Caring for a Wickerwork Outdoor Furniture

Wickerwork is a style of outdoor furniture commonly painted in white and weaved into a specific design. This type of furnishing is made of osiers, twigs or rods. Wickerwork is considered the most comfortable and pleasing type of furniture you can acquire. As early as 3rd millennium B.C., the Egyptians are already making furniture of this kind. A good early example of wickerwork is the Roman chair on a 3rd-century-ad relief in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum at Trier, Germany.

Although, wickerwork is immensely used as indoor furniture, its refreshing finish makes it a great option for outdoor furniture. However, prolong exposure to harsh elements can cause it to wither rapidly. Wickerwork requires your utmost care and attention for it to last for years.

One of the harsh elements than can cause it to wither is sunlight. Exposing the furniture in direct sunlight for a long time will cause the materials to dry out. When this happens, the materials will tear apart. You can store wickerwork furniture indoors when not used. This will prevent it from loosing moisture and sagging. If exposing to sunlight can’t be helped, you can protect the furniture with a cover or locate it in protected area.

You can also occasionally moisten the furniture using a spray bottle or a damp cloth. While doing this regular cleaning, you can also check the furniture for loose pieces or breaks. Minor breaks can be fixed with wood glue. Just make sure you had dust off the parts before daubing to keep it away from ugly smudge. Do this routine once a month, on a well-ventilated area and on a sunny day.