If you own rattan garden furniture you know how elegant and stylish it can make any home look. But you probably also know that it can quickly look old and worn if you don’t care for it properly. Many a homeowner has invested good money in rattan furniture and, without the knowledge to care for it, ended up regretting the investment later on. In order to help you avoid making the same mistake, we’ve included some helpful tips that will guide you in properly caring for your rattan.
Just remember that even though Rattan is a bamboo material that does well in high humidity, it’s still not suitable as permanent outdoor furniture. Weather extremes can be brutal to rattan and cause it to age prematurely. For the longest possible life for your furniture you should store it indoors when not in use. With that in mind, let’s get on to our tips.
Rattan Garden Furniture – Regular Cleaning Goes a Long Way
Like just about any of our possessions, regular cleaning goes a long way in adding life to your rattan furniture. That’s because dirt and airborne pollutants are more than just an aesthetic eyesore. Depending on where you live, some pollutants can actually damage the finish, thus opening it up to further damage from sunlight, dirt, and everyday wear. By keeping it clean you will inevitably prolong its life.
Cleaning doesn’t have to be difficult by any stretch of the imagination. All you need is some warm, soapy water, a clean rag, and a tooth brush. With materials at hand, you simply dampen the rag in the soapy water, then gently wipe the surface of the furniture being careful not to leave any suds or allow the wood to become saturated. If you do get too much water on it, you can use a second clean rag to quickly wipe it off. Use a toothbrush to pull any dirt out of the nooks and crannies.
Deal with Stains Immediately
Technically, bamboo is a plant rather than a wood. That means that it takes stains very quickly and allows them to set. In order to prevent that from happening with your rattan garden furniture, you need to be sure to deal with spills as soon as possible so that stains do not set.
A dish washing detergent and a soft cloth will do the trick if you get to stains soon enough. You may have to scrub a little bit, but as long as the stain hasn’t been allowed to set for several days you should be all right. For tough stains that won’t come out with this method, you’ll need to contact the manufacturer or a local furniture expert for advice.
Treat Your Rattan Garden Furniture Regularly with Linseed Oil
Even with our best efforts there are times when our rattan garden furniture develops cracks or dry areas. The best solution for this is a little bit of warm linseed oil. The oil will soak in almost immediately so you made need multiple applications when you first notice a blemish. After that, applying linseed oil on a periodic basis will prevent the cracks and dryness from getting any worse.
Protection from the Weather
As we mentioned earlier it’s best to store your rattan indoors when not in use. However, we know that’s not always practical or useful for many people. If you plan to leave your rattan garden furniture outdoors throughout the summer months, you should at least get some plastic or vinyl covers to throw over the pieces when you’re not using them. Make sure you don’t get clear plastic, because this will offer no protection from sunlight.
If you don’t mind spending the money, you can purchase furniture covers specifically made for your pieces. If you don’t want to spend the money, dark blue or black plastic tarps work very well. Heavy-duty, industrial-strength garbage bags will also do the trick for smaller pieces like and tables. If you have space under an awning or covered porch, storing them underneath is another great idea.
Use Feet Protectors
Feet protectors are readily available at any furniture store for next to nothing. Most of the time they’re used to protect hardwood floors from furniture scratching them. But if you use feet protectors on your rattan garden furniture, you will reduce the chance of splitting occurring in the legs. Rubber feet protectors are the best option as they absorb much of the shock that can occur when you sit down in a chair or set something on a table.
Perhaps you know a few more tips for caring for rattan that aren’t mentioned here. If so, good for you! The more knowledge you are armed with, the better you will be able to properly care for your rattan garden furniture and keep it looking beautiful well into the future.