With our care crest , your out-of-door wicker furniture will look beautiful every time of year . Plus , how to give it a makeover .

Wicker furniture tot up charming cottage style to any out-of-door distance , whether it ’s a terrace , solarium , or porch . However , the tight weave of caning makes clean challenging and clip - consuming . Do n’t abandon your raw outdoor piece of furniture to the elements , though . Here ’s how toclean wicker furnitureto gain supernumerary years from your pieces . We also share easy ways to restore and refresh wear - out wicker composition .

What is Wicker?

The full term " wicker " really refers to a technique — it need the bending and weaving of natural materials such as paper , rattan , bamboo , other grasses , or thin wood like willow tree branches . Carefully examine your opus for name properties — the characteristic rings on bamboo , the rough barque of a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree branch — to determine what was used to make your wicker furniture . Some wicker - trend furniture is also made from synthetic materials , like resins .

How to Clean Wicker Furniture

Whether your caning is bamboo , rattan , or another material , a niggling bit of maintenance and routine cleansing will keep it depend fresh . The first footfall to extending the life of your wicker : Purchase coversfor any objet d’art that persist out of doors , since shielding wicker piece of furniture from the elements when it ’s not being used will prevent fading . Next , bestow these scheme for caning article of furniture forethought to your cleaning number .

Wicker Made of Bamboo, Rattan, or Willow

For routine cleansing , brush off orvacuum as much of the surface shite as you could . Then wash the wicker with a soft brush and buttery urine flux with 1 or 2 teaspoonful of ammonia water . rinsing well and let the piece dry out outside in the sun .

Gently blow hard - to - reach dirt and particles out of the crevices that a vacuum ca n’t reach with a can of press air ( typically used for cleanse electronics and keyboard ) . you’re able to also expend a toothbrush to houseclean slippery post . If you make vacuuming and disperse part of your regular cleaning routine , your wicker should stay fairly pristine .

Mix 1/4 cup ammonium hydroxide , 2 tablespoons acetum , and 1 quart ardent weewee for an good homemade wicker cleaner .

wicker furniture around stone fire pit

Credit: Christina Schmidhofer

terrace article of furniture cleaners may also run for outdoor wicker furniture , but be certain to read the directions cautiously — some need to be diluted before use on wicker piece of furniture .

Wicker Made of Twisted Paper or Grasses

Caring for these material is much less complicated : Simply wipe them down with a moist material .

Synthetic Wicker

Since resin wicker is more long-wearing and less susceptible to decompose and secede than wicker made of natural material , it can easily be houseclean with soap and water . piece of furniture made from synthetical wicker fabric can also often hold being hosed down .

Routine Wicker Furniture Care

Combat Mildew

One of the downsides of caning furniture is that it ’s prone to mould . To prevent unsightly stains and smells , routinelyscrub away any mildew , using a mild oil - establish soap , such as Murphy Oil soap , mixed with water . After clean , make certain to get your wicker dry well before covering it to help oneself prevent mildewing . Place wicker piece of furniture in the sun to dry or apply a sports fan to hotfoot up dry clip .

Apply Oil to Wicker Furniture

To doctor unpainted or raw wickerwork to its affectionate glow , rub it with linseed oil ( useable at art supply computer memory ) , then gently wipe off the overindulgence . rent freshly - anele chairs dry for several days before sitting on them or add cushion to keep the fossil oil off your article of clothing .

Choose boiled flaxseed fossil oil as it imbibe and dry quicker than raw linseed oil , making it a better selection for wicker furniture .

Routinely Check for Damage

from time to time inspect your caning to identify any snags or impoverished pieces . If you discover extensive damage ( or find a defect that looks like it could become major ) , try the help of a article of furniture repair or renovation professional . In some cases , the mend might be a do - it - yourself undertaking ; you may find flog and reeds usable online . If you get it on who manufactured your furniture , reach out to the client serve team for direction on how to revive your furniture or where to source materials .

If you have access to an proprietor ’s manual or command from the store where you purchased your caning piece , always refer to those road map first .

How to Paint Wicker Furniture

Sometimes clean just wo n’t cut it and the only way to restore wicker article of furniture is with a effective makeover . Readour guide to paint wickerand learn which pigment is best for wicker furniture . you could conform this proficiency for paint wickerwork baskets , too .

pick out anexterior - grade spray paintor trash paint for lastingness , and finish with a clear sealer to protect against weather condition damage .

How to Preserve Antique Wicker Furniture

If you have an ex firearm of wicker , cleanse the surface cautiously , keeping in mind that acute cleaning can damage older piece . Do n’t undertake to refresh up your passee caning with paint — this will importantly cut its value . Instead embrace the worn spots as reminders of generations past who enjoyed the wicker as much as you do .

orange outdoor sofa

Credit: Bob Stefko

country-inspired patio with shades and curtains

Credit: Jay Wilde

blue house with backyard patio

Credit: Brie Williams

patio with potted plants, greenery, and wicker furniture

Credit: Mike Jensen