Oct
7
Simple Maintenance Guidelines For Patio Wicker Sets
The art of weaving outdoor wicker furniture from vines and stems is perhaps the oldest form of craft in the world. Its history extends back from thousands of years ago and is still in use today in the form of wicker. Wicker is not a specific material as we used to know it, rather it is a classification of furniture woven from certain types of rigid materials such plastic fibers and rattan. Wicker is known for its dynamic characteristics, which makes it a good addition for the home, but has long been popularly used as an outdoor fixture such as an outdoor wicker sofa.
Wicker has been utilized throughout history. It has never failed to capture the imagination of designers, and is known for its whimsy, comfortable, fashionable and durable nature. With all these and more, wicker remains as a valuable piece that has been epitomized in many forms like the luxurious resin wicker dining sets we see, or the simple wicker sofa of our neighbor.
However, just like any other furniture used as outdoor pieces, wicker furnishings of all forms should be cleaned and maintained properly to retain their beauty; the simple guidelines provided below could assist you in properly cleaning and maintaining your wicker furnishings.
Harvest casual wicker sofa
As wicker fixtures are often utilized as outdoor features such as an outdoor wicker sofa, dust and other particles cover their surfaces easily. To avoid this from happening, dust off your wicker furniture at least twice or thrice a week with a vacuum cleaner that has a soft brush attached to it. This way, dusty particles will not build up in the crevices of your fixtures, which if not properly attended could ruin the aesthetic value of your wicker. If hair is lodged in between the spaces of the wicker, use tweezers or dry paint brush to clear it away.
Another way to clean your outdoor wicker sofa is to wash it regularly, especially if it is woven from plastic fibers. To do this, combine at least 2 tablespoons of ammonia and a gallon of water, and use this as your cleaning solution. Wash your fixture quickly and do not over saturate it in the solution as doing so could cause discoloration on your furniture. If you don’t have ammonia available, there are also other commercial cleaning products in the market specially made for wicker pieces.
Of course, wicker pieces like resin wicker dining sets are usually utilized during gatherings and other outdoor events; hence, they are susceptible to over usage, which in turn could affect the alignment of their weaves. In such case, whenever you clean your wicker pieces, try to even out their weaves because leaving them with uneven weave spacing could weaken their ability to hold weight. Likewise, as wicker dining sets are used for meals, spills are inevitable specially if there are children around. If this occurs, immediately wipe the spill using a clean cloth dampened in a detergent, and wipe it again with dry cloth to remove excess detergent.
Remember that wicker patio dining set or any outdoor wicker furnishings for that matter are susceptible to extreme weather conditions and humidity. Dry conditions can dry out wicker furnishings and cause them to brittle, high humidity causes mildew and mold build ups, while consistent exposure to sunlight and rain can shorten the life of your furniture.
In order to avoid these things from happening, place your furnishings in the part of your porch or patio that has a cover, and try to place cushions to protect them from natural elements. With all these simple cleaning and maintenance tips, you can definitely lengthen the life of your outdoor wicker furniture.
Wicker furniture is always a good addition to your home’s outdoor design. An outdoor wicker sofa on your patio serves as a nice hang out, while resin wicker dining sets or wicker patio dining set could make your family’s outdoor meal worthwhile and satiating. However, to ensure that your wicker patio furniture would serve you longer, make sure that you attend to its cleaning and maintenance needs.