Home >> Collecting >> Antiques

How to Restore Old Wicker

True wicker furniture is fashioned from natural materials, such as flexible branches, vines or grasses, and can be plainly woven or sport intricate designs. When wicker furniture is left in wet or damp environments for long periods, wicker strands can shift, ruining designs. Dry conditions may cause the wicker to crack, and peeling can occur on painted surfaces. Too much weight can crack the frame. But damage doesn't have to ruin wicker furniture forever. With a little elbow grease and some time, it is possible to restore wicker to its original beauty.

Things You'll Need

New paintbrush or vegetable brush
Tweezers
Clean cloths
Water
Liquid detergent
Hose
Tung oil or boiled linseed oil
Reeds
Liquid stripper
Hard-bristled toothbrush or stiff brush
Finish or spray paint

Instructions

Clean It
- 1
  Remove dirt from the surface of the furniture with soft bristles from a paintbrush or vegetable brush. To stiffen the bristles to brush away stubborn dirt, cut them to half their length. Carefully dislodge dirt from crevices with tweezers.
- 2
  Wipe the wicker furniture with a clean cloth dampened with a mixture of water and a little liquid detergent.
- 3
  Rinse the chair with a spray of water from the hose. Be careful not to soak the wicker. Keep the chair tilted so that the water can run off more easily.
- 4
  Wipe clean with a wet cloth and let dry for 24 to 48 hours.
Repair Defects
- 5
  Determine how much damage there is. If the wicker has an intricate pattern and needs a lot of repair, it is probably best to seek out an expert in wicker restoration.
- 6
  Rub tung oil or boiled linseed oil onto wicker that is dry and cracked with a clean cloth. This will penetrate the cracks and dry to a durable finish.
- 7
  Wet areas where reeds seem to have shifted from their proper location and keep them wet until the reed can be moved back into place.
- 8
  Remove affected reeds and replace them one strand at a time to repair holes.
Refinish It
- 9
  Rub liquid stripper into the wicker's finish with a clean cloth, being sure to cover all surfaces.
- 10
  Wipe off the stripper with a cloth after the stripper has done its job. You may need to use a hard-bristled toothbrush or other stiff brush to remove all the liquid.
- 11
  Let the piece dry thoroughly before applying a finish or spray paint.

Antiques