Home » Misc » Can rattan go outside

Can rattan go outside


How long does rattan furniture last?

Rattan News

By dom.cliff

October 15, 2020

This post will take you through everything you need to know about how long rattan furniture will last, with helpful tips about the different materials used for indoor and outdoor rattan pieces, as well as how to clean and care for your furniture.

How long does rattan furniture last outdoors?

How long your rattan garden furniture will last is dependent on where you keep it in the summer and winter months, and how well you look after it.

The beauty of rattan furniture is that it doesn't require too much looking after, so with minimal effort, you could be enjoying your furniture for twenty-plus years.

If you want your rattan furniture to last longer, there are some things you can do that will help you keep it in good condition year after year.

 

 

How do I know my furniture can be used outdoors?

Before purchasing your furniture, whether that be online or in store, you need to understand what it is made from. Our sets are made from long-lasting materials that make them the ideal pieces to be used outdoors.

Take a look at the benefits of rattan direct furniture below:

Keep it covered when it’s not in use

One of the most important ways to keep your rattan furniture looking fabulous for longer, and to extend its lifespan significantly, is to make sure that it is covered when it’s not in use.

This primarily goes for the colder months, so now is probably the best time for you to cover it, whether that be with one of our free covers, or locked away in a storage space.

A cover is going to be the easiest way to keep your outdoor furniture safe, and luckily for you, we supply for free with most of our sets. The covers prevent mould from building on the sets and prevent water and potentially snow from sitting on the furniture, causing it to become damaged.

Cleaning your outdoor furniture

If you notice a spillage or stain on your rattan furniture, don’t panic. Most stains can be removed with relative ease, if you act quickly.

Removing stains when you first notice them is essential for if you want your rattan furniture to last a long time, failing to do so could result in the stain being impossible to get rid of later on.

Top tip: to remove a stain from your rattan furniture, mix some mild detergent with some water and gently scrub out the stain.

Not sure what type of furniture you want to buy? Visit our rattan buying guide here.

How long does rattan furniture last indoors?

Having read how to keep your outdoor furniture long-lasting, you’ll now need to know about our conservatory pieces. Our indoor furniture is made from a different rattan material, this time a natural abaca or wicker wave, unlike the synthetic one used for our outdoor sets. Natural rattan is designed for indoor use in the conservatory or anywhere in your home, although its inside it still needs regular care. Unlike the outdoor sets, the indoor sets don’t need to be covered over when not in use. Although, indoor sets will pick up dust so you should get into a routine of dusting the sets in order to keep it looking in good condition.

 

 

Cleaning your indoor furniture
  1. Use a handheld vacuum or a brush attachment to remove loose dust and soil
  2. Use a toothbrush, cocktail stick or any other fine tool to remove stubborn soil or debris
  3. Using a bowl of warm, soapy water or a garden hose, remove all soil and debris and rub thoroughly
  4. Collect only the bubbles with a soft cloth and wash the rattan surface with this
  5. Use a toothbrush to apply the bubbles to cracks and crevices
  6. Place the furniture outside in the sun, or a well-ventilated area and allow it to dry thoroughly

Can I use natural rattan outdoors?

In short, no. Natural rattan furniture should not be used outdoors, the wooden material when wet and cold will become brittle and break. The sun can also damage these natural wicker sets so under no circumstances should they be left outdoors.

For more information on rattan furniture sets and how to clean them, check out our clean and care guide for more helpful tips.

Previous Post Next Post

Enjoyed reading this?

Sign up for our emails below, so we can send you blogs on gardening tips, as well as updates on our sales, so you don’t miss out on those garden furniture bargains!

Share on:

Can Rattan Furniture Be Used Outdoors? | Home Guides

By Danielle Smyth Updated April 12, 2021

If you do not understand rattan vs. wicker furniture, you are far from alone. You may be surprised to learn that one is material, and the other actually is not. Architecture Lab explains that rattan is a flexible, lightweight and durable vine that falls in the palm tree family. Wicker is actually a weaving technique used to manufacture this kind and other kinds of furniture.

Tip

Rattan is a material that cannot be left outdoors for long periods of time. Wicker is actually a weaving technique, and some wicker furniture can be kept outdoors.

About Wicker Furniture

Not all wicker furniture is made from rattan; it can also be made from other natural materials, like willow or bamboo, as well as from synthetic materials. To make real rattan wicker furniture, the plant’s cores are steamed and sliced into shapes appropriate for furniture making. The vine’s strands are harvested as well. Their skins are removed and are then used for weaving and to bind joints.

