How to Restore Old Wicker Furniture

The word "wicker" describes any woven piece made from solid strands of plant fiber, such as rattan or bamboo. The rigid structure and dense weave make wicker furniture a popular choice for patios or porches. However, exposure to weather and consistent use wears the weave down. The strands become loose and separate. As dirt gathers in the creases of the cane, your furniture may develop a worn look. If you have old wicker sitting in your garage or attic, do not throw it out---a proper cleaning and a little work will restore the piece to its original luster.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Stiff scrub brush
• Bucket
• Dish washing soap
• Soft cloth
• Super glue
• Caning
• Utility knife
• Scissors
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Spray paint

Instructions

Cleaning

1. Scrub off the dirt with a dry, stiff bristled brush. This will remove any particles stuck on the surface of your wicker furniture.

2. Fill a bucket with warm water and a mild dish detergent. Use a soft cloth to wash the wicker with the solution in the bucket.

3. Rinse off the soap residue with clean water. Dry the piece with a soft cloth.

4. Set your wicker furniture aside for two days to allow for complete drying.

Restoration

1. Reattach any loose or broken pieces on the frame with glue. For example, if the arm has come detached from a wicker chair, use glue to reattach it.

2. Fill a bucket with water and soak the caning for 30 minutes. Caning is single stands of plant fiber, or cane, used to restore wicker and sold in rolls at craft stores. Cut off a generous piece of the cane and soak it. This will soften the fiber and make it easy to work with.

3. Look for missing strands around wrapped legs or from the frame. Apply a small amount of super glue under the loose piece to hold it in place. Press firmly on the strand and allow the glue to dry.

4. Take a new strand of caning---start where the last wrapped piece ends---and glue the end of the new piece in place. Once it is secure, wrap the caning around until you have covered any bare areas.

5. Repair woven areas with new caning. Measure the section that is missing. Cut enough caning to cover that area plus two inches. Use a utility knife to cut away any rough edges or loose strands on the broken area. With glue, tack down anything that cannot be cut.

6. Place glue on the end of the new strand and intersect it with the original cane. Begin to weave the new cane in with the existing pattern. For tight weave, pull the end through with needle-nosed pliers. Once the weave is completed, cut away any loose caning.

7. Spray-paint the furniture with paint made for wicker.

References

• RefinishFurniture.com: Wicker Furniture Repair and Description
• WickerWoman.com: Wicker Repair