How to clean rattan garden furniture

Whether your garden furniture is made out of natural rattan or polyrattan, you have chosen wisely if you are no fan of maintenance. But there are more advantages with both types of rattan garden furniture.

Where polyrattan is made from synthetic fibres, rattan is a natural material from tropic trees and plants. Both versions add a light and airy expression to furniture and are both strong yet flexible materials, do well suited for spaces with variations in temperature and humidity. They are both a more sustainable option, beautiful and no two pieces of furniture look exactly the same. They are also affordable, lightweight, and practical.

Both types of rattan are resilient to everyday use. They are so durable that they can withstand both the heat and cold and they are resistant to everyday wear and tear. Luckily, they also have a classic look that is not going to wear out for a while.

Rattan is a strong material, but still you should be careful with the sun as it can make the rattan bleach and become fragile. Rattan furniture is typically lightweight so fairly easy to store away. If it starts looking grubby you can easily clean it. If you want to take even more care of your garden furniture, have a look at our patio furniture covers.

You have to be a bit more careful with natural rattan than with the artificial version. Firstly, loosen and remove mud or moss with a stiff brush or a vacuum cleaner. Rub gently so you don’t damage the surface, but still make sure you get into all cracks. Maybe use a toothbrush for those spots that are hard to get to. Soak a sponge or a cloth in soapy water, squeeze it and wipe it across the furniture. Repeat this with clean water and dry the furniture well with a cloth.

The process is more or less the same for artificial rattan, but you don't have to be so careful with your use of water. You can splash soapy water on the furniture, rinse with lots of clean water from the garden hose (don't use any type of pressure-washer, it will damage the finish of your furniture) and leave the it to dry in the sun. And voila! Your furniture is ready for another sunny season.