If you inherit beautiful antique wicker outdoor furniture, you'll want to keep it in good condition. Even very old wicker furniture only needs a little time and effort to keep it looking nice. Here are some simple care instructions on how to look after your antique wicker heirlooms.
Remove surface dirt and dust
Use your vacuum cleaner hose with the soft brush attachment to get rid of surface dust and dirt from your wicker furniture. Remove any stubborn bits of fluff or pet hair from the wicker with tweezers or a small, dry paintbrush.
Stains and spills
If your furniture is made of reed wicker, you can clean up stains by using a mild solution of warm water and a light detergent, such as washing-up liquid. Simply damp a clean cloth and wipe the stain away.
Mould and mildew can simply be wiped away with a damp cloth dipped in a mild solution of household bleach and warm water.
Environmental control
Wicker can be prone to attack from mould and mildew, and chair seats can be liable to stretching if the atmosphere in which the furniture is kept is very damp. However, prolonged exposure to harsh, direct sunlight can cause the wicker to dry out so that it becomes brittle and more liable to breakage. Many very old items of wicker furniture have joints that are held in place with glue made from natural substances. This glue can also be susceptible to environmental damage, leading to loose joints and possible breakage.
For these reasons, valuable antique wicker outdoor furniture should be kept under cover somewhere dry when it is not in use. It's not recommended that you leave old wicker furniture outside 24/7, even during the summer.
During humid weather, use a dehumidifier in the room where your wicker furniture is stored and make sure that the room has good ventilation and air circulation.
General tips
Although wicker furniture is pretty tough, damage and stretching can occur to the seats of chairs that are in frequent use. You can help to prevent such damage by using padded cushions on chair seats. High-backed wicker chairs or rockers also tend to suffer from stretching. You can help to prevent damage by using thick fabric throws or chair back cushions that you can obtain from good garden centres.
You can keep much-loved and valuable items of antique outdoor wicker furniture in good condition and help them to last longer by following the simple care tips above as part of your regular home maintenance routine.
Share22 June 2016
Hi, my name is Olivia, and I love furniture. I don't have a particular style but instead adore creating my own unique look with a blend of antique, contemporary and reclaimed furniture. I have studied furniture design, re-purposed old pieces, shopped in furniture stores more hours than I can count and helped a lot of friends with their decorating needs. That is why I decided to start this blog. When I'm not thinking or writing about furniture, I work for a small nonprofit as a grant writer. I also volunteer at my kids' school, love to bake and am constantly looking for ways to make cleaning easier.
