The time has come to clean your outdoor furniture and you’ve found yourself wondering how to clean wicker without damaging it. You want to keep it looking pristine, but you don’t have all the time in the world to get the job done.
Stress no more — our outdoor living experts at Outer have all the tips and tricks you need to clean your wicker furniture without spending all day scrubbing and bleaching! From the tools you’ll need to a step-by-step breakdown for cleaning, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading to learn more about all-weather wicker, how often you should clean your furniture, the best ways to keep it looking fresh, and even ways to reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning. Let’s dive in!
What Is All-Weather Wicker?
You’ve probably heard of all-weather wicker, but do you know what it’s made of or what its benefits are? We’ll break it down for you.
All-weather wicker is a common material used for outdoor furniture because of its durability. Thanks to its tight weave of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, wicker furniture stands the test of time against outdoor elements from harsh sun rays to heavy snowfall.
Outer’s all-weather wicker is handwoven using a special technique by master artisans that results in a beautiful, yet durable, weave that’s suited to any weather conditions.
Not only is it incredibly durable, but it’s also pretty easy on the eyes. All-weather wicker is stylishly versatile and looks great in a variety of outdoor spaces. Its neutral, earthy tones pair well with just about any color scheme, so it’s hard to go wrong with this furniture choice.
But when it comes to sustainability, not all outdoor wicker is the same. Thankfully, at Outer, we keep sustainability top of mind when it comes to designing and creating our all-weather wicker pieces.
Our wicker is made from 30% recycled plastic that’s 100% recyclable. In fact, each piece of Outer wicker furniture — from our Wicker Outdoor Armless Chair to our 5-Seater Wicker Outdoor Corner Sectional — is created using 99+ recycled plastic bottles!
We designed our all-weather wicker range to be stylish, durable, and environmentally friendly to last your family many years to come.
How Often Should You Clean Wicker Furniture?
To keep your wicker furniture looking and feeling fresh, we recommend giving it a thorough clean once per season using the tips we’ve outlined below.
Of course, if you’ve had a major party on your hands that involved some spillages or some unexpected weather has brought along extra dirt and debris, your wicker furniture should be given a bit of TLC after those events to bring it back to life.
Keep scrolling to read through our simple steps on how to clean wicker furniture and the few tools you’ll need to get the job done right!
How To Clean Wicker Furniture: Step By Step
How To Clean Wicker Frames
Tools You’ll Need
- A bucket of warm water
- Mild soap, such as Woolite, or Dawn dishwashing liquid (Two ounces to each gallon of water)
- A soft bristle brush
- A garden hose
- A towel
Steps For Cleaning
- Start by removing your couch cushions and any other soft furnishings nearby, including blankets and outdoor rugs
- Remove debris, dirt, and pollen from your sofa frame
- Fill your bucket with warm water and add a few drops of mild soap or detergent (we recommend around two ounces of soap for each gallon of water)
- Loosen any caked-on dirt (Dip your soft bristle brush into your bucket of water. Gently rub the mixture into the weave of the wicker, alternating back and forth with up and down strokes. We recommend starting from the top and working your way down as the most efficient method of cleaning.)
- Be sure to change out your bucket of water with a fresh mixture when you notice it getting dirty to prevent your wicker furniture from having a substandard clean
- Use a high-pressure setting on your hose to rinse off all soap suds and loose dirt (Don’t be afraid to get into the weave of the wicker with your hose to ensure it’s clean — our durable wicker can handle it!)
- Towel off excess water and leave your wicker frame to air dry
- That’s it — you’re all done!
How To Clean Furniture Cushions
When it comes to cleaning outdoor furniture cushions, you might envision scrubbing and soaking to get out tough stains. But thanks to Outer, cleaning your sofa cushions isn’t as tedious as you might think.
We designed all of our outdoor cushions to be machine-washable in cold water, and they zip right off so they can be thrown into the laundry. We recommend doing so once or twice a season to ensure your cushion covers are always fresh and ready to use.
Our cushion covers are air dry only, so there’s no need to worry about running them through the dryer. Simply put them outside and they’ll be ready to use again in no time.
But what about the times when you notice a small stain and don’t have time to throw the cushion covers in the washing machine? That’s where spot cleaning comes in handy, and we’ve made that easy, too!
All Outer outdoor cushions are lifeproof thanks to our nano-coated performance fabric. This means our cushions can withstand whatever life throws at them — from weather conditions to bleach, dirt, mold, and just about anything else you can think of.
This allows them to be stain-resistant, which makes spot cleaning a quick task (and we should know — we tried a spill test ourselves!).
To spot clean a stain or two, grab a soft rag and a bucket of water and detergent, just like the one used for your wicker frame, and dab the stain out. Simple!
For more information on cleaning your Outer cushions, head to our dedicated blog post.
How To Reduce Cleaning Frequency
Since not many of us want to spend our relaxation time cleaning our outdoor furniture, during our design process we wanted to reduce the amount of cleaning needed for Outer furniture as much as possible.
As a result, our OuterShell™ was born! The OuterShell™ is an extra layer of protection in the form of a cover that tucks discreetly behind your sofa cushions. Simply pull it out and over your cushions to keep them clean, dry, and ready to use at a moment’s notice.
By utilizing this built-in protection whenever your outdoor furniture isn’t in use, you’ll be protecting your sofa from the unwanted spots and stains that can come with outdoor living — everything from morning dew to sneaky bird droppings.
Better yet, it’s included in each and every cushion on all Outer pieces, no matter how big or small. You’ll find this feature included in every all-weather wicker furniture option, from our cozy Wicker Outdoor Armchair to our spacious 8-Seater Wicker Outdoor U Sectional.
In addition to our OuterShell™, we’ve also created purpose-built covers for our all-weather wicker furniture. These are especially important for our friends in cooler climates where lots of snowfall is inevitable.
Our All-Weather Covers are tough against the elements but easy to use. They’re specially designed to fit Outer wicker furniture pieces, and they come equipped with wind straps and buckles to secure tightly.
And, thanks to our hidden vents at the back of each cover, they’re still breathable and won’t allow any excess moisture to build up or cause mold.
By using the Outer cover options available, you can be sure you’re reducing the time spent cleaning your outdoor furniture while adding extra protection to increase its lifespan.
Now You Know How To Clean Wicker Furniture!
Now you’re an expert on how to clean wicker furniture! By following the simple steps in this guide each time you want to freshen up your Outer wicker pieces, you’ll be back to relaxing on your outdoor furniture in no time.
Remember to utilize our built-in OuterShell™ and our specially designed All-Weather Covers to protect your Outer wicker pieces and reduce the time spent cleaning your outdoor furniture.
Whether you own our Wicker Outdoor Armchair or our 8-Seater Wicker Outdoor U Sectional, our covers fit each and every piece, no matter how big or small!