Wipe down your rattan firmly. Because we dont apply inflated markups just to advertise large, artificial discounts, you can rest assured that Todays Patio prices will start low and stay low. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. One of the slyest ways to ensure that your synthetic furniture is protected without moving it around is to keep it covered with moisture-resistant cushions. However, youll want to perform thorough maintenance now and then to make your wicker furniture shine. Some people recommend curing dried out rattan with a quick wash with a hose, arguing that the brief exposure to moisture generally wont cause any long-lasting harm. Talk to a wicker expert if youre unsure about what to do. With weather changes such as rain, sleet, winds, or snow, youll want to ensure that your outdoor wicker furniture can withstand whatever comes its way. Although water, staining and dirt are obvious threats to patio furniture, homeowners should also be cautious of the sun as it can destroy their beautiful investment. Si habla espaol, So, how do you care for your wicker furniture? Follow these tips and your furniture will look good throughout its entire life. As well as protecting your furniture from UV radiation, umbrellas add shade and coolness to your patio, allowing your sun-sensitive friends and family to take shelter. For long-term maintenance of clean natural rattan, some experts will tell you that you should clean your rattan every week or so. Oils such as natural lemon oil brighten the appearance of wicker furniture, give it a pleasing smell, and also help to prevent dust and dirt build-up. Because wicker furniture is so porous, it will grab and hold on to any spills and stains that it acquires. Its also relatively affordable for what it is and is incredibly low-maintenance and a breeze to clean, thanks to its water-resistant properties. Whatever the case is, investing in covers is always a good idea; it will prevent direct sun exposure and protect it from the elements at the same time. In short, vacuuming your rattan first will make it easier to clean the rest of the rattan later. This is a semi-permanent awning that sits on your patio and is similar to a carport cover. Protecting your wicker furniture from the sun will help to preserve its color and extend its life. ), youll have to put in the monthly work. However, that doesnt mean you cant do a little bit extra in order to keep your rattan looking youngand fixing it up a bit if it ever begins to look old. To avoid sun damage to your furniture, use an opaque patio cover. Dont forget to paint and varnish the creases, underside of the seat, and under the legs and arms. Use UV protection spraysFor those who don't have the space to set up a sunshade, using UV protection sprays to protect your rattan patio furniture set from the sun's rays is also a good option. Maintenance isnt only about maintaining appearances. sales@wickerwarehouse.com anytime! Store your furniture away in the winter if you want to guarantee that it will have a longer life. Remember to allow it to dry out completely before covering the furniture to prevent mold or mildew from occurring. If you keep your natural rattan indoors, youll generally have very little need to care for it. Caring for wicker furniture indoors varies slightly from outdoor care, and mainly comes to sun exposure. They might be right, but arent there better ways to avoid moisture and keep your rattan fresh than hosing the darn pieces off? This allows you to keep your furniture covered when you choose and allows you to enjoy the sun only when youre actually outside. Many people are so used to dealing with highly lacquered, finished wood that they forget what the true texture of wood is likeits highly porous, which means it absorbs dust and moisture very well. Not only will they keep you cool, but it will also reduce the amount of direct sunlight that your furniture receives. If you follow all of the steps of the previous two sections, youll likely have rattan and synthetic rattan furniture that will stay durable for years to come. They want a clean, pristine, beautiful yard. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. So dont worry about the frequency with which you clean your rattan; just worry about doing it right when you do clean it. You can either use your wicker furniture in your home to remove it from the elements, or cover it with a protective covering to store it in a shed or garage. Use the brush to transfer the soap and water to the furniture and scrub the entire surface of the wicker. In fact, many people consider wicker furniture among the easiest to clean and keep. Do the same for removable cushions. Simply add a few seconds of dusting and cleaning your rattan to your regular routine and you should have no problems with it. Wicker furniture, if left wet or damp, can mold or mildew. Inspect corners and seams for tears or rips. Even plastic can contract in cold weather, causing it to harden, snap, and potentially break. Even wood frames can crack and break. However, you may want to cover it when you know bad storms are about to hit. A good way to get your bearings is to take a picture of the weaving as you see it completed on another part of the rattan piece. As anyone whos used wicker furniture before knows, these cushions are sometimes as big a consideration as the wicker pieces themselves. Once the work is complete, you may be anxious to get your home back in order but find yourself with a large We are passionate about furniture and love sharing everything we learn about the furniture industry. The bad news is that outdoor wicker furniture is exposed to the elements and will require more regular cleaning. Dip the cloth into the bubbles and use this part of the solution to clean your rattan. But when their color becomes dull, and they begin to crack, your once beautiful furniture can quickly become an eyesore. Once hard, you can use the furniture again. Umbrellas can also be used as a highlight in the patio, because they have various