With summer just around the corner, it’s time to break out the sunscreen, uncover the patio furniture and start up the grill. However, before you can start to enjoy your deck this summer, you’ll need to break out your cleaning supplies and clean your patio furniture. To keep your patio furniture in pristine condition, you’ll need to know how to clean patio furniture. Here are some tips on how to clean your rattan patio furniture.
Rattan is an eco-friendly material that is durable, attractive, and lightweight and often mistaken for bamboo. It is a trailing, vine-like palm that is found in the jungles of China, Malaysia, and Asia and has been used to make furniture since the mid-twentieth century.
While you can use rattan furniture outdoors, if left outside in the elements for too long the material will break down. To keep your rattan patio furniture looking great, here are some simple steps for cleaning it.
1.
Place water in a bowl and add a few drops of dish soap, stirring it vigorously, so bubbles form on the surface of the water. Using a soft cloth, dip it into the bubbles, avoiding making direct contact with the water. Wipe down all the surfaces of the furniture with the cloth.
2.
Avoid over wetting the rattan as it can result in damaging the material. Clean the cracks and crevices of the furniture using a soft brush or toothbrush. Use the suds-only method to accomplish this.
3.
To clean the furniture more thoroughly, or if you need to remove stains from the furniture, apply detergent to a soft brush and scrub with a bit more water than you used for the routine cleaning.
4.
Once done, place the furniture in the sun, or use a hair dryer to dry the furniture completely.
For added protection, when the furniture is completely dry, use a paintbrush to apply a thin coat of lacquer.
If your rattan patio furniture has split, cracked, or dry, use boiled linseed oil, using a soft brush to apply it. Cleaning your rattan patio furniture on a weekly basis will help keep the furniture looking great and slow aging process.