Faraway Furniture points out that natural materials, like rattan, are not able to withstand exposure to the elements. Rattan is not waterproof and will not last for a prolonged period if left in direct sunlight for long amounts of time. Natural rattan is intended for indoor use. If it is taken outdoors, it should be brought inside or covered during bad weather.

If the wicker furniture is made from synthetic materials, it will be more resistant to whatever Mother Nature has in store. Many outdoor pieces are woven with materials that can stand up to wet weather and UV light. You don’t have to settle for ones that are made from cheap plastic either. Modern, all-weather synthetic wicker furniture looks much more high-end than it once did.

Caring for Wicker Furniture

Synthetic and natural rattan furniture is easy to care for. In most cases, you can keep them clean by using mild soapy water as needed. Natural rattan is quite durable and strong as long as it stays protected from the weather. When wicker furniture gets wet, its fibers can get soft and stretch out. When that happens, the materials weaken, and the furniture will not be safe for sitting.

Since rattan is porous, you should only use a small amount of water when cleaning and be sure to dry the piece thoroughly. Be sure to clean up all spills immediately. If the rattan soaks up water, it can rot and/or become a breeding ground for mildew. Leaving it outside could also cause it to dry out, crack or fade.

Synthetic wicker furniture should also be covered when not in use if left outdoors. To keep it looking its best, wipe it down frequently with a soft cloth. You can clean off dirt with a slightly damp cloth and use a soft paintbrush or toothbrush to clean out the ridges and other hard-to-reach areas. Never use a pressure washer on any type of wicker furniture.

What Is Wicker Sealant?

There are some methods of weatherproofing wicker furniture with wicker sealants, but these sorts of treatments may not be advised for rattan, bamboo and other natural materials. Always check with the manufacturer before using any weatherproofing products. This is particularly important, as the use of improper chemicals can void warranties you might otherwise have on your furniture.

You can try cleaning the furniture and then move forward by applying two coats of water-resistant paint. Once each coat has dried, you can try a spray marine varnish to seal out the moisture. Wicker Living recommends using a clear lacquer sealant for waterproofing. Shellac and tung oil can be effective as sealants.

As a final touch that will help your furniture last even longer, you can paint on liquid furniture wax. This works well on bamboo wicker, but you should only apply a thin coat.

References

Writer Bio

Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. She holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. She owns her own content marketing agency, Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing, and she enjoys writing home and DIY articles and blogs for clients in a variety of related industries. She also runs her own lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity.

Features of storing natural rattan furniture in winter

Posted by by Editor

Natural rattan furniture is very popular in our country when decorating recreation areas in suburban areas - in houses, on terraces and in gazebos.

Timely and proper care allows you to extend the life of wicker products. How to care for rattan furniture, you will find in the article "Rattan furniture and care for it", and now we will talk about how to ensure proper storage of rattan furniture in winter. nine0007
Rattan is a stable and durable material.

Rattan furniture is resistant to low temperatures, so you can safely leave wicker furniture made of natural rattan on the veranda, balcony or terrace in winter.
Rattan furniture is not afraid of moisture changes, which allows connoisseurs of wicker furniture to choose it for placement in the recreation areas of baths, saunas and swimming pools.
Direct precipitation in the form of rain is dangerous for rattan, but only if the rattan is not dried properly after getting wet. To keep the varnish coating of furniture and objects in perfect condition, we recommend placing the furniture indoors or under a canopy. nine0008

Preparatory phase

Rattan furniture is lightweight, making it easy to install anywhere, easy to move to a garage or home during rainy seasons, and fold and protect in winter.
Step 1. Remove cushions and additional decor (plaids, ribbons, etc.) from furniture.
Pillows should be dried before storage. It is best to store pillows in bags or covers made from natural materials, without resorting to the use of non-breathable plastic bags. nine0007 Step 2. Remove glasses from dining or coffee tables, they should be moved to a warm room for the winter period in order to avoid cracks or chips - under the influence of low temperatures, the glass loses its strength.
Step 3. Decide on a storage location. If it is small enough - make the same elements (armchairs, chairs) into each other.

