Rattan Garden Furniture Maintenance Tips

Rattan garden furniture is a great addition to any home, hotel patio, cafe pavement seating and pub’s beer garden. Garden furniture comes in a variety of styles, including rustic, vintage, and contemporary designs. Irrespective of the style, rattan furniture needs proper care and maintenance to help you avoid unnecessary costs of replacing your furniture sooner rather than later. This article explores some of the tips you can apply to extend the lifespan of your rattan garden furniture.

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Regular Cleaning of Garden Furniture

Regular cleaning of your rattan garden furniture rids it of destructive elements, including dust and debris. These elements accumulate in the corners and crevices of your furniture, exposing the furniture to gradual damage. For instance, too much dust and debris may attract bacteria, mildew, and insects, which cause harm to the furniture.

To prevent your furniture from destructive elements, you need to perform basic cleaning every week or a cover during winter months. Use a scrub brush with stiff bristles to clear all dust and debris from the furniture. Avoid using abrasive brushes since they can scratch the rattan, causing your furniture to appear dull. After brushing, you need to vacuum the furniture for better results.

Moderate cleaning should be done on a monthly basis. It involves wiping the furniture with a soft cloth soaked with soapy water. Use a toothbrush to remove any hidden dust and dirt.

Perform a major or thorough cleaning on a yearly basis. This should involve scrubbing the furniture with detergent and then rinsing with water. Wipe the furniture with a soft cloth and sundry. Alternatively, you can apply a hair drier to dry your furniture. Seal the furniture by applying lacquer. This will protect your rattan from elements until the next major cleaning.

Storing Garden Furniture

Storing your furniture when not in use helps to prevent it from destructive elements, including dust, rain, sunlight, changing temperatures, and moisture. You can keep the furniture inside your house or garage. Ensure that the storage place is safe from moisture. Alternatively, you can protect the furniture with a protective cover. Be sure that the cover is water proof to prevent the furniture from moisture or rain damage.

Clean Any Stains Immediately

Fresh stains are easy to remove than dry ones. Clear the furniture of any stains as soon as you notice them. Failure to clean the stains early enough may result in stubborn stains, which may destroy the look of your rattan. Use a soft cloth and detergent to scrub any stains. Use a toothbrush for stubborn stains

Apply Boiled Linseed Oil

Boiled linseed oil has a restorative effect on rattan. It is helpful in fixing dry, split, or cracked rattan. To apply linseed oil, first clean the furniture and let dry. Using a paint brush, apply a first coat on the rattan. The oil will be absorbed into the rattan, resulting in the swelling of the rattan fibres. Be careful not to use raw linseed oil because it will not harden. Stop applying the linseed oil once the rattan stops absorbing any more oil. Wiping the surface with a soft cloth completes the process. Be sure to allow time for your furniture to dry properly before use.

Protect Your Furniture Legs

Pulling and pushing your rattan furniture causes scratching and wearing out of the furniture legs. Continued scratching causes the legs to split, and this may weaken your furniture. To avoid this problem, install rubber feet on your furniture. Rubber feet have the ability to absorb the impact created when dragging your furniture.

Proper Use of Rattan Furniture

Using your rattan furniture the wrong way may result in weakening and damage. For instance, sitting on the arms of the furniture may weaken the framework of your furniture. You should avoid stepping on your furniture with your shoes. Additionally, allowing your pet to sit on the furniture may cause scratching, staining, and other damages.

Apply UV Coating

Sunlight is harmful to natural rattan. You can protect your rattan furniture from the effect of the sun by applying a UV coating. Use a paint brush to apply a thin layer of the coating. You do not have to apply UV coating if your rattan is synthetic. Typically, synthetic rattans come with UV protection.

Use Your Rattan Furniture With Other Items

Items such as scatter cushions, throw pillows, and blinds add comfort to your rattan furniture. These items can serve another purpose: they can be helpful in protecting your rattan from sunrays and other destructive elements. Long-term exposure of natural rattan to sunny weather may result in splitting and cracking of the furniture.

Thorough Examination and Prompt Repairs

Conducting a thorough inspection of your rattan furniture helps to locate any damages on the furniture. This may involve turning the furniture upside down and checking every part for any damages. Locate any damages on the underside and repair them to prevent any further damage. Performing a repair on your rattan furniture as soon as you notice the damage is a great way of extending the lifespan of the furniture.

Check the furniture for any loose screws and tighten them as needed. Replace any worn-out rubber stoppers. Although some repairs can be do-it-yourself tasks, it is advisable to hire a professional furniture repairer if you feel you cannot accomplish the task properly.

Bottom Line

Although rattan is strong, durable, and resilient in nature, proper care and maintenance is necessary to make it even more durable. It also ensures that your furniture maintains a good look. Just like any other type of furniture, you need to keep your rattan garden furniture clean, protect it from weather elements, and perform any necessary repairs on the furniture as early as possible. Although you may need a furniture expert when doing extensive repairs, care and maintenance of rattan garden furniture is largely a do-it-yourself task. If you apply the tips contained in this article properly, your furniture will stay strong and appealing, and it will serve you for many more years to come.