Wicker furniture is a beautiful, natural woven material that looks great both inside the house and outside, around the patio. Despite the lightweight nature of the tree fiber weave, real wicker furniture is exceptionally strong and durable. However, the weave does have a knack for collecting dirt, dog hair, dust, and other debris. If the furniture is outside, in a high foot traffic area, or you live in a house that, for one reason or another, seems to always collect dust, you will want to clean the furniture regularly. Thankfully, real wicker furniture isn't all that difficult to clean, and, in no time at all, you will have a beautiful, comfortable, and clean seat ready to be enjoyed.
First, you will want to remove the dirt and other gunk that has collected between the woven fibers. Because wicker is specifically durable, you can use a steel bristle brush on the material. Make sure to work the steel bristle brush over all the woven fibers. You will also want to scrub the underside of the furniture as well. The underside of the furniture can collect a surprising amount of dust and dirt, so it is essential to clean this area as well. Otherwise, when sitting down and enjoying yourself on the furniture, you will end up smelling the dust, dander, and even mildew from the piece of furniture. The steel bristles will let you get in between the fibers easily.
Now that you have worked the entirety of the furniture, you will want to remove as much debris as possible. To do so, take the wand attachment of your vacuum and work it over the furniture.
With the excess dirt and gunk removed, you are now ready to wash your wicker furniture. Use water and mild dish soap and scrub the furniture with a soft cloth. Again, you will want to make sure you work your cloth between the woven fibers of the furniture, as this is where most of the dirt will collect. Work from the top down; otherwise, you'll be forced to re-wash areas of the wicker. Once you have finished washing the furniture, let it air dry. If it is sunny outside, you can place the furniture outside in the sun or leave it in and place fans around it. It is important to expedite the drying time; otherwise, moisture might collect between the fibers and leave a musty smell on the seat. To help with this, you may want to dab a towel over the furniture before you set it out to dry. Whatever you can do to speed up the drying time is beneficial.
If you have plans to paint the wicker furniture, now is the time to begin painting it. However, even if you're not looking to paint the furniture, you should apply a clear protective coating over the top. This will protect the furniture from not only moisture but from sun bleaching as well. There are several protective applications you can use for this. There are tung oil options that will help the wicker maintain its natural appearance. Some tung oils will deepen the furniture's tone, so make sure to look over the color options for this. Tung oil should be applied to wicker sofas, wicker lounge chairs or even wicker dining sets once a year (if this is your chosen protection method). If you have the furniture outside, you should consider using a clear marine varnish on the furniture. This is an application often used on the wood found in boats. It helps lock in the fabric's natural moisture while protecting it against the elements, including rain and sun. This will not change the color of your wicker furniture, and you only have to apply it once every three years or so. You can also apply a marine varnish coat over any fresh paint (after it dries). Lastly, if you don't want to use the oil as it might alter the color of the wicker, and if you don't want to use the marine varnish, you can find a clear protective coat, often available in a spray can, from companies like Rust-Oleum, made specifically for wicker. These kinds of spray cans are good for maintaining the color of your furniture while also adding a protective coating. Much like you would with tung oil, you will want to re-apply this spray once every year or so.
The cushion is often an overlooked area of the wicker furniture. However, it is important to clean off the cushion as well. The cleaning method for cushions will vary depending on the material and whether the fabric can be removed from the cushion. If you can remove the fabric, toss it into the wash and let it run on a cold, low spin cycle. Avoid using any kind of heat. If you can't remove it, wash the fabric with mild soap and water and let it dry completely before placing it back onto the furniture.
Whether you're in the market to upgrade to rattan bedroom furniture or have owned your current wicker outdoor set for years and are ready to replace what you own, it is always a good idea to know how to clean what you have. With these easy-to-follow tips, you can extend the life of your current furniture. These are also excellent tips to follow if you're going to paint your wicker furniture as well. However, if you would rather purchase new wicker, or if your current set has run its course and is starting to show its age, check out the wide selection of furniture options. From wicker rattan loveseats and chairs to rockers and ottomans, you'll find your next wicker upgrade is just a click away.
Want to know more about wicker, review our wicker furniture FAQs.