shapes, styles and colors. Its common for polishes to be used on wooden furniture, mainly, but did you know that oils and polishes are also beneficial for wicker furniture? If you dont have a toothbrush to spare, you can use another soft brush. High-end furniture can hold up for many years before needing any kind of intervention. Again, its important to leave some rest time to ensure that the glue dries properly and that your rattan piece will be able to bear weight in the future. Marine-grade polymer (MPG) is a strong complex plastic that wont fade or melt. The solution is to employ boiled linseed oil. This section should give you a good idea of what its like to care for, maintain, clean, and repair the wicker around your home, whether youre working with natural rattan or synthetic wicker. Your patio furniture dealer should carry some variety of these sprays, simply ask him for details on how to apply it properly and how often it needs to be reapplied. Stay updated on all that's new and noteworthy. Generally, these materials will give you some flexibility; you dont have to be a perfect housekeeper in order to ensure a long life out of your wicker furniture. If you plan to have wicker furniture primarily outdoors in open areas, it could be a good idea to buy plastic wicker furniture rather than traditional rattan wicker. Plastic wicker has been known to break or unravel, especially on the backs and arms of chairs and sodas. But you can extend the life of your synthetic wicker if youre sure to avoid certain extremes. How Can You Reduce Smoke in Your Firepit Table? Loaded with important information about the different types of patio furniture materials and styles as well as great style tips from our team of designers, youll find everything youll need to help you create your own backyard escape. If the repair scenarios presented above sound like an option of last resort, then youll want to pay attention in this section. Get a free estimate now! Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you spend as little time cleaning and maintaining your outdoor wicker furniture as possible. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/wicker-care/, 8 Easy Ways to Keep Furniture From Sliding. Questions? If you clean your house once a month, simply add the cleaning of your rattan furniture. Aside from the occasional cleaning or dusting, your maintenance is mostly done by mother nature, which has supplied you with a clean, hearty rattan for your furniture. They also offer a variety of wicker chair styles, along with double and triple-seated wicker sofas for outdoor use. However, it may be more efficient (and pleasing to the eye) to keep your synthetic furniture out of view when its not in use. We all enjoy sitting in the sunshine for a leisurely and relaxing chat or break. For cushions, choose a fade-resistant fabric that has been treated with ultraviolet inhibitors. Fabric umbrellas can do more than keep you cool, they can also keep the sun off your patio chairs. If youll recall, rattan and water, like wood, generally dont mix. More serious rattan cracks may be more difficult to repair, but boiled linseed oil does wonders for surface-level problems. In addition to purchasing quality pieces, youll want to inspect and treat furniture on a regular basis. You may want to keep this section saved for when you have a party or are expecting guests that will use the wicker furniture in your home. In fact, the quick cleaning is one of the major advantages of using synthetic wicker! But as already stated, when it comes to cleaning natural rattan, you want to use as little moisture as possible. A roller shade allows you to shade your furniture (and yourself) whenever its sunny. But just like your skin, your wicker can actually have too much sun. If youre still lost, keep reading: the next section features sure-fire ways to handle your wicker on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis so you can get the most out of your wicker. The constant sunshine can fade fabric and furniture frames, while the heat can melt low-quality plastic and decrease fabric integrity. Remove any cushions and clean them separately. For furniture frames, you need a material that wont melt or be too hot to the touch. This is understandable, so if you want to minimize the use of tarps and coverings in your wicker maintenance, try to follow these quick tips: Generally you can simply hose down your outdoor furniture because its non-porous and water-resistant. This is a good instinct to have as a homeowner. In larger rattan pieces (rattan that needs to support your weight) the best way to repair it is actually to screw joints into place. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. In most cases, youll find that the bubbles work fine as a cleaning agent and keep the rattan relatively dry, since youre using the minimum amount of moisture possible. You can snap up a modern, affordable apartment in Fourways for R950k or less. But there are other solutions to dry rattan than simply hosing down your furniture. Plastic wicker furniture has become increasingly popular as outdoor furniture because it holds up much better to the elements than traditional wicker furniture. Glass ones will still let UV rays through, though they will protect your furniture from water damage. Sun can damage anything that has been left outside for too long, it does not matter whether it is high-end furniture or not. But the sun's rays can also have a negative impact, as well as affecting the quality of materials and reducing the value of your furniture over time. Lets learn how to properly maintain a variety of furniture pieces. As you know from reading this book, natural rattan and moisture dont mixits similar to cleaning wood with a lot of water. Both come in either tan or gray colors, protect against rain, and feature velcro ties to keep them in place over your furniture. Try these ideas to turn your underutilized deck into a more attractive outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining. If you find that your