Protect your wicker furniture

Cleaning wicker furniture
Regular vacuuming using the soft brush attachment is the best way to remove surface dust from your rattan, bamboo or willow wicker. Spills can be cleaned using Murphy’s Soap or a light detergent on a damp cloth. Paper fibre rush should only be cleaned with a damp cloth and never immersed in water. Peters recommends not using a product like Pledge or other petroleum-based wood polishing products since they tend to sit on top of the wicker making it greasy.

Reed wicker can be hosed down lightly after being cleaned with a light detergent. “You’ll want a dry, windy day so you can place the wet wicker in the a shade to dry off,” says Peters.

Synthetic wicker can be cleaned with a stiff brush and sprayed down. Avoid pressure washing altogether since this method can break off the actual wicker or lift off the paint or varnish.

Maintaining your wicker furniture
Since most wicker has been treated with some kind of varnish, it will eventually need to be refinished. Use a durable semi gloss or gloss to repaint wicker, after using a light brush to gently take off any peeling paint. Major repairs or refinishing to antique wicker should be done by an expert.

Unfortunately, synthetic wicker is almost impossible to repair. Because it’s been made to be thrown out after five years, replacement parts are difficult to find and restoration experts have no way of knowing which varnish was used.
 
Find more information about wicker online

• Wicker Woman
• Rattan Land
• St. Thomas Seagrass Collection
• W.H. Kilby, Bamboo Bazaar Toronto
• Refinish Furniture 

Read more in Decorating and Outdoor Decorating