When people buy floating shelves, they usually focus on style and strength—what color wood to choose, what size fits the wall, or how much weight the shelf can hold. But here’s a question that comes up after installation: “How do I keep these shelves looking great for years?”
The good news? With a little care, floating shelves don’t just stay strong—they stay beautiful. At Shelf Expression, every non-painted shelf we send out is finished with a durable oil-based urethane. That finish is your first line of defense against scratches, spills, and everyday wear. But like anything in your home, your shelves deserve some love if you want them looking as good as the day they went up.
Here’s what you need to know about cleaning, protecting, and refinishing your floating shelves.
Regular Cleaning
Day-to-day maintenance is simple. Dust your shelves regularly with a soft cloth or microfiber duster. For deeper cleaning, a damp cloth works fine—just make sure it’s wrung out so you’re not leaving standing water on the wood.
Skip the harsh chemical cleaners. Products with ammonia or abrasives can dull the urethane finish or leave streaks. A gentle wood cleaner (or even just warm water with a drop of mild soap) is all you need.
We also love to give them a wipe down with a furniture polish like Howard's Feed-N-Wax to help keep the wood looking lustrous.
Pro tip: if you’re styling your kitchen floating shelves, put down felt pads or coasters under plates, mugs, or jars to reduce scratches from sliding things around.
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Protecting Against Damage
Our shelves are built strong enough to hold just about anything you’d want to display, but the surface is still wood—it’ll appreciate some care.
Some tips:
- Avoid direct water contact. Plants are great on floating shelves, but make sure planters don’t leak. Use trays underneath just in case.
- Watch for heat. Candles and hot mugs can leave marks. A coaster is your friend.
- Distribute weight evenly. Not for the bracket’s sake (Hovr doesn’t sag), but to reduce pressure points on the finish.
These little steps go a long way in keeping your shelves looking brand new.
Refinishing Non-Painted Shelves
If your floating shelf does end up with scratches or scuffs, the good news is this: our oil-based urethane finish can be refinished if necessary. Light sanding and reapplying urethane will usually bring the shelf right back to life. We love General Finishes' Arm-R-Seal
That’s the advantage of a clear finish—you’re not hiding anything. You’re simply protecting and enhancing the natural wood grain. So if life happens (because it always does), you don’t have to stress. Your shelf can be touched up and look as good as new.
A Note About Stained Shelves
If your shelf has been stained, you’ll want to take a little extra care. Stain sits underneath the urethane finish, so sanding too aggressively can remove the color along with the scratch.
Here’s what to do instead:
- Spot repairs. Lightly sand just the surface of the scratch, being careful not to cut into the stain layer.
- Refinish gently. Apply a matching urethane coat over the spot.
- Prevention is key. For stained shelves, extra care with coasters, mats, and pads can save you from needing touch-ups in the first place.
In short: non-painted shelves are easy to refresh; stained shelves need a gentler touch.
Long-Term Confidence
Floating shelves should be a long-term part of your home, not something you’re replacing every few years. That’s why we use finishes that not only look good on day one but can be refreshed down the road.
Pair that with the Shelf Expression Promise—our sag-free guarantee and lifetime replacement if a shelf ever warps or cracks—and you can feel confident your shelves are here for the long haul.
The Bottom Line
Maintenance doesn’t have to be complicated. A little dusting, some mindful use, and occasional refinishing if needed will keep your floating shelves strong and beautiful for years.
Whether you went with the clean look of white oak floating shelves, the rich tones of walnut floating shelves, or custom stained shelves to match your space, caring for them is simple when you know what to do.
So don’t stress about scratches or spills. With the right care, your floating shelves will keep doing what they do best: holding up your memories, your style, and your joy.
