Rattan furniture is a beautiful and classy addition to any garden or outdoor space and can last 20 years or more if properly cared for. But how do you keep it in good condition all year round, especially through the colder months. You got your rattan furniture to make memories with for years to come, whether it be barbecues, garden parties, or outdoor family dinners. But those enjoyable years of rattan life don’t happen magically. Your rattan, whether real or plastic (also known as synthetic, faux, or poly rattan), needs to be cared for properly all year round to ensure longevity.

There are many things that threaten the condition of your rattan furniture. This includes damage from mud, water, the unpredictable UK weather (like rain, frost, and UV rays), and any unexpected animal visitors that come into your garden. Protecting your furniture from these threats not only prevents your furniture from becoming brittle, weak, and unsafe to use, but also prevents your furniture from looking old and worn.

Use a Protective Cover

One of the main ways of protecting your rattan furniture is by using a quality protective cover. In spring and autumn it’s likely that you’ll still be using your rattan furniture on some sunnier days. However, on wet and rainy days it’s important to protect your furniture from water damage. It’s also useful in these months to cover your furniture overnight to protect from dew.

In the summer, if your rattan furniture is left in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time the strong UV rays can cause your wicker furniture and its cushions to quickly fade in colour. Keep your rattan looking uniform by rotating your furniture chairs and cushions to evenly distribute the fading from UV rays. Fading can also be reduced by protecting your furniture with a cover when not using it or placing it in a shaded area.

We recommend that in rainy and damp weather and in the colder months cushions are removed and stored inside or in cushion storage to protect them from damp and mould. If mould and mildew do begin to form in or on your furniture cushions or the rattan, treat these areas with a strong bleach solution and leave outside to fully dry on a dry sunny day. Make sure to only treat the rattan with a damp cloth so not to saturate the wicker.

Indoor Storage

Although protective covers are great for protecting your rattan furniture in the warmer weather, covers alone will not protect your furniture if left outdoors in the winter. To survive the winter we recommend that you move your furniture inside to somewhere warm and dry. It is still useful to use a cover on your furniture while it’s being stored inside to protect it from dust and insects. However, it is important to regularly check and ventilate your furniture by removing the cover, checking for any developing issues, and giving the rattan a click wipe with a dry cloth.

Moving your furniture indoors will protect it from the winter weather and is quick and easy due to the furniture's lightweight material. However, to avoid damaging the rattan and causing any dips or tears when moving your furniture, it needs to be handled correctly. We recommend that you always hold it by the furniture frame rather than the woven wicker panels to avoid excess stress on the rattan. We also recommend always lifting, not dragging your furniture to protect its feet (as well as the surface of your decking, paving stones, or patio). The last thing you want is a scuffed floor and unbalanced furniture due to foot damage.

Don’t have any indoor space for your rattan furniture? Why not store it safely away in a shed, garage, or workshop. Or you could move it into a summer house or log cabin to enjoy using it throughout the winter months.

Cleaning and Washing

We recommend that you regularly clean your rattan furniture, once a week in the months you are using it, and once a month when it’s in storage. Your furniture will also last longer if it’s thoroughly cleaned before being stored away or put under a cover for a long period of time. Make sure that your furniture is fully dry before covering and storing away. As well as regular cleaning, it’s also important that any spills and splatters of mud or dirt are cleaned off the rattan straight away.

You may be wondering what the best way to thoroughly clean and wash your rattan is without damaging it? Just follow these 6 easy steps:

1. Brush your furniture to remove any larger debris like leaves, seeds, and twigs.
2. With the brush head attachment, vacuum your furniture to remove smaller pieces of debris.
3. Use a toothbrush to remove any remaining smaller debris like soil or dust stuck in the weave.
4. Make up some warm soapy water (use a mild dish detergent). Soak a sponge or cloth and rinse it until it is damp. Wipe down your rattan furniture. To get into smaller areas you can use a toothbrush dipped in the warm soapy water.
5. Soak a sponge or cloth with clean water and ring it until it’s damp. Wipe down your rattan furniture to remove the soapy water. Once again a toothbrush can be used for smaller areas. For synthetic rattan this step can be done using a hose (but not a pressure washer).
6. Dry your rattan with a clean dry cloth.

Restore and Repair

Keep your rattan furniture strong, weather resistant, and looking brand new by oiling, staining, and varnishing your rattan every summer. Always clean and wash your rattan furniture before restoring and repairing and ensure the wicker material is fully dry before adding the next layer or using the furniture.

Oil

Oiling your furniture hydrates the rattan which restores and protects it from cracks and splits. Using boiled linseed oil (which can be bought at most hardware stores), brush the oil onto the rattan from top to bottom and wipe off any excess oil with a dry cloth. Depending on how dried out the rattan is, you may need to apply multiple layers of oil.

Stain

The next step is to paint or stain your rattan (to the original or a different colour of your choice) to restore the look of your furniture. Once again multiple layers may be needed.

Varnish

Finally, to weatherproof your rattan and extend the life of your furniture, add a layer of varnish (preferably marine varnish). Although new rattan furniture does come with a protective layer of varnish, this erodes over time leaving your furniture vulnerable to the elements.

Simply follow these steps to protect and care for your rattan furniture and you can have many years of enjoyment in your garden.