How to Clean and Care for Resin Wicker Furniture

Editors Note: Updated October, 2018

NOTE: this guide is specifically for resin wicker furniture maintenance. Resin wicker is naturally more resistant to moisture and weather than organic rattan, so maintenance will be less demanding. This guide is intended for customers who have purchased any of our resin wicker patio sets. Resin wicker and synthetic wicker can be used interchangeably. This guide applies to both terms.

At Patio Productions we know how important it is to keep your patio furniture looking fresh and feeling comfortable. Traditionally, outdoor furniture has proven difficult to manage because weather conditions can be so capricious and sometimes, so devastating to patio furniture sets. If poorly maintained, patio furniture can quickly fall into disrepair when subjected to harsh outdoor conditions.

Luckily, we are here to help! The following practices, if performed regularly, will ensure the longevity of your beautiful resin wicker furniture so you will be able to proudly show off your patio furniture set for years to come.

(Photo Credit: go_greener_oz)

You Will Need:

A soft-bristle brush
Non-bleach Laundry detergent (or a mild dish soap – do not use abrasive cleansers!)
A bucket of warm water
A sponge

You Might Want:

A hand-vacuum
A garden hose
Mildew remover and Goo Gone for mold, sap, and other tough stains

That should be everything you need to clean your furniture.

Alright then, let’s begin, shall we? Continue reading for our Step-By-Step guide to learn how to clean resin wicker patio furniture!

10 Step Guide to Clean Outdoor Resin Wicker Patio Furniture

Step 1:

First, you will want to clean the cushion covers (if any) on your resin furniture. Remove the cushions from the cushion covers if possible and set the cushions aside. If you are using Patio Productions cushion covers, great! All of our cushion covers are a nylon fabric or Sunbrella, so they are easy to clean. Loosen the dirt on the cushion covers with the soft-bristle brush.

First, remove and clean the cushions - hand courtesy of our very own employee, Eric! — First, remove and clean the cushions – hand courtesy of our very own employee, Eric!

If you haven’t already done so, you should watch this video about Sunbrella Fabrics. You’ll be an instant believe after you watch it! You can buy © Sunbrella Cushions here.

Step 2:

If you have a vacuum, you might want to vacuum the cushion covers now. This just to remove any excess dirt or dust after loosening with a soft bristle brush. If you don’t have a vacuum, don’t worry! It’s not necessary, it just makes the job easier.

Step 3:

Mix about 1 tablespoon of mild laundry detergent or dish soap in about 2 cups of warm water and stir until frothy. Dampen a sponge in this solution.

Step 4:

Using the dampened and soapy sponge, gently clean the cushion fabric. For particularly tough dirt stains, try dislodge the grime with the soft-bristle brush, lightly soaked in the soap solution. After cleaning the cushion covers, let them hang-dry for 1 hour.

Brush the cushion cover with soft-bristles and the cleaning solution

Step 5:

Now, on to the resin wicker furniture itself. First, you will want to soak the furniture in water (don’t worry, it’s waterproof!). I recommend using a garden hose for this, as it is fast and effective. If you do not have a garden hose, a bucket of warm water will suffice. Spray down the furniture and then grab your detergent or dish soap again.

Step 6:

Mix about ¼ cup of the detergent or dish soap with approximately 1 gallon of warm water. Stir until you see foam on the surface of the water. Dip your soft-bristle brush into the solution.

Step 7:

Lightly scrub the dirt and grime from your resin wicker with the soft-bristle brush. The soap solution will help break apart dirt and make it easier to spray away later. Make sure you get the cracks between the weaves! Because the wicker is hand-woven, there are lots of little nooks and crannies for dirt to hide. Try to get the bristles in there and clean out those hard-to-reach spots!

Then brush the wicker with soft bristles or a sponge, and a simple cleaning solution

Step 8:

For mildew and tree sap, you will need different cleaners. Try a common mildew remover like Tilex for moldy spots, and for sticky messes like tree sap, try Goo-Gone or a similar grime-eliminating product. The trick with these cleaning agents, however, is that you need to rinse them away as soon as you are done with them! Prolonged exposure to these agents can leave your resin wicker a little faded and/or bleached.

Step 9:

After brushing the furniture, spray it down with the garden hose or a bucket of water until all the soapy residue is gone. Let your patio set dry in the sun for at least 2 hours.

Step 10:

After everything is dry, return the cushions to their covers, and then place them back on the wicker furniture. Next, make yourself some lemonade, put on your shades, and reward all your hard work with a relaxing lounge in your clean-as-new outdoor furniture.

Last Minute Pro Tips:

Make sure you’re using a soft bristled brush. Using steel wool or a brush that’s stiff and coarse could damage the wicker. It’s not the strongest matplus.google.com/+CherylKhanerial in the world and using those kinds of materials could scratch or damage it.
If you have some small cosmetic damages, your best bet is to fix with wood glue and then let it dry before continuing to clean. If it’s not something you think could be fixed with wood glue, taking your wicker furniture to a professional is your best option.
Don’t press too hard on the wicker slats, it’s an easy and very avoidable way to damage them.
When you’re cleaning your wicker patio furniture, try not to let water stay pooled up for extended periods of time. This could saturate the wicker and leave you with some unsightly stains.
At the end of the day, if you live in a climate with sub par weather, storing your furniture during the worst part of the season is your best bet. If you don’t have anywhere to store your patio furniture, it’s not the end of the world. There some awesome patio furniture cover options that will do a great job at protecting your patio investment.

Et voila! You are done, and your outdoor wicker furniture set looks as good as new!

You might say it looks as good as a photograph in a catalog from an online store that specializes in outdoor furniture, perhaps

Additional Furniture Cleaning Tips:

Teak Furniture Care and Maintenance
How to Revitalize Your Wicker Furniture with Spray Paint
How to Protect Patio Furniture From Freeze Damage
How a Little Simple Maintenance will keep Your Outdoor Furniture Strong Indefinitely
How to Keep Outdoor Furniture from Blowing Away

About the Author
Cheryl Khan is able to lend insight on this topic after spending years in the design field. She has learned that all outdoor furniture is not the same and always advises clients to seek the very best patio furniture. She never give advice that she wouldn’t use herself.

Mike Bowman

Mike Bowman is currently the technical product manager and lead editor at Patio Productions. He has worked in the furniture industry as a copywriter, developer, and content creator for the last 14 years, among other roles. An avid DIY-er, he loves to experiment with furniture, landscape design, and home improvement in his own home.