Teak oil is an excellent oil for teak and other wooden furniture. Most people use it for all their furniture, thanks to its restoration properties. But can you use it on wicker furniture? Wicker furniture is delicate, so you will need to look after it. With proper care, your wicker furniture can last for years!
To keep your wicker furniture in good shape, you should keep it indoors, dust it off, and wipe it down with soapy water once every two weeks. You shouldn’t use teak oil on wicker furniture. You can use linseed oil for a better polishing alternative. You can also use orange or lemon oil.
If you want to know how to maintain your wicker furniture and keep it looking glossy with a fresh coat of oil, then you’ve come to the right place! Our guide will help you to keep your furniture in tip-top shape!
Is Teak Oil Good For Wicker Furniture?
You can use teak oil to restore wooden furniture and surfaces to keep them looking as good as new. The oil nourishes the wood and keeps it tip-top by rehydrating it.
Most people use teak oil for teak furniture, but you can use it on several wooden surfaces. But does that mean you can use it on wicker furniture? Not necessarily!
Wicker is the style or pattern used on specific furniture pieces. Wicker doesn’t refer to the material that the furniture is made out of at all! Wicker furniture is not made from wood.
You may have heard some people refer to wicker as ‘Rattan.’ This refers to the furniture’s material. Wicker furniture is generally made from plant materials. Because rattan is the most common plant fiber used, wicker has become synonymous with rattan when it comes to furniture.
Because wicker isn’t made from wood, you should avoid using oils designed for wood to maintain it. This includes teak oil!
Additionally, teak oil has several different components that change from brand to brand. It typically incorporates ingredients like mineral spirits, varnish, and a combination of several different oils. Some of these components may harm wicker furniture and cause degradation and other problems.
What Oil Should You Use On Wicker Furniture?
You can use oils like linseed oil on wicker furniture. Linseed oil comes in two varieties: raw and boiled linseed oil.
You can use raw linseed oil on wicker furniture that is not coated or treated. It is quick-drying and hasn’t been processed at all. That means natural linseed oil doesn’t contain other ingredients like thinners or driers that can harm untreated wicker.
If your wicker has been treated or coated, you can use boiled linseed oil to keep your furniture looking brand new. It’s important to remember that boiled linseed oil can seep into your furniture’s materials, so you should never use it on raw or untreated wicker.
Other popular oils you can use on rattan or wicker furniture include orange and lemon oil. These oils are more viscous and can get into all the intricate weavings of wicker furniture. They are also less drying than other oils.
If you use an oil that dries out your furniture, you must be prepared for extra furniture maintenance! Dry furniture needs to be oiled and cared for more often, so you must use oils designed to nourish your wicker or rattan furniture rather than drying it out.
Other Wicker Furniture Maintenance Tips
If you love the look of wicker or rattan furniture but are unsure how much maintenance goes into owning gorgeous rattan pieces, you’re in luck! We’ve put some helpful tips together to help you keep your wicker furniture looking as good as the day you bought it!
Don’t Keep Natural Wicker Furniture Outdoors
Suppose you want to keep your wicker furniture outdoors. Wicker is porous and is particularly susceptible to outdoor elements like sun and moisture. In that case, it may be wise to invest in synthetic wicker furniture rather than raw rattan.
Your wicker furniture will also be more likely to fall victim to rotting if you leave it in environments with high moisture levels. It’s essential to keep your wicker in an area of your home with lower humidity levels to keep it from absorbing moisture and developing rot.
Clean Your Wicker Furniture Often
Even if you keep your wicker furniture indoors, you’ll need to clean it regularly if you want it to maintain its natural luster and sheen.
To clean your wicker furniture, you will first need to ensure that it is free of dust. You can dust your furniture with a cloth or use smaller attachments on your vacuum cleaner to get into the small grooves and weaves of your furniture.
Once your wicker furniture is free from dust, you must wipe it down and ensure it stays clean. You can fill a large container or bowl with warm water. You will need to add a drop or two of dishwashing liquid or a similar detergent to the bowl. Mix it into the water thoroughly.
Using a cloth, you can dip it into the water mixture and wring it out until the cloth is only slightly damp. Then, you can run the cloth along the furniture to ensure it is clean.
Once you’ve wiped it down, you can wipe it with a dry cloth to wick any excess moisture away from the material. It would be best if you also left your wicker furniture to dry in a well-lit room for a few hours. Just remember to avoid direct sunlight on the furniture to negate any harmful sun rays from damaging it!
Conclusion
If you have wicker furniture and want to keep it glossy, then you can use linseed, orange, or lemon oil. You should avoid teak oil because it may cause unnecessary damage to your wicker furniture. Similarly, you should maintain your wicker furniture properly by dusting it off and wiping it down with soapy water once every two weeks.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoSxe4UyxSU
- https://homeguides.sfgate.com/refresh-driedout-wicker-80819.html
- https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/caring-for-wicker-furniture/
