wicker furniture care and maintenance

Wicker furniture constitutes a beautiful design option both for the indoors and out. Both the natural hues adorned by unfinished wicker and wicker treated with a clear finish are fully complementary of virtually all types of existing decor. Furthermore, wicker brings with it a feeling of comfort and security. However, due to the nature of the wicker itself, it is imperative to identify ways in which to regularly care for your wicker furniture so as to prevent the fading, drying out and cracking of the material which will degrade its appearance, comfort and efficacy. The following article will outline the most of effective ways in which you can care for wicker furniture. This way, you can ensure that it will last for many years to come.

Wicker furniture is composed from natural fibers that have been woven together in a specific way in order to create designs that are sturdy in structure. Wicker furniture is commonly made from willow, water hyacinth, rattan palm and reed. Once these materials have been woven into furniture, they not only require a finish but frequent maintenance to ensure that they maintain their current levels of moisture and retain their beautiful appearance.

The most common ways in which wicker can degrade prematurely include inadequate levels of moisture within the materials themselves, over drying, fading due to exposure to the sun or excessive levels of light and discoloration due to the growth of mold or mildew. These issues can be remedied with some simple solutions. Below, we will discuss these solutions in more detail.

Wicker can become very brittle when it is left in dry environments for long periods of time. This can then result in the material becoming cracked or degraded. Over drying of the wicker can be avoided with the aid of a few simple solutions. For wicker furniture that is kept indoors, ensure that you do not place your furniture in close proximity to air or heating vents. The blowing of air, especially if hot, will dry the core of the wicker. Once the material has become cracked, it is difficult to remedy this without performing complete restoration.

To ensure that the moisture levels within the weaves and grains of wicker furniture are maintained, use a spray bottle to periodically sprits the surfaces of the furniture with water, and then wipe them down with either a dry cloth. If you use a mild soapy solution to wipe down your furniture and adopt the use of a toothbrush to clean areas that are hard-to-reach, you will effectively be addressing two issues in one: You will not only be cleaning your furniture and preventing the accumulation of mold and mildew, you will also be hydrating the natural fibers. When using a soapy solution, always rinse the solution off with clean water to prevent any soap scum from building up on the furniture.

Wicker furniture adds beauty to your outdoor area. Unfortunately, wicker degrades at a greater speed when it is exposed to a whole manner of outdoor elements. For this reason, you are advised to keep your furniture out of direct sunlight to avoid fading, discoloration and over drying. If it is important for your chosen furniture to have a long lifespan, it may be necessary to consider either white wicker furniture or synthetic wicker furniture.

Furniture made from synthetic wicker is the ideal choice for your outdoor patio. Not only will it maintain a natural look and feel but it will also prove better able to withstand the natural conditions known to compromise authentic wicker. Acquiring such furniture will enable you to reduce the time spent on maintenance and cleaning. However, it is advisable to keep synthetic wicker furniture out of direct sunlight to prevent it from becoming faded.

White wicker furniture provides a front porch with a beautiful, homely feel. Furthermore, it proves durable and has great longevity; the white finish over natural wicker serves as a sealant, maintaining the existing levels of moisture yet preventing external elements from causing it to become dry or damaged.