Care and Maintenance For Rattan Garden Furniture

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In buying rattan weave furniture you've got yourself some really stylish and attractive furniture. But you want your furniture to look good and last as long as possible, so you need to give some consideration to how you are going to take care and maintain your furniture.

A lot will depend on how you use the furniture and what type of rattan weave furniture you own. There are generally two types of wicker weave rattan furniture, you've got your natural weave made from the organic rattan vine which may be mounted on a teak or hardwood frame then you've got your, perhaps more contemporary, synthetic rattan outdoor furniture made from man made poly weave and mounted generally on resin or aluminium framing.

Natural or traditional wicker rattan furniture constructed from organic materials needs a certain amount of care if it is to have an extended, damage free life time and continue to look fresh. The natural materials are usually lacquered for protection, but prolonged exposure to sunlight can discolour the weave.

Being a natural fibrous material rattan doesn't react to well to moisture and over the long term can be attacked by mould and discolour if left in damp or wet conditions. These factors would indicate that to get the best out of your natural weave furniture your going to have to either use it indoors, use it in a conservatory with some covers or cushions or use it in a garden on dry days and find adequate storage for it when the weather is damp or wet. Taking these basic precautions should help the furniture stay looking good.

Cleaning natural rattan isn't to difficult or complicated. A stiff brush can be used on the weave to remove dust and washing down with a damp cloth shouldn't present any long term hazards. Avoid soaking the weave and all should be well.

More contemporary poly rattan weave outdoor furniture or synthetic rattan furniture is, by contrast, bulletproof! Specifically designed to overcome the problems found inherently with natural weave, poly rattan is relatively unaffected by weather conditions and, if its is framed with aluminium, it is corrosion free, as a result this furniture is often called all weather rattan. This means that this furniture can be used indoors or outdoors without concern for the prevailing weather conditions. If your short on storage, take precautions of covering the furniture over to prevent dust and dirt ingress, but by all means leave it outdoors. As with natural rattan weave, if you need to seasonally clean the furniture then a stiff brush will often do the job, but if you feel the need to be really thorough, then even using a jet wash shouldn't affect the materials in your furniture......just be sure the construction is solid.