Cleaning and Painting Outdoor Wicker Patio Furniture

Cleaning outdoor wicker patio furniture depends on the type of material i'ts made of. Wicker actually refers to the weaving process used in weaving the furniture. There are many kinds of materials used for outdoor wicker patio furniture. The furniture can be woven with rattan, willow, bamboo, resin, plastic, paper fiber, etc. It's important to distinguish the material of outdoor wicker patio furniture because cleaning furniture made of natural materials is different from cleaning furniture made of synthetic materials.

Natural materials tend to be sensitive to liquid cleaners. You also have to figure out if glaze or varnish was used on the furniture. Natural outdoor wicker patio furniture made of wood or straw should be brushed or vacuumed regularly to avoid the accumulation of dust and dirt. The same can be done to outdoor wicker patio furniture thats made of synthetic materials.

Outdoor wicker patio furniture made of natural materials shouldn't be repeatedly exposed to liquid cleaners to prevent rotting. However, it's perfectly fine to wash them once a year. Use a minimal amount of soap, preferably a teaspoon or 2 for a whole gallon of water. As much as possible, use soap with natural oils. Don't pour the water directly over the furniture. Use a piece of soft cloth or sponge and gently wipe the furniture. If you need to get something out of the weaves, use a soft brush to do the job. Be careful not to deform the waves of natural outdoor wicker patio furniture because they easily lose shape once they get dry. After cleaning, wipe the furniture dry and let it stand for at least 24 hours. Use the same process with synthetic wicker furniture.

Every now and then, protective coating should be applied or reapplied to outdoor wicker patio furniture to avoid interacting adversely with external elements. This is important for natural wicker furniture. Synthetic wicker furniture usually doesn't need this but a clear protective coating instead of oil protective coating will keep the synthetic wicker furniture from disintegrating.

Outdoor wicker patio furniture can go a step further by painting it with your own hands. You can paint or glaze your own outdoor wicker patio furniture to give it more character or revamp an old set of furniture. First, you must clean the wicker furniture with a solution warm water and vinegar. Sand the furniture lightly to smoothen the surface. Complete the cleaning step by using a degreasing formula. A crucial but often taken for granted step in the furniture painting process is the application of the primer. This is what sets professionally painted furniture apart from furniture that's painted haphazardly. After waiting for the primer to dry for 24 hours, spread several sheets of newspapers and rug on the floor. Hold the spray paint several inches away from the furniture and spray evenly. Stop every few seconds to check the evenness of the paint. You can use a paintbrush for the small crevices of the furniture. Wait for the first layer to dry for 24 hours. Spray again if you feel the need for a second layer.