Tips for Maintain and Cleaning Wicker Furniture Products
Wicker furniture has been popular since sliced bread i.e. from Victorian times to till date. Nowadays, most of the home catalogs feature wicker couches, tables, coffee tables, plant stands, chairs and lounges. Most of them will be woven but some furniture may look as if it is knitted with big needles.
Wicker refers to the furniture that is made out of vines, plants and grasses. They can again be classified into bamboo, willow, rattan, reed etc. Wicker furniture is well known for their strength and durability. They are also less expensive as compare to other wooden and glass furniture.
Wicker furniture should be limitedly used for outdoor activities. Since, they are plant origin; they are to be taken care with some extra precautions. The first stand among all is keeping wicker furniture away from direct sunlight. It is also to be kept away from heating ducts, radiators and fireplaces. Some wood burning stoves may also affect this furniture. On the other hand, your wicker furniture should be protected from the heavy rainfall also. If the furniture remains wet, there are chances that the joints in this furniture may get loosen. If you are using some solution to clean up the furniture, be sure that it has no harmful chemical that can spoil the wicker texture.
Wipe up spills soon with a damp cloth and mild detergent or soap. You need to work here fast as unsealed wicker absorbs moisture very quickly just like a sponge. You should use vacuum cleaner with the attachment 'brush'. You should clean with the direction with the weave and not opposite to it. You should be very careful while vacuuming because sharp edges, splits and holes may damage your vacuum cleaner and they may get deranged spoiling the furniture and its texture.
Dry wicker has tendency to split and therefore, you should wipe down wicker furniture with a damp cloth on regular basis. Old wicker furniture, which is dusty and dirty, can be washed and cleaned carefully by using garden hose. You should not apply too much pressure while washing and cleaning. Let the water drain itself and dry the wicker furniture with soft cloth preferably cotton.
Once you have washed and wiped your wicker furniture, be sure that it has become fully dry before it is used again. Wicker furniture may be painted to match up with your other furniture, mattress, rugs, or walls of your home. Be careful choosing the paint that suites to your wicker furniture as many paints may spoil the structure of wicker material. You can take an advice from your local home store to choose right paint for your wicker furniture. If you are using spray paint, use shorter strokes to prevent drips on wicker furniture.
You can also have wicker furniture tool-kit. Ask your furniture provider to give you the one. Learn some basic techniques to repair wicker furniture. Never try to hit hard the wicker furniture to place nails. There are many other techniques to repair the furniture rather than just joining or fixing a damaged part.
