How Do I Clean Wicker?



How do I clean wicker?

To clean your wicker you will need the following supplies:

paintbrush with the bristles cut about half way

toothbrush

sponge

mild detergent (vegetable oil soap)

water

vacuum with a soft brush attachment

cloth, or paper towels

furniture polish

As with everything that you leave outside, your wicker furniture is bound to become dirty. The nice thing about wicker is that even though it may become soggy and limp from too much water exposure, once it dries it will maintain the original size and shape. In order to ensure that your wicker does not receive too much water during its cleaning, you may want to tip the wicker to one side. This will allow for the water to run off, rather than to rest between the strands. It is important to make sure that there are not any unusual gaps between the strands of your wicker when you have it wet. If the strands have been separated, they will dry with that space in between them. This could cause your furniture to take on an irregular shape.

To clean the wicker, it is recommended to vacuum with a brush attachment in order to remove organic debris and dust.

Clean the product using a soft sponge, mild soap and water, rinse clean, and dry. Use the toothbrush, or the larger paintbrush in order to reach the debris that your vacuum fails to pick up. Work your brushes right into the weave of the wicker without pulling apart the strands. Your wicker may be quickly rinsed with a garden hose for the final rinse. Following this rinse, it should be dried off with towels, and then left to dry for 24 to 48 hours before anything else is done to it.

Apply light coats of touch up paint to any areas that seem to be worn, and give the entire piece a light coat of cream-type car polish if you so desire.

For general maintenance after that, you should wipe down your wicker with a soft damp cloth and apply a light coat of a good furniture polish in order to protect the wicker. The only time it should be cleaned with detergent and water is when it is extremely dirty.

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