furniture has faded, you can repaint it with a new coating of the same color to ensure that your furniture woven with rattan can last longer.Finally, if you want to choose furniture for your terrace that can well resist sunlight, then PE rattan style furniture is the right choice. If you live in a cold climate, youll want to be wary about leaving your synthetic wicker out for long periods of time in the cold. Make sure the covers are thick enough to protect your furniture from the sun. Now that you have an idea of the mistakes to avoid, its time to learn a little bit more about the types of actions you should be taking in order to best achieve a long-lasting piece of wicker furniture. This allows you to keep your synthetic wicker furniture outdoors without having to move it or cover it constantly. Small Outdoor Space? This will keep your furniture dry if you have an outdoor party coming up, of course, but dont forget: keeping your furniture clear of moisture and debris also makes it easier to deal with when you do want to use it. Each product offers all-weather protection for top-quality durability and a long lifespan. Remember to avoid eating and drinking while using the furniture, and if spills occur, clean them immediately. Traditional wicker furniture is made from the Rattan vine, and though it can last decades, its susceptible to rot in the rain and will need to be looked after more carefully than plastic wicker. If there is a lot of weaving to do and you eventually give up, you might want to turn to a professional. We recommend that you use these Protective Weatherproof Covers for wicker sofas or this protective, weatherproof cover for oversized wicker chairs. You can then bring out the synthetic furniture when its time to have a family gathering or party. The synthetic, non-porous materials used in outdoor wicker furniture will generally keep your furniture safe and protected. But the truth is youll get more life out of your rattan furniture if you avoid moisture as much as possible. However, one of the most common problems you often hear about is that it produces too much smoke. Avoid plastic furniture which can easily get damaged by the suns heat. Needless to say, you wont need to employ these on every piece of rattan, especially if youre not placing your furniture on hard surfaces or if youll be moving your furniture around a lot. You can seriously extend the life of your outdoor wicker furniture simply by keeping a few routines in mind. If you absolutely must, youll want to buy the proper supplies from weaving supply stores. When summer rolls around and the sun starts making more frequent appearances, its exciting to soak up all the Vitamin D you can. If you buy a piece of wicker furniture, it should last you a long timeprecluding you from buying other, possibly more expensive furniture, along the way. If your rattan furniture is damaged (a broken rattan leg, unwound weaving, etc. Most people have an internal timer that goes off when the rain comes: it tells them to close the windows in order to ensure the smallest amount of water damage possible. Here are some tips for preventing your patio furniture from fading. As long as youre conscious of ways to keep your furniture in good shape, youll be fine. As a result, its common for people unfamiliar with wicker furniture to move into it with more strength than they realize they actually need. Here are the best ways to protect your wicker furniture from the sun: Protecting your wicker furniture from the sun is one thing, but what about protecting it from the elements such as rain, wind, or snow? Teak has a high rubber and oil content and will resist cracking and termites. If your wicker furniture is generally kept outdoors, its recommended that you store it indoors during harsh seasons such as winter. Copyright 2022 Today's Patio | All Rights Reserved, Even the highest quality patio furniture is prone to sun damage and fading if you dont take care of it. Youd be surprised at how many people simply ignore the need to maintain and clean their rattan furniture. You can apply lemon oil, for example, in order to avoid dry rattan. Call 1-800-274-8602 Mon-Thurs-9:30-4:30, Fri-9:30-3:00 Eastern Time. Over 40 years ago, we opened the first Todays Patio showroom in Phoenix with a simple vision: to offer an unparalleled outdoor furniture buying experience. Simply spray the product onto the surface of your furniture and by blocking these otherwise highly penetrating rays, you can effectively prevent your furniture from fading.5. Of course, this will only work with a piece of weaving that is identical or symmetrical to the weaving youre working with. When it comes to caring for wicker furniture long term, it depends on basic care such as removing dirt and grime, keeping it out of the sun and harsh weather, and giving it a thorough cleaning, varnishing, and oil bath now and again. Interested in a shading solution? Obviously, this is not ideal. Fading fabric is the most obvious form of UV damage, but the sun can also cause plastic and woods to weaken over time. Upgrading lifestyles and providing comforting shade for patios, outdoor living areas, windows, and doors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Prescott, Mesa, Flagstaff, Sedona, Wickenburg, and surrounding areas since 1993, Direct sunlight is the largest factor in damaging furniture, quality materials that can withstand the heat, Awning Fabrics: What Are the Best Materials for Your Outdoor Spaces, Ready to start your project? The best thing you can do for your furniture is to take it inside when the summer season is over. Properly cleaning your wicker furniture is one of the best ways to extend its life. However, that is not all that is needed. Lets take a look at ten lessons you can keep in mind if you want your wicker to last longer and remain durable. In this way, the ultraviolet rays are prevented from being irradiated when the ultraviolet rays are strongest. Use the manufacturers recommended oil to keep wood frames from cracking. Sometimes you dont have