Outdoor Furniture - How To Take Care Of Wicker
Posted: Monday, February 01, 2010
by Annie Deakin
Annie Deakin
One of the most popular types of outdoor furniture is wicker furniture. It started to be popular during the Victorian Era in England and America and today it comes in that ornate style and other styles that are simple and straight forward. Many of the types of wicker you can purchase today are reproductions from that period of time and admittedly it is expensive. But with the care it needs it can last forever.
Wicker can come out of storage with just a little dust and dirt. If there is no mold you can take some soap and water and sponge it on then rinse with clean water and dry it off. Never spray with a hose because excess water will warp the wood frame and damage the furniture. Never put any weight on wet wicker furniture as it can stretch the canes and reeds and once stretched they will never go back into place. If the furniture is just a little dusty attach the brush attachment to your vacuum and run it over the furniture.
Direct sunlight can cause too much heat on your wicker furniture and cause the canes to become dry and brittle. Wicker furniture should not be exposed to the elements but should be protected under a roof. Large amounts of water will do it no good and warp the frame. Store your wicker indoors during the winter to protect it against moisture, cold temperatures and nasty wind. Cover with a tarp to keep it in tip top condition for the spring. You can store wicker in the basement or in the garage but never store it near the furnace where it comes in contact with heavy heat. Heat drys the wicker and can cause cracking.
Painted wicker furniture needs to have a new coat of paint every so many years. Clean off the furniture and dry it well. Using spray paint give the furniture at least 2 coats of the same color or you can try a different color if you wish. Use matte finish as glossy finish does not really look good on Victorian style furniture and make sure you spray in all the little in between areas. Always make sure to wait until it is dry to sit in the furniture.
If your furniture already has a coat of paint on it do not try to remove it with stripper. Stripper is very harsh and it will cry and crack the canes to the breaking point. Just paint over the old paint. Stripping will cause damage that cannot be fixed. Some professionals will be able to remove old paint before replacing it with new. It's not something a novice should try.
Maintenance is necessary to keep natural wicker looking good. Natural wicker is protected by varnish, lacquer or shellac. These substances need to be renewed every few years. It is best to use a spray product just like a spray paint and let it dry completely before using the furniture. Some professionals apply a coat of liquid furniture wax to natural wicker furniture to give it a glossy finish and help protect it from rain. You can do this as well. Just wipe it on and leave it for the allotted time and wipe off.
Wicker can start to unravel on the legs and if yours does don't try to fix it yourself. Take it to a professional. With this and other care and maintenance wicker furniture can be around for a long time. It is not unusual for a protected peice that has been cared for still be usuable after 50 or more years.
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer. Her current area of specialism is home office furniture, interior design ideas and kitchen sale
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