When it comes to lightweight, easy-to-use furniture, few materials can match that of wicker. There’s just something about wicker and its ability to blend into most design styles. It is also a fantastic option for indoor sunrooms and outdoor patios. But when the temperature turns cool and it’s time to migrate into the warmer areas of the house, what exactly are you supposed to do with the wicker furniture? If you have this furniture style or are thinking about purchasing it, you will likely want to know how to store outdoor wicker furniture in winter. Here are the ins and outs of what you need to do and how you should go about protecting wicker furniture during the winter months of the year.
Ideally, the best first step for you to follow is to bring the furniture into your home when the first sign of snow comes. If you have any garage space, a room in the sunroom or even a backyard storage shed, these spaces offer great ways to protect your wicker furniture from the outdoor elements.
Now, if you have synthetic wicker, you will have a bit more flexibility, as synthetic materials are more water resistant and can handle the cold and snow better. If this is the case, you can skip this step, but if you have natural fibered wicker furniture, then you will need to do what you can to protect it from the snow, and this begins, whenever possible, with bringing your furniture inside.
If bringing your wicker outdoor furniture in from the outside elements isn’t an option, then you will need to invest in coverings for your wicker furniture. These coverings are designed specifically for the design and type of your wicker. The coverings will go over your outdoor wicker coffee tables, your rattan sofas, or your wicker swivel chair to easily protect it from the snow. Snow is far worse than rain because it will collect on the furniture and sit, which will wear down the organic material faster than rain.
With your covering, you want to make sure it fully extends down to the ground. This is going to protect the feet of your furniture. It will also help defend against little critters making their way into the covering for warmth. While snow can damage wicker, a chipmunk, squirrel, mouse, or other small animals can infinitely cause more damage by chewing away at the fibers in order to build a nest. Securing the cover around the feet so there’s no room for the animals to wiggle into the furniture is desirable.
Now, even if you are bringing the furniture inside for the winter, you will want to use some kind of cover (unless you plan on using the furniture during this time). While moisture can damage the furniture material, extended sun exposure can also fade and dry it out as well. It is easy to forget about strong sunlight because of the dropping temperatures, but the fact of the matter is that extended sunlight is still present during the winter months, and you will want to protect it from this. You don’t need any kind of tacky coverings for the indoors, though. You can easily use a blanket or furniture cover or simply rotate the furniture so it is never in direct sunlight for days (or longer) on end.
If you are leaving your furniture outside for the winter, you should consider applying a waterproofing application on top of the furniture. This will provide an additional layer of protection against any moisture that might seep in during the winter. There are various kinds of waterproofing applications available for wicker furniture. Some even come in a spray-paint-like can, which is easy enough to apply. Simply follow the listed instructions on the can and you’ll be good to go.
While you might not have room for your wicker furniture inside of the house, you should still bring the cushions in. Cushions are water resistant to a certain extent, but eventually, the cushions will begin to take on some moisture when exposed to months of snow and rain. This will lead to the development of mold and mildew, which means you’ll likely need to throw the cushions away. Replacing the cushions (or, at least, the cushion covers) every year is an unnecessary expense.
Different kinds of wicker furniture will have various weatherproofing options. This is especially the case when it comes down to synthetic over natural weave. Synthetic wicker furniture has different kinds of general care instructions, and even certain brands will offer different tips. If you have questions about how to best protect the specific material and brand you own, don’t hesitate to ask, as we are here to answer. We can offer you more tailored instructions for your furniture, and even suggest where to store your furniture if you’re not totally sure where to put different pieces. Sometimes you may even be able to break up the wicker furniture and keep one chair in your sunroom while placing benches and ottomans inside the backyard shed. Whatever your wicker furniture questions and needs are, we’re here to help.
If you are currently on the market for new wicker furniture, or if you are just curious as to what options are available, there’s never been a better time to purchase beautiful furniture additions for your home than right now. With a wide selection of furniture options, colors, and designs, you will find everything you’ve been searching for (and more). Plus, if you have any questions about the products and what might work best for your particular setup, our friendly team is here to help. So take your time poking through the various furniture options on the site and if you ever have a question, don’t hesitate to ask by Requesting A Quote or giving us a call: 800-603-7133.