Wicker Furniture Place

Care For Your Wicker!

A big advantage to wicker furniture is how easy it is to maintain. Scratches to wicker are hard to notice, it doesn’t particularly attract dust like glass, and grease spots aren’t immediately evident like with stainless steel. In general, all you need to do is regularly vacuum the furniture and occasionally wipe it using soap and a damp rag.

How to Care for the Furniture
Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner and regularly go over the furniture. To avoid damage to the wicker, do it carefully and go in the direction of the weave. If any dirt is stuck between the weave, it can easily be removed using a toothbrush.

In the areas of the furniture that is heavily used, like the arms and the back of a chair, you can avoid the buildup of filth by wiping with a damp rag, soaked in soap and water solution. Afterwards, remove any soap residue, by wiping with a clean, damp rag. Before using the furniture again, you want to make sure it is completely dry.

Furniture made of wicker often also consists of parts made of other materials. Don’t forget to care for these in the way appropriate for the particular material.

During the cold winter months, if your region have those, it is best to safely store outside patio furniture inside. If it’s not possible, cover the furniture using outdoor furniture covers.

Avoid the Wicker Drying Out
A risk with wicker is that it can dry out. To avoid this, keep your wicker furniture away from sources of dry heat, such as radiators, heating vents, and fireplaces.

It might be difficult to keep the furniture away from sunlight, especially if it is furniture used on a patio, but unfortunately this also has a tendency to dry the wicker out. Luckily, to avoid drying out, a lot of natural wicker used in outside furniture has a protective coating.

If the furniture does dry out, you can try to restore its natural moisture. This is done by rinsing the furniture with clear water.

Wicker Affected by Mildew
Wicker can occasionally be affected by mildew, it is not the end of the world. Here is how you deal with it.

Mix water with bleach, approximately half and half. Spray it on the furniture and let it work for ten minutes. Wipe with a damp rag. The mildew should now be gone. If the wicker was coated, you might have to re-coat it after this treatment. Before doing so, the furniture must be completely dry.

Easy to Maintain
Wicker furniture is easy to maintain and care for. The most challenging aspects are avoiding mildew and avoiding the wicker drying out.

What is Wicker Furniture Exactly?

Wicker furniture is  made out of various materials such as rattan and cane in combination with other materials. It has a long history, going all the way back to ancient Egypt. In more modern times, the Arts and Crafts movement has had a heavy impact on the use.

Furniture made of wicker is sturdy, but remains light, making it ideal for furniture that gets moved around. An example being patio furniture.

What is Wicker?
Wicker is usually made of materials from plants, but it is also possible to use other materials, such as plastic fibers. Plants often used are the cane of rattan stalks, willow switches, reed, and bamboo. Wicker is then produced by forming the hard woven fiber into a rigid material.

When the fibers used are of a plant material, the wicker is sometimes referred to as natural wicker, while wicker using plastic fibers is known as synthetic wicker. Natural wicker is thought of as the most beautiful and comfortable alternative, but synthetic wicker is a lot easier to maintain in mint condition.

Besides its use in furniture, wicker is also used to produce baskets.

Furniture Using Wicker
Wicker furniture goes back all the way to ancient Egypt. However, the use of wicker experienced a revival with the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the 20th century. This movement praised traditional handcrafts and aimed at preserving and emphasizing the qualities inherent in a material.

Wicker gives furniture an interesting look. The surface becomes uneven and intricate, and every piece becomes slightly different. The furniture might have a tendency to look a bit old fashioned, but innovative designers combine the wicker with more modern materials, like steel or glass, to create a striking contrast.

When using wicker in the production of furniture, the frame is often made by stiffer materials, such as wood, metal or plastic. If used in tables, the tabletop is made of a more even material. A classic example is an outdoor patio wicker table with a glass tabletop.

If the furniture is designed for outdoor use, manufacturers have to consider the effects of the elements. Natural wicker is therefore coated with resin, reducing the effects of heat, sunshine, and water. Another popular solution is to use synthetic wicker.

Wicker furniture owes its popularity to a number of factors. Fans of the style tout its beauty. Others like the sturdiness and light weight. A third factor, that should not be ignored, is the fact that this type of furniture is relatively inexpensive.