Rattan furniture is growing in popularity for the luxurious detailing and comfort that it lends a space, but it can only retain its unique appearance with regular maintenance and cleanings. This isn’t something that people tend to think about because they believe that the water resistant nature of the synthetic fibers means that it doesn’t have to be cleaned.
However, just like everything else in the household, your rattan furniture can benefit with regular cleaning. In the next section, we’ll show you how to clean your rattan furniture.
How to Clean Rattan Furniture
Weekly Cleaning
Rattan has slick fibers that make it resistant to a lot of stains, but they don't stop dust and dirt particles from gathering in between the weaves.
A good habit to develop is to integrate your rattan furniture into your weekly cleaning routine. You can either use a feather duster to gently brush away any debris, or you can use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery brush attachment. You can also get a damp cloth and softly wipe across the entire surface for a more thorough cleaning.
Deep Cleaning
To deep clean rattan furniture, create a cleaning solution by combining 4 cups of water and a teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a large container. Mix the two ingredients together until bubbles begin to form, then get another container and fill it with some fresh water so that you can rinse out your cloth later.
After making sure that you’ve properly dusted your furniture, get a microfiber cloth and dip it into the bubbles of the soapy water and wipe down the rattan furniture from top to bottom. Make sure that the microfiber cloth is only damp as it's never a good idea to saturate rattan furniture with water. Feel free to rinse out your cloth in the clean water as much as needed.
To get into the areas in between the weaving, get a toothbrush and gently brush. And once you’ve made sure that your rattan furniture has been fully cleaned, wipe it down with a dry cloth to absorb any excess moisture before leaving it to air dry completely.
Removing Stains
Food Stains
Any food stain or spill must be cleaned immediately. For any food accidents, get a spoon or a dull knife to gently lift it off of the rattan fibers before getting a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the area down. When there are no more food particles left behind, leave the furniture to air dry completely.
Liquid Stains
When dealing with any spills, don’t rub the stains as this could only make matters worse by pushing the liquids deeper into the furniture’s fibers. Instead, use a dabbing motion with a damp microfiber cloth to absorb as much of the stain as possible until the stain has been completely removed.
Dried Stains
If you find any dried stains that have been left on the furniture for too long, start by getting a toothbrush to help you loosen up the stain as much as possible. Then, get a dampened microfiber cloth and add a drop of dishwashing soap onto it. Use the cloth to wipe the stained area before getting another damp cloth to remove any soapy residue. Leave it to air dry fully.
Mildew and Mold Removal
When rattan furniture is left damp for long periods of time, there’s a chance that mildew or mold can grow in the weavings. You can mix up your own cleaning solutions by combining equal parts of chlorine bleach and water.
As the bleach may be a harsh chemical, it’s best that you put on some protective gear such as cleaning gloves, as well as a face mask and goggles if you feel the need to.
With your cleaning solution prepared, dip a soft cloth into the solution so that it's only damp and not saturated. Gently dab the cloth around any mold or mildew that you can find on your furniture before moving the rattan furniture outdoors to dry completely under the sun.
Conditioning the Fibers
After performing all the cleaning procedures that need to be done, it’s also important that you check the rattan for any split or broken weaves. This often happens around the legs as many owners tend to drag the rattan furniture across the floor. You can easily condition the rattan fibers using boiled linseed oil, which dries faster than regular linseed oil.
Simply get a soft cloth and dip it into the oil before wiping the furniture from top to bottom. Make sure that the cloth is only damp and not completely saturated to prevent any drips from occurring. When you’ve finished, leave the piece to dry, which can take up to two days.
More Tips for Cleaning Rattan Furniture
Be More Mindful About the Legs
Most split or broken fibers can be found around the legs because of the amount of stress that it goes through by being dragged around the space. Instead, move your rattan furniture by lifting carefully, or you can place some rubber pads under to prevent the damage as much as possible.
Avoid Too Much Environmental Exposure
The ultraviolet rays found in sunlight can actually discolor or weaken the fibers of your rattan furniture, whether it’s synthetic, natural or plastic. If your rattan furniture is used as outdoor furniture, make sure to rotate these regularly to prevent too much fading on an isolated area.
Along with that, too much or too little humidity in the air can also take a toll on the fibers, so make sure that you keep your rattan furniture in a good environment.
Call Luce for Effortless Cleaning
The first rule when dealing with any kind of furniture is to clean up stains and spills immediately, but it doesn’t always happen that way. When you find dried stains that have already been there for a long period of time, you don’t always have the time or energy to clean it up yourself, but you will no longer have to with Luce!
With our well-trained and experienced part time helpers, we can make keeping a clean and spotless home easy and effortless so that you come home to a fresh space everyday.
Send us a message and schedule your first cleaning appointment today!
