How to Maintenance Your Wicker Furniture
Wicker furniture adds cottage or vintage style to any space—whether it’s a patio, a sunroom, or an indoor living area. However, the tight weave of the wicker furniture makes cleaning a little tricky and time intensive. But the effort you put into cleaning wicker furniture will be well worth it. Read on for wicker cleaning tips, plus how to restore and refresh wicker pieces.
The term “wicker” actually refers to the technique of bending and weaving a material such as paper, rattan, bamboo, other grasses, or thin woods such as willow branches. Look carefully at your pieces for identifying properties—the characteristic rings on bamboo, the rough bark of a tree branch—to determine what your wicker furniture is made from. Some wicker furniture is also made from synthetic materials, like resins.
The terms “rattan” and “wicker” are often confused because they tend to be used interchangeably. For example, many people believe rattan garden furniture is the same as wicker garden furniture. The confusion is understandable because the differences aren’t readily evident, but rattan and wicker are indeed separate from one another. Rattan is not wicker and wicker is not rattan.
The defining difference between the two is that rattan is a material whereas wicker is a style of weave. For example, there are many choices of garden furniture that use a wicker rattan weave. That simply means the physical material the furniture is composed of is rattan, and the weave style is wicker. Thus, “wicker rattan weave.”
Outdoor wicker furniture is becoming a popular choice for outdoor living spaces, and with good reason. Wicker furniture is attractive, versatile, durable and comfortable. It also comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, making it easy to fit wicker furniture in with any outdoor decorating scheme. However, since wicker is made of all natural materials that are weaved together, some people are not sure how to maintain it. With a little care and gentle cleaning, the natural fibers of wicker furniture will look good for years. Follow these smart tips to clean and care for wicker furniture :
No matter what the material, a little bit of maintenance and routine cleaning will keep your wicker furniture looking great. An occasional quick clean works. Resin wicker is more durable and less susceptible to rot and splintering and can easily be cleaned with soap in water. While sturdy, resin wicker pieces used outdoors should still be covered when not in use.
When you pit the words “natural” and “synthetic” in an argument against each other, there are usually hardcore advocates gunning for either side. In the case of natural and synthetic wicker, however, both sides come out winners. They’re both beautiful and unique, it just depends on what your specific needs are.
Natural rattan is meant to be treated as an indoor material. If you take your natural rattan piece, such as the lounge chair. Synthetic wicker (also known as resin wicker, synthetic rattan, all-weather wicker, or HDPE wicker) on the other hand, is typically made from an engineered resin material that replicates the look of natural wicker — but is highly resilient in outdoor environments.
For routine cleaning of wicker that’s made of bamboo, rattan, or willow, brush off or vacuum as much of the surface dirt as you can. Then 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 outdoors in the sun. For those hard-to-reach places and crevices, use a can of compressed air (typically used for cleaning crevices in electronics and keyboards) to gently blast out the dirt and particles a vacuum can’t reach. You can also use a toothbrush to get into tricky spots. Keep up on this regular dusting and vacuuming routine and a wicker piece should remain fairly pristine.
To remove grime from wicker furniture that’s more than just dusty, use a mild oil-base soap, such as oil soap, mixed with warm water. For a homemade cleaner, mix 1⁄4 cup ammonia, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, and 1 quart warm water. Follow recommendations and other precautions outlined by the ammonia manufacturer on the bottle. Patio furniture cleaners may also be effective for outdoor wicker furniture, but be sure to read directions carefully. Some patio furniture cleaners may need to be diluted if they are to be used on wicker furniture.
Wicker exposed to strong sunlight for long periods can become dry, which causes the fibers to split. To remedy this, spray pieces with water (using fine spray from a garden hose) and allow them to dry in the shade on a breezy day. To avoid weakening glue joints, perform this procedure only when necessary, but not more than twice a year.
To restore luster to dull wicker coated with clear finish, apply furniture polish or lemon oil. Minor scratches can be disguised by rubbing them with an appropriately colored wax stick made for repairing furniture. These are available at hardware stores. Alternatively, use an ordinary crayon.
Unfinished wicker requires protection from humidity. To make it suitable for outdoor use, brush or spray it with penetrating waterproofing sealer, which is also available at hardware stores.
Spots where finish or paint have been worn through can be restored by touching them up with similar coating, either sprayed or brushed on carefully to avoid clogging the weave. With painted wicker, if many spots require attention, you may have to repaint the entire piece to hide the touch-ups.
To refinish or repaint wicker, first clean it thoroughly by scrubbing as described. If the piece is badly clogged with old finish or paint, consider having it stripped by a company that specializes in wicker. But if you decide to strip the piece yourself, use one of the new water-base finish removers and scrub the piece, or spray it with a hose to strip it after the material softens.
Otherwise, after cleaning, brush the wicker with liquid sanding fluid, which is available at paint and hardware stores. This strips grease and oils from the surface and also softens the existing finish so that the new finish will bond more effectively.
Clear finish or paint the same color as that already on the furniture then can be applied. Use aerosol or brush-on finish or latex paint and apply two light coats. Allow sufficient drying time between coats. Before applying paint that is a different color, spray or brush the wicker with a coat of primer.
To repair loose wrapping, such as around the legs or arms of a piece, first remove the tack holding the end of the wrapping in place. Then carefully unwind a few inches of the wrapping and apply ordinary white or yellow woodworking glue to the underside.
Rewind the wrapping tightly and secure it with the same tack or a new one that has been installed between coils of the wrapping so that the head anchors the wrapping without splitting it.
That’s our tip, now you will not be confused in taking care of wicker furniture in your home. Remember, each furniture has its own care. May your wicker furniture last long.