidental spills are less likely to penetrate into the actual material. Without it, you’re leaving every surface open to gross grime getting stuck in the wood grain or texture.

And that means…

1. It takes longer to clean because your staff need to spend more time scrubbing.
2. Bacteria can flourish in hard to reach areas that your cleaning team can’t regularly clean.

Schools are busy. Hundreds of students sit at the same desk every day. High traffic surfaces like desktops, chairs, arms and height adjustment mechanisms are germ magnets.

In fact, studies have shown that schools that invested in improved cleaning procedures actually cut illnesses like the flu by 20%. But if your furniture is difficult to clean or doesn’t react well to cleaning chemicals, then even the best cleaning protocol won’t do you much good.

That’s why having the right furniture finish matters so much. Smooth surfaces that are properly sealed make cleaning easier and respond better to disinfectants. Plus, they don’t require as much elbow grease to get shiny clean. Makes sense, right?

Furniture Finishes That Make Cleaning A Breeze

Believe it or not, not all furniture finishes are created equal. Some are a dream to clean. Others are cleaning nightmares. Let’s take a look at the finishes that make cleaning easy.

Melamine / Laminate

Melamine is the most popular furniture surface for schools. It is by far the smoothest and most durable finish out there. It resists scratches, stains and even moisture.

Here are a few reasons schools love melamine:

• Spills are super easy to wipe away
• Can resist most chemicals found in cleaning products
• Won’t stain from ink, paint or food
• Perfect for schools because it’s extremely durable, even with daily abuse.

Laminate is pretty similar to melamine. It creates a hard sealed surface where bacteria can’t settle. Both finishes allow you to quickly wipe down desks and move on to the next task. No scrubbing required.

Powder Coat

Powder coating is the finish you typically find on metal desk frames and legs. It creates a tough smooth finish that is scratch and corrosion resistant.

You might be wondering why this matters. Metal desk frames and legs are constantly being touched. Students grab them to move their desks, lean on them for support and accidentally knock them with their chairs. A good powder coat finish means you can easily wipe down these surfaces without having to worry about the finish wearing off year after year.

Polyurethane

If your school has wooden furniture, then polyurethane sealant is a must. Raw wood or poorly sealed wood is a cleaning nightmare. It absorbs liquids, traps bacteria and eventually warps with use.

Polyurethane sealant creates a strong barrier that seals the wood completely. This makes the surface similar to laminate. Super easy to clean, water resistant and much more sanitary.

Height Adjustable School Desks and Furniture Finishes

Height adjustable school desks have two additional factors to consider when it comes to cleaning.

They are:

1. Moving parts. Height adjustable desks have multiple parts that students can touch to adjust their desk. Adjustment mechanisms, legs that telescope and locks create additional surfaces for dirt, grime and bacteria to hide.
2. Shared between multiple students. In most schools, desks get shared between at least 2 different year groups. More students touching the same desk = more germs.

Having a quality finish on every part of the desk is crucial. If the adjustment mechanism is powder coated and the desktop is laminate, cleaning staff can wipe down the entire desk without having to worry about missing spots.

Imagine how many more students you could have through your cleaning program if you didn’t have to spend ages on school desks.

Maintenance Tips To Keep Finishes Clean

Picking the right furniture finish is only half the battle. Keeping that finish clean is what keeps it performing year after year. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind.

Only Use The Proper Cleaning Products

Did you know that not all cleaning products are safe for all furniture finishes? Abrasive cleaners can eat away at laminate and strip off powder coating over time. Be sure to use your manufacturer’s recommended cleaning products and stay away from anything too harsh.

A quick rule of thumb:

• Laminate / Melamine: mild detergent or disinfectant spray
• Powder Coated Metal: damp cloth with mild cleaner
• Polyurethane Wood: non abrasive surface wipes

Create A Daily Wipe-Down Culture

The best way to keep your furniture easy to clean is to never let it get too dirty in the first place. Quick daily wipe-downs of all surfaces around the school will prevent bacteria from building up.

This is MUCH more effective than trying to deep clean furniture once a week. An ounce of prevention saves tons of time cleaning.

Regularly Inspect Furniture Finishes

No matter how good your furniture finish is, they will still wear down over time. When damage occurs, bacteria will start to spread around those areas.

Schedule regular checks of all your furniture. Look for damage that might have occurred on the furniture finish and repair them as soon as possible. A quick touch up today can save you a giant headache tomorrow.

Teach Your Cleaning Staff Proper Techniques

Believe it or not, your cleaning staff can actually damage furniture finishes if they aren’t using the right products or methods. Take 5 minutes to show them the proper way to clean your school’s furniture. That way you aren’t wasting their time with techniques that don’t provide results.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it.

Furniture finishes are one of those underrated things that nobody pays attention to until it starts causing problems. But applying the correct furniture finish at the start can save you tons of time, money and effort when it comes to cleaning.

Once again, here’s what you need to know:

• Melamine and laminate finishes are your best bet for desk surfaces
• Powder coating is ideal for metal frames and height adjustment components
• Polyurethane sealant is perfect for wooden furniture
• Quick, daily maintenance prevents heavy build-ups of grime
• Inspections find damage before it turns into a bigger problem.

The right furniture finish doesn’t just make cleaning easier. It creates a healthier environment for your students and staff. And when it comes to keeping kids in school these days, that’s something we can all get behind.