How To Clean Rattan Furniture

Rattan furniture made a comeback into our homes this year. Texture and touch were forecasted as furniture design trends for 2021, and it shows no signs of slowing down. From oversized pendants, bedheads and side tables, rattan has worked its way into the fabric of our living spaces.

To keep your favourite pieces of furniture looking their best, it’s essential to know their unique care instructions to make sure you get the most out of your home decor. 

When it comes to rattan furniture, the woven material can be a little tricky to clean. Especially keeping in mind, it can be damaged when exposed to heat or moisture. Rattan is made from vine-like plants growing in tropical areas of Australia, Asia and Africa.

When this dried plant matter comes into contact with water, it can distort or break under pressure. If you are choosing rattan furniture for your outdoor space, ensure you opt for synthetic rattan over natural so your pieces last through the weather! 

Give your rattan furniture a little TLC now so you can be enjoying it for years to come. To keep your wicker looking wonderful, follow this guide on how to clean rattan furniture. 

Gather these supplies 

• Brush or vacuum with a brush attachment 
• Toothbrush 
• Toothpick or blunt knife
• Soft cloths
• Dishwashing liquid 
• Warm water

Steps to clean your rattan furniture

1. Dust off

With a vacuum cleaner or brush, dislodge any dust from the surface. You can use a dry toothbrush to dust in any tricky to reach places. Wipe over with a soft dry cloth to ensure there is no dust lingering. It’s important to dust off your rattan furniture first so no grime builds up in the woven material once you get it wet.

2. Pick at any dried stains 

If you use rattan as side tables or seating, stains are inevitable. Use a toothpick or blunt knife to firstly remove any hard, dried stains. 

3. Wipe them away 

Next, grab a damp cloth to wipe down the stain in question. Allow the area to air-dry, then use a toothbrush to scrub away at any stains on the rattan. 

Then take a damp cloth with a pea-size amount of dishwashing liquid to wipe the area. Ensure you rinse the cloth free of dishwashing liquid. 

With a clean wet cloth, wipe down the rattan piece area and allow it to air-dry. 

It’s important to thoroughly clean away any stains to stop the matter from sinking further into the woven fibres and save you more cleaning time in the future. 

How often should you clean your rattan furniture? 

If you have inspected a piece of rattan furniture, you will notice how many nooks and crannies collect dust! Because rattan is made from natural plant matter, the build-up of dust and grime can damage the material over time, plus it doesn't look great. 

Ideally, any rattan furniture should be brushed or vacuumed down with an upholstery brush weekly, and any stains that make their way onto rattan should be wiped off as soon as possible. If you are serious about taking care of your furniture, you can adopt some monthly rattan care habits to keep it in tip-top shape. 

Monthly care for rattan furniture

You will need all the above equipment along with two buckets or large bowls. 

1. Regular cleaning

The first step of your monthly rattan cleaning is to complete the regular cleaning listed above!

2. Create a cleaning solution 

In a bucket or large bowl, mix 4 cups of warm water and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, stirring the mixture until it foams up. Put fresh water in the second bucket for rinsing. 

3. Wipe away any stains 

With a cloth dipped in cleaning solution, wipe down the rattan furniture, regularly rinsing the cloth in clean water. You can use a toothbrush with the cleaning solution to scrub away gently at any build-up in nooks. Be careful not to get the rattan furniture too wet, you can remove any excess moisture with a dry cloth before allowing it to air-dry. 

Our advice to get the most out of your rattan furniture is to condition it once a year. Conditioning rattan with oil adds moisture to the fibres and prevents breakage, allowing your beloved decor to last longer! 

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