time to do anything other than hose down even your natural rattan furniture. Enjoy the sun exactly the way you want to! Wicker furniture doesnt necessarily need to be covered head to toe to keep it protected from the sunlight. But what about the cushions? Check for thin spots, wear, or holes on surfaces in direct sunlight. You can also repaint your wicker furniture once every 3 to 5 years with a wicker-made paint to provide an extra layer of protection underneath the varnish. General care, cleaning, and avoiding mishaps is the key to long term success with wicker furniture. However, the look is undoubtedly less appealing than natural wicker, and plastic wicker has been known to break with constant use. Keep in mind that no method will be 100% effective against bleaching sunlight and UV rays, though they will work to reduce the aging you see in your wicker furniture drastically. Inspect legs, arms, and backs for melted or soft areas and cracks. All Rights Reserved. Simply add drape the tarp over the outdoor furniture to your usual rainstorm checklist and youll be able to protect your wicker furniture at the right moments. For sun-lovers, this means plenty of time outside, but these weather conditions can wreak havoc on patio furniture. https://www.wickerwoman.com/articles/wicker-furniture-care One quick note: be sure to pick a soft brush that you dont mind getting dirty, because youd be surprised at the kind of dust that can settle on all of your furniture over the months. The rattan materials on the market include natural rattan and synthetic rattan. Even during the cold months, you must store your furniture in a shed; the sun shines during the winter too. Before you learn about what you should do in order to best maintain your wicker furniture for the future, its best to learn which common mistakes are most easily avoided. This way theyll be kept under trees or a place where the sun is blocked by buildings. It should still be beaded 15 minutes later. Retractable awnings will protect your furniture and your family from those harmful UV rays, and an awning keeps everything covered while still allowing you to relax. Note that some people recommend leaving linseed oil-treated wicker out for a week to fully dry and harden. Additionally, there will be some mistakes youll want to avoid if you plan on getting the longest quality life out of your wicker furniture. These sprays are much like sunscreens in that they are designed to reflect the sun's UVA and UVB rays. Remember: when in doubt, you can always take your furniture to an expert whos experienced with wicker and rattan furniture. If an umbrella isnt suitable for your setup or you have a large patio, you may want to consider getting a patio cover. A weekly dusting, for example, along with the rest of your house is a great way to be sure that your rattan is staying clear and clean. If youre performing only a basic maintenance clean on your rattan, you can likely stop with this quick wiping down of the furniture and allow it to dry. You dont always have to keep your furniture under a tarp if youre not using it. Once the dirt and grime have been removed, use a garden hose to wash away any loose dirt and dust. But if you absolutely must break a rule or two in the name of convenience, be sure to keep these sessions to a minimum. It takes some reverse engineering in order to replicate what you seeand thats not always easy. Here well look through ten ways you can maintain your wicker for optimal appearance, performance, and the longest possible lifetime. If you want to extend the life you get out of your synthetic rattan furniture, youre going to want to shade it from the sun when not in use. Lemon oil is available as furniture polish in many stores, so check the ingredients of your furniture cleaners and moisturizers the next time you go out for a shopping trip. It is easy to clean, sturdy and practical without compromising on comfort and comes in a wide range of styles and sizes to give you a variety of options. Look for sun-resistant cushions. Youll also learn how to choose wicker pieces. Even wicker furniture that is varnished and covered in beneficial waxes and oils will be hard-pressed to withstand harsh winter conditions such as heavy snowfall. Its recommended you start with this so that youre only cleaning what needs to be cleaned thereafter. Set up patio umbrellasIf you can't move the rattan outdoor furniture indoors, you can also protect them from the sun by setting up patio umbrellas. Why not use a lot of the water-heavy solution directly on the rattan itself? As an added bonus, weve also included a useful checklist that you can complete and take with you when you go, read more about investing in high-end furniture. Lets look at some common strategies (and problems) with using tarps to protect your outdoor wicker furniture. Lighter colors reflect more sunlight rather than absorbing, keeping them cooler to the touch during the summer months and providing a little more sunlight resistance. For even more convenience, get one that can be controlled electronically or remotely. Lemon oil is excellent at refreshing your furniture and protecting it slightly from outward invaders like dirt, dust, and fingerprints. You can still enjoy your time in the sun while preventing damage to your patio chairs, tables, and other furniture. In mistake #10 above, you learned that exposing rattan to a solid floor can eventually make for scratched material. Download the Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide for FREE! Without a doubt, using. Furnishingtips.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Here are our suggestions: Vacuum the rattan first so that you can remove as much of the dust and debris as possible; the rattan is sturdy and will respond well to vacuuming. You can also arrange your furniture according to the suns position. If you cant get your synthetic furniture into your garage because you dont have the space to spare, youll want to use a cover for your synthetic furniture when a storm is rolling through.