A rattan chair by a window or a cane bed swing on a covered porch brings a room the same warmth as a good macramé piece. Natural weave is also one of the most forgiving materials in a home, provided it gets three simple things: regular dusting, the right amount of moisture, and a little attention to where it lives.
Know what you have
Rattan is a climbing palm, solid and strong, used for frames. Cane is the thin outer skin of rattan, woven into seats and backs. Wicker describes the weaving technique rather than a material, and can be rattan, willow, paper fibre or resin. Resin wicker will survive almost anything; the natural versions need more care.
Regular care
Dust every week or two with a soft brush, working into the weave rather than across it. Twice a year, wipe the piece with a cloth wrung out in warm water with a drop of mild soap, then dry it straight away with a towel and leave it somewhere airy for the rest of the day.
Spotting and mildew
Grey or black specks in the weave usually mean the piece has been sitting in damp, still air: a closed sunroom, a porch in a wet summer, or against an outside wall. Take it outdoors on a dry day, brush it, and wipe the affected areas with a cloth dampened in a solution of white vinegar and water, then dry it in the shade. If the same room spots everything you put in it, including cushions and the walls behind them, the moisture is coming from the room, not the furniture. Readers around Nashville have written to us about older homes in Green Hills with exactly this problem, and the answer was having Green Hills mold contractors find and dry out the source rather than cleaning the chairs again.
Small repairs
A loose strand can be tucked back and secured with a tiny drop of wood glue. Broken cane seats can be rewoven or replaced with pre-woven cane webbing. Wobbly joints on rattan frames usually need the binding rewrapped, which is a satisfying afternoon project with a length of binding cane soaked to make it pliable.
Where to keep it
Natural cane actually likes a little humidity, because very dry air makes it brittle and seats start to sag or snap. A light mist on the underside of a cane seat once a month in a centrally heated room keeps it supple. Keep natural weave out of strong direct sun, which fades and dries it, and off damp floors. On a porch, raise legs slightly on felt pads, bring cushions inside in wet weather, and cover the piece through winter with a breathable cover.
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