How to Help Your Wicker Furniture Last You for a Lifetime
Wicker furniture can by the perfect finishing touch to your summer garden or conservatory, these simple tips, can make your furniture last forever.
Aesthetically, wicker is the perfect choice if you’re looking for stunning outdoor furniture. However, without the correct treatment, the charm of your beautiful garden furniture can slowly start to fade away.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Treating your wicker furniture is surprisingly simple and with a little love and care, you can enjoy your outdoor furniture for a lifetime. Make sure you take the time to look around and find the perfect rattan furniture for you, something that matches your chosen garden design, and something that best represents you.
Wicker
Contrary to the belief of many, wicker is not actually the material used in furniture – it is, in fact, the method of weaving used. The wood used comes from rattan, which is the tree utilised for wicker furniture.
The downside of rattan is that if your furniture does not have a finish, it is not designed for outside use and therefore can fade and deteriorate as a result of sunlight and rain.
If you use treated or even synthetic wicker, you can get a longer lifespan from your furniture, but if left untreated it will still begin to feel the effects of the elements.
How to Protect and Clean Your Wicker Furniture
One of the easiest ways to ensure that your wicker furniture does not feel the effects of weather conditions is to ensure that it is kept out of the rain.
Bringing your furniture inside after use or making sure it is fully covered can make a huge difference, especially with natural wicker.
You can clean your wicker furniture with a damp cloth, dusting cloth, or vacuum attachment, this should be done whenever there are marks or stains of any kind on your furniture.
To avoid your furniture developing mould, you should try a solution of 25% vinegar to 75% water and wash with plain water on a damp cloth afterwards.
Refinishing
However much you care for your furniture, over time your wicker products are likely to start to fade If left, this can take a lot of the beauty away, but rejuvenating the finish of your wicker furniture is not overly difficult.
As long as the structural condition of your furniture is still of a good standard, then vinyl dye or a paint formulated specifically for the purpose (different paints will be necessary for natural or synthetic materials) can restore the look of your furniture and bring it back to its original shine. This is particular effective for PVC or resin wicker furniture.
The Benefits of Rattan Furniture
Once you know how to clean and treat your wicker furniture, and realise that it does not take a great deal of effort to create a much longer lifespan for it, then the only decision left is which garden set to buy in the first place!
Rattan furniture comes in in many shapes, sizes, and designs so you can be sure that you will find exactly what you are looking for in this material.
The benefits of this material are endless. It’s lightweight, comfortable, attractive, and versatile, so you can rest assured that you will find exactly what you are looking for, and put that perfect finishing touch to your garden.
Chloe Cotton is editor-in-chief at The Happiest Homes, a leading UK digital home magazine.
August 8, 2016