The original environment of wicker and cane is humid and tropical, and even though furniture pieces made from these sources may now live in homes in far away non-exotic places, their need for humidity and lush warmth never dies. Cater to this need and your wicker and cane will be among the happiest of all your furniture pieces. Ignore this advice and, well, it’s your wicker. Read on no matter how you may feel about the tropics.
Wicker Cleaning
Most of the time, a good vacuuming is all wicker needs. You can plug your hose into the exhaust port and simply blow the dust off. The problem with this type of furniture is that it can easily yellow. To avoid this, clean it by rubbing with a stiff brush dipped in warm salt water. Be careful not to wet the wicker too much. (It doesn’t swim well.) If dirt is really stubborn, you might have to risk wetting it a little bit more. Mix a solution of 1 part water softener to 8 parts water, wipe off with a clean cloth and let dry naturally without heat to prevent cracking.
Cane Cleaning
To clean cane, add a little lemon juice and salt to some warm water. Using a stiff brush, scrub the cane well with the solution. This application will also prevent the surface from yellowing. Marks and dirt deposits can be removed by applying some warm soapy water mixed with a little borax. Let the solution dry naturally.
Summation
A humidifier can help maintain the temperature in which wicker and cane thrive best. Consider buying one. Sometimes dried wicker can be restored with a little lemon oil. In general, neither wicker nor cane like cold temperatures and should be brought inside during the colder months.
Do YOU have any wicker/cane cleaning tips to share? Please do.
Related Reading:
“Some Unexpected Household Hints”
“Cleaning Leather And Other Diversions”