How to Clean Indoor Wicker Furniture

• Be sure to clean any spills off your wicker furniture immediately with a clean cloth. Once a week wipe down the furniture with a damp cloth. Since dirt can easily wedge in between the wicker canes, it will need to be vacuumed with a soft-bristle brush attachment. If you are using the furniture indoors, try to control the humidity level in the house. If the humidity level is too low, the furniture will become fragile and brittle. If the humidity level is too high, the wicker will become too pliable and will warp.
  
  

How to Clean Outdoor Wicker Furniture

• If the furniture is used outside, use a non-abrasive mild detergent with bleach to get rid of mold and mildew. Do not soak down the furniture because wicker can take a few days to dry. Too much water will also expand and warp the furniture weave, which can deform the furniture. Do not subject the wicker furniture to sunlight or extreme weather conditions.
  
  

How to Paint Wicker Furniture

• Eventually the paint will crack on the furniture, and it will have to be repainted. Take a wire brush and peel and scrape off the loose paint. Use a small, stiff paint brush to put on two coats of a primer with an oil base. When it dries, paint the furniture with house paint that is outdoor safe. Use a paint sprayer or a brush to apply the paint.
  
  

How to Repair Wicker Furniture

• If your wicker furniture warps, it begins to expand and you will notice strips of wicker overlapping and falling out of the weave. To repair the piece of furniture, wrap a damp cloth around the warped section of furniture. This will soften the wicker so you can move the stray pieces back into place. If individual wicker canes develop fissures or cracks, use a soft brush to apply some linseed or tung oil to them to fill the cracks. Remove the excess oil with a cloth, and give the furniture one day to dry. The crack should be repaired and strong again. If your wicker furniture develops a broken wicker cane, you must replace the entire cane strip. Remove it and replace it with some reed wicker cane, which you can purchase at a hobby store. Soak the new cane in water for 30 minutes to make it more pliable to weave into the piece of furniture. Then glue it to the back of the furniture with wood glue.