Wicker Patio Furniture Sets - 5 Tips to Maintain Your Furniture’s Beauty
When you make an investment in patio furniture, you want to make sure that your purchase will give your family lasting enjoyment. Fortunately, with wicker patio furniture sets, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that your pieces will remain fresh and in good repair for years of use.
Unlike other types of furniture, wicker has some special requirements. Without proper care, wicker can dry out, warp or crack. Simply follow these five tips for lasting beauty from your wicker furniture:
Choose High Quality Pieces: Perhaps the most important thing you can do to ensure lasting patio furniture is to select high-quality pieces in the first place. For wicker, be sure that your pieces are made with an aluminum or metal frame. In addition, the wicker weave should be tight enough that you cannot see the frame through the weavee.
Get Rid of Dirt and Grime: Eliminate dirt and grime before it can accumulate on your furniture. Simply wipe down your furniture from time to time with a damp cloth and soap. Avoid getting the wicker too wet as wet wicker has a tendency to stretch and warp. In addition, you should clean your wicker thoroughly at least annually year. You can also use a water hose for this purpose, unless the furniture is antique or painted and might get damaged from the powerful water pressure.
Prevent Dryness and Warping: Wicker patio furniture sets should be placed in a shady area. Direct sunlight will dry out natural wicker fibers and cause them to become brittle. Also, keep furniture covered and out of the rain. If your patio pieces should get wet, make sure no one sits on them until they are completely dry. Wet wicker can become permanently warped and irreparable.
Restore Moisture: At least once a year, you should apply oil to your furniture to retain moisture. Make sure your pieces are dry and then apply boiled linseed oil to the wicker. After you wipe it off with clean paper towels, your wicker should appear shiny. If it does not, continue to apply coats of oil until the wicker weave no longer absorbs the oil. Be aware that linseed oil is flammable and care should be taken when disposing the used paper towels. Let your furniture dry for 24 hours before using it again.
Provide Protection during the Off-Season: Wicker does not hold up well under the elements so when it turns cold you will need to move your furniture inside to a dry location. If you don’t have room to store the furniture during the winter, supply a quality cover for your furniture. Wicker patio furniture sets will become damaged if left outside for extended periods during inclement weather.
With the right care, wicker can be an inviting addition to any patio. The vast number of styles and colors of wicker available today mean that it can complement almost any dcor. Wicker furniture today comes in contemporary pieces as well as more traditional styling. By selecting the right pieces and giving them the proper care, you can have beautiful furniture that will bring you years of outdoor entertaining enjoyment with family and friends.
Don’t wait. The casual wicker furniture of your dreams is out there. Get shopping tips and up to date information on the latest styles available in patio furniture design, and visit outdoor wicker patio furniture today. We’ll make your patio shopping adventure simple and fun.