How To Clean Wicker Furniture
How to clean wicker furniture? Wicker furniture with natural materials requires a little more maintenance to stay clean and beautiful. The most important thing to remember is not to let dirt build-up.
You’d be shocked how much can collect in those tiny cracks and crevices, especially if they are not cleaned regularly.
You can vacuum your wicker piece regularly with the brush attachment, or you can dust the furniture down regularly.
Wicker is known for its durability and elasticity, making it comfortable and great-looking. Wicker found outdoors may be more fragile as it ages, particularly in humid environments or ones with a lot of dew or moisture.
This makes the synthetic material susceptible to mold and mildew, which can be difficult to remove without chemicals like bleach, for example, because mold will eventually set in.
This can leave behind unwanted smells which require an allergen remover to get rid of. As stated on SF Gate, ‘Even well-maintained wicker will require seasonal cracks, splits, tears and wear.’
How To Clean Wicker Furniture
When your natural wicker furniture becomes dirty and will not clean up with regular vacuuming, you need to get a little more serious about your cleaning method.
It’s time to break out the cleaning tools and products that clean the dirt off but leave the natural wicker unmarred from the cleaning process.
1. Wash wicker once a year
When it comes to spring cleaning, you may wonder what else besides making sure your home is dust-free. You might consider a simple wipe-down, which is super easy.
First, shake out any more significant pieces of dust and rubble that may have accumulated on top of the wicker furniture, then dampen down the fabric with warm water and use a mild dish detergent to clean it.
As far as cleaning the underside portions are concerned, going from top to bottom will help these areas get cleaned just as they should!
Once one has completed this step, it’s recommended best practice to rinse off the soap suds that adhere to the furniture with warm water from a garden hose.
2. Dust wicker furniture
Like with anything, children can get dirty. To cut down on health risks and the spread of disease, it’s essential to teach your kids how to properly wash their hands and other parts of their bodies every day.
Which brings us to the first step in this process: making sure that you have a plentiful supply of soapy warm water and towels or hand-drying devices ready for them when they are finished washing.
We understand that sometimes everyone gets distracted, and it’s easy for daily handwashing to fall by the wayside.
Still, it’s important not to let this happen because, according to ABC News, germs don’t play favorites. Without proper sanitation, a child stands a greater risk of getting sick while infecting others around them.
3. Repair broken slats in wicker
While the intertwining slats of wicker look lovely, it is pretty fragile. If you push on it too hard, it can break and be ruined forever.
Fortunately, simple repairs can help extend the life span of your piece. Use wood glue to mend these, or this should eliminate the problem.
However, even still, there are healthier options than relying on repair to prolong the life of your wicker piece. The most reliable way to avoid this from ever happening is never to use abrasive materials on your wicker.
This includes stiff brushes and regular steel wool pads because they will only damage the chair and undermine any protective finish the manufacturer applied, so always be sure to avoid these when cleaning or maintaining your pieces.
4. Remove mold and mildew
To ensure your furniture pieces remain mold and mildew-free, mix a combination of white vinegar and water in a 24:75 ratio, then treat them to the solution.
Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers on your furniture if you have an option, as this will only damage it over time.
Commercially available cleaners can be good for some instances – but Bob Vila suggests you try using a combination of equal parts liquid dish soap, warm water, and white vinegar for the best results.
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