Moving wicker furniture from the street to the house
One of the simple options for storing wicker furniture in winter is to move the products to the living room, if the area and the interior of the house allow. We recommend installing furniture not close to heating devices in order to exclude the possibility of drying out of the rattan material. nine0007 Wicker furniture brought into the house will not only be reliably protected, but will also update your interior. Just take a look:

Outdoor furniture storage
If you can't move your furniture indoors, you can purchase protective covers or a special coating made of moisture-proof material in advance and leave the rattan items outside. Well, if the coating is with a soft flannel lining, which will be an additional protection. Try to avoid wrapping furniture in stretch film or polyethylene for long-term storage, as these types of packaging do not "breathe" and rattan is a natural material that loves air. nine0008

When spring comes, you will take the pillows out of the packaging, uncover the furniture or take it out of the house, and beautiful, reliable and environmentally friendly wicker furniture will delight you again!

Rubric Articles about rattan

Care instructions for rattan furniture

Publication date: 11/04/2017 16:41

Regular cleaning

Dust regularly with a small, soft brush or vacuum cleaner. With a sponge dipped in soapy water or a mild salt solution, wash off any soiled areas so that no dirt remains. Rattan furniture handles moisture well. If the indoor air is dry enough, the rattan can dry out and this will lead to cracks or increased brittleness of the rod. Periodic wiping with a damp (not wet) sponge helps a lot. nine0008

For cleaning, mix water with a small amount of non-aggressive detergent. The sponge should not contain a large amount of water. Scrub all joints and crevices with a small brush. Remove any remaining foam from the rattan with a damp soft cloth or sponge.

General cleaning of furniture

Once a season (or a year) rattan furniture must be completely washed (only if furniture
does not contain additional decorative elements or inserts made of wood, veneer or plywood, in which case the furniture cannot be washed categorically!)

First remove dust from the furniture with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Dirty work is done with warm water and detergent using a sponge or soft brush. Outdoor rattan furniture can be used with a garden hose. Dry in the sun or under the direct pressure of a fan.
A windy day is very good for drying. Do not sit on wicker furniture until it is completely dry.
After the rattan has dried for a few days, check all surfaces and if you notice sharp
streaks or blurs, smooth them out carefully with sandpaper. Then they can be covered with a layer of varnish from
cans or with a regular varnish using a sponge. Use the sprayer outdoors only. It is possible to update
with new paint painted places. Let the paint dry for a few days. After that, a thin layer of liquid furniture wax can be applied to gloss
. In this condition, the furniture stays clean for a long time. If scratches and chips are found on furniture
, then you can easily get rid of them by wiping the damaged area with a napkin,
wetted with polyurethane varnish. After several years of outdoor use,
rattan furniture can be easily restored at home by simply applying furniture varnish. Rattan
is accustomed to changes in temperature and humidity. Due to the porous internal structure,
rattan products are not subject to deformation during sharp fluctuations in weather conditions and are perfectly used both indoors and outdoors, and even in saunas and pools without compromising their appearance. Rattan does not rot,
is not subject to drying out. But if, nevertheless, as a result of drying, small cracks appear on it,
they can simply be covered with beeswax.

Instruction manual for wicker rattan furniture.

Wicker rattan furniture is durable and high quality furniture that will serve you for a long time if you follow the basic rules of use. When purchasing, buying wicker rattan furniture, you need to remember that although rattan is good for moisture, constant moisture and dampness can harm the furniture. To avoid this, furniture that is always on the street should be covered with a protective cloth. And also make sure that the legs of the furniture are not constantly on a damp surface, as the porous structure of the rattan tends to draw in moisture, and the lower parts of the legs may mold. nine0007 • Do not allow rattan furniture to get wet for a long time, exposure to heavy rain - wicker
rattan furniture needs to "rest" from the rain, in a dry and well-ventilated area.
• Refrain from exposing furniture to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
• Do not expose wicker rattan furniture to high temperatures (locate close to open flames and
heaters). Heaters should not be placed on rattan furniture. nine0007 • Do not dry too much, as the connecting elements become more brittle.
• Do not subject rattan furniture to unusual loads and excessive weight. Rattan seating and lying furniture
must rest on the floor with all legs. The load on the furniture should be distributed evenly and not exceed the
allowable rate. The total area of ​​one seat with a pillow should not exceed 100 kg.
• Do not step on wicker furniture unless designed to do so. It is forbidden to sit on the back, swing on
furniture, jump on furniture. Does not sit on furniture without pillows. Do not drop hard, heavy objects on rattan furniture.
• It is necessary to protect wicker furniture from chips and scratches when moving or transporting, as well as to avoid
sharp objects: knives, forks, screwdrivers, etc.
• Avoid contact with cleaning agents such as solvents, acetone, fuels, lubricants, paints, etc.

Learn more