Care guide
French polish — shellac applied by hand with a rubber pad in hundreds of thin layers — produces a depth and warmth no sprayed finish can imitate. It is also a living finish: responsive to its environment and unforgiving of the wrong cleaning products. Here is how to keep it beautiful.
Dust with a soft, dry cloth, working with the grain. For fingerprints and light soil, a barely damp cloth followed immediately by a dry one is enough. Then step back: the most common damage we see comes not from neglect but from over-enthusiastic cleaning.
Keep silicone-based furniture polishes, aerosol sprays, and anything containing wax far away from French polish. Silicone migrates into the finish and makes future restoration dramatically harder — a conservator can spend hours removing silicone contamination before any repair can begin. Oil-based “furniture oils” are nearly as bad; they soften shellac and attract dust that grinds into the surface.
Shellac softens with heat and clouds with moisture. Always use coasters, trivets, and felt pads — a hot cup or a sweating glass will leave a white ring in minutes. Wipe spills immediately. And keep fine pieces out of prolonged direct sunlight, which fades both finish and veneer unevenly.
Light hazing and fine scratches can often be revived with a careful re-amalgamation and re-polish of the existing finish — far preferable to stripping. Deep scratches through to the wood, alligatored or flaking polish, and water damage that has penetrated the shellac need a conservator’s hand. A good rule: if the damage catches your fingernail, don’t try to fix it yourself.
With sensible care, a French-polished surface can look superb for generations. It asks only for gentleness — and for the spray can to stay in the cupboard.