Wicker furniture looks great both indoors and outdoors. The problem is that the weave can attract and store dirt over time. The key to looking after wicker furniture is to keep maintaining it so that dirt doesn’t build up. When it does get dirty, you can get rid of the dust and dirt with just a little bit of effort and some soap, water, and the correct brush. Sometimes, you can even use a high-pressure hose!
So how exactly do you clean wicker furniture? Well, I am glad you asked. We we’ll walk you thought, step-by-step, everything you need to know to keep your wicker furniture looking clean and fresh.
Cleaning wicker furniture
When you start to Clean wicker furniture, you will want to begin with wiping it down with a soft cloth, using dish soap mixed with water. For more ingrained dirt, a soft bristled brush can be used to get into the smaller spaces.
How does wicker furniture gather dirt?
Each piece of wicker furniture is made of reeds and plant fibers, that are literally woven together to make the whole.
This means that each piece of furniture has many, many nooks and crannies all over every surface. And dirt of many kinds can creep into any of these.
Wicker furniture is used either indoors or on a covered patio outdoors. It is not used as garden furniture, because wicker itself is sensitive to the sun and will eventually begin to wear and come apart.
Wherever the wicker furniture is in your house, there are small, often unseen, particles that float and hang around, eventually finding a home in your furniture. In any house, there is dust and fine dirt that gathers unseen., even if only from the air. If you have pets, their hair can creep into the small gaps in the weave.
Over a period, grease from the kitchen can begin affecting the furniture. It begins with just a tiny bit and builds over time. Furniture used on a patio is open to gathering even more tiny particles of dust than that inside. It can also be affected by particles blown by the wind, or in rain.
Cleaning dust off wicker furniture
Sometimes your wicker furniture doesn’t need a deep cleaning. Sometimes all you need to do is a light dusting to clean wicker furniture.
To get rid of thin layers of dust, simply take a feather duster and give each piece of furniture a brisk whisking. Try to bet the feathers into as many of the gaps as possible.
If dusting is not enough to remove all the obvious dust, then use your vacuum cleaner and give the furniture a good once-over.
For more tenacious dust, take a soft floor brush (or even scrubbing brush) and giving the furniture a thorough brushing. You shouldn’t need to press too hard, if it is dust you are removing. The brush’s bristles will reach into the gaps.
Cleaning deeper ingrained dirt
Dust and grime can really push into the gaps in the weave and are also sitting on the smooth surfaces of each piece of wicker. To clean this deeper ingrained dirt, you’ll need to adopt a two-phase approach, using soap and warm water.
Add a squirt of ordinary dishwashing liquid to about a pint (500 ml) of warm water. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe down the piece of furniture, both on the outside and inside of each surface.
Then, take a soft scrubbing brush and, using the same solution of dishwashing soap and warm water, scrub the whole piece of furniture well. You must make sure the bristles of the brush really do get into each nook. You may need to apply slightly more pressure to really get at the dirt.
When you are sure you have cleaned every surface of the piece of furniture, take a wet cloth and use warm water to really rinse out the cleaning solution.
Finally, use a dry cloth to wipe the remains of water off the surfaces of the piece of furniture and allow it to dry properly.
How to Clean Wicker Furniture that has Been Neglected
With neglect, wicker furniture will pick up layers of dust, dirt, and grime, and possibly some other unsavory things, such as bird mess (if it has been kept outside).
In these instances, to clean wicker furniture, begin by using a soft cloth with warm water and some dishwashing soap to wipe the surfaces. Don’t wipe too hard, but make sure to get rid of as much of that first layer of dirt and grime as possible.
The ingrained dirt in between the weave of the wicker will need some extra attention. Use a soft paintbrush or a toothbrush dipped in the dish soap and water solution to get into the hard to reach areas where it may be difficult to get rid of the dirt.
If you find mold on the furniture, use a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water and wipe quite vigorously with a cloth to remove the mold or mildew from the furniture.
After the cleaning, let the wicker dry completely. Leave it out in the sun, or blow it with a hair dryer, or even a leaf blower.
The final bits and pieces of grime and dust can be removed from outdoor wicker furniture with a high pressure hose.
How to Clean Wicker Furniture That Has Been Painted
You will want to take a slightly different approach to clean wicker furniture that has been painted.
Cleaning it begins with the soft cloth and soap and water approach. You want to be as gentle as possible on the beginning to ensure you don’t damage the paint.
If this proves unsuccessful, you will have to try other methods to clean wicker furniture, just be careful to try and avoid damaging the paint.
Spraying down outside painted wicker furniture with a hose can remove most dirt, but you may have to apply a bit more effort.
The first part of any cleaning process is to wipe the furniture with a soft cloth that has been wet with dish soap and warm water.
With painted wicker furniture, I recommend being gentle. Although the paint may protect the actual wicker, there may be cracks in the paint or it may be wearing off slightly and you should try to avoid picking up the paint if you can.
If, however, the paint is really beginning to flake, then you should go about removing as much of the flaking paint as you can. The easiest way to do this is to use a stiff bristled brush and to brush those areas in small spurts. Don’t be too rough, as you don’t want to damage the actual wicker.
FAQ
Can I scrub wicker furniture?
It is recommended that you avoid scrubbing when you clean wicker furniture, as this may damage the wicker. Rather rub it with a soft cloth, or use a soft-bristled brush to get into the small spaces.
Can wicker furniture rot if it gets wet?
If wicker furniture stays wet for long enough, it can indeed rot. When you clean wicker furniture, let it dry thoroughly to avoid this. And try to protect it from as much moisture as possible, especially if it is outdoor wicker
Conclusion
So, you will have a better understanding of why wicker furniture needs just a little more attention than other furniture when it gets dirty. Every day dust and dirt can be vacuumed or wiped away, but more ingrained dirt will need warm water, soap and not a little elbow grease. In the end, to have clean, attractive wicker furniture will be worth all the effort.
