Regular cleaning of rattan and wicker furniture is essential for lasting durability. Though rattan is one of the strongest materials for making furniture, but still it needs a gentle care to make a companion for years. Follow these helpful hints, tips and suggestions to keep your wicker chairs and rattan furniture strong and supple.
Tips to Care for Rattan and Wicker furniture
- To clean dirty wicker furniture that’s made of bamboo, rattan, or willow – brush of or vacuum as much of the surface dirt as you can. Do check for any breaks or loose pieces while cleaning the surface. If the breaks are minor, repair them self with the help of wood glue.
- Then, add just a small amount of detergent or oil soap to a bucket of warm water, dunk a soft-bristled brush into the solution and carefully brush it over the piece. The chair should then be dried off quickly with a soft cotton cloth. After that wash it with a soft brush and soapy water to which you’ve added one or two teaspoons of ammonia. Rinse well and let the piece dry completely in the sunlight (but the temperature should not be too hot).
- To clean wicker made from twisted paper or grasses, simply wipe with a damp cloth.
- The biggest enemy of any type of rattan and wicker furniture is dryness. To care for your wicker and rattan furniture, simply mist it with plain water from a spray bottle about once a month. Be careful not to soak the cane. If the surrounding wood gets wet in the process, wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
- To restore unpainted or natural wicker to its warm glow – rub it with linseed oil, then gently wipe off the excess dirt. Be sure to let it dry for several days before sitting on freshly oiled chairs, or set cushions on the seat and seat-back to keep from getting oil on your clothing.
Listed Below are Some Wise Suggestions for Rattan & Wicker Furniture Longevity
- A simple suggestion for extending your wicker furniture’s lifespan is to cover it up or move it to a more protected spot when weather becomes too hot, cold or when it’s raining. It may not be getting much use under those conditions anyway.
- Also, keep on inspecting the weave from time to time, and if there has been any shifting, simply move the weave back into place with your fingers.
- Never keep a damp cloth on rattan or wicker furniture as this may loosen the rattan fibre or threads as well as the wicker pattern will also be deformed.
Wicker patio furniture is generally easy to care for, but you may have to brush it every now and then to keep it free from dust. Keeping it clean will extend its life because dust or other organic materials can easily collect in the crevices of the weave and cause mildew which leads to a breakdown of fibre and eventual decay.
So, simply follow these tips and suggestions to make your furniture last of years. Check out Unicane’s furniture blog for more information on rattan furniture. Also check out what’s the difference between wicker furniture and rattan furniture.