Rattan reigns supreme in our gardens and terraces. Rattan furniture is light and durable, that is why it is so popular. However, in order to make it last longer, it is necessary to take care of it in a proper way. If you want to learn how to do that, read on.
Rattan is a natural material, which is obtained from rotund palm tree. This plant is native to Asia. In its palm form, rattan takes the form of a vine with very long stems and feathery leaves. When treated properly, rattan becomes flexible, making it very easy to mold and bend. Synthetic versions of rattan are also available on the market, making the material very popular in the garden furniture industry
Furniture made of rattan is an item that is very easy to keep clean and tidy. If the furniture is very dirty or dusty, it is enough to first vacuum it with a vacuum cleaner with a thin nozzle or sweep it with a dry brush and then wipe it with a damp cloth (preferably wet with soap and water). You can also use hydrogen peroxide to clean rattan garden furniture – mix about 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with a liter of water and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. This solution is now enough to wipe the furniture. The method with hydrogen peroxide and lemon will also work well if the furniture is heavily stained or the rattan has lost its shine and has become unpleasantly dull. However, it is worth knowing that rattan is quite sensitive to water, so it is advisable to wipe the cloth thoroughly. Additional protection of the rattan furniture may be provided by special covers – they may be put on the furniture, for example, for the winter season. The best way to protect rattan furniture is to simply hide it, but not everybody has conditions and space for that.
Rattan garden or terrace furniture is usually thoroughly impregnated and varnished. It happens, however, that over time the impregnation wears off. Then it is worth reaching for chemicals and renew this protection. All the necessary information on what kind of impregnate to choose should be provided by the manufacturer. Already at the stage of buying furniture should be immediately provided with the appropriate varnish or oil. Such preparations protect the furniture against moisture (rattan tolerates too much moisture) and harmful UV rays. Rattan furniture, which is exposed to above-mentioned external factors, should be impregnated at least once a year. However, one should remember to clean and dry the furniture thoroughly before impregnation. It may also happen that the color of the furniture has completely faded or some chips have appeared. Then it is worth using a paint solvent to peel off the previous layers and paint the furniture with a special paint from scratch
As I mentioned earlier, rattan is not very tolerant of too much water, so do not wash rattan garden furniture with a garden hose. They should also not be left outdoors during heavy downpours or simply during the fall and winter months
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