One of the more popular types of furniture is wicker based designs. They are being used not only in commercial places (from restaurants to hotel lobbies) but also in residential homes as the variety of designs and base materials are quite extensive. Part of their popularity is demonstrated both indoors in different areas such as bedrooms, entrance hallways and living areas, as well as outdoors.

Wicker is type of furniture where the material is woven around a frame. A chair for example will have a frame made of the legs, the back and the seat. Fibers, that can be bamboo, rattan, willow or others, will be woven round the frame providing typically the back rest and the seat itself.

Taking care of your wicker furniture so that it lasts longer and stays looking at its best is an obvious observation, but the question for many people is how.

The first thing is cleaning and dusting. Whether your furniture is outdoors or indoors it will gather dust. Make sure you dust it regularly with a dry, clean cloth. Gently does it. You should never apply harsh cleaning agents. You should also run a small brush over the areas where dust accumulates, typically in amongst the weave. This is perhaps the best way to make your wicker last longer as you are preventing accumulation and the potential need for stronger measures.

There will come a time when you need to go for more in depth cleaning. At all costs avoid harsh cleaning agents. This doesn't mean you cant wash it, but do it properly. You can use a mild soap in a little water and with a cloth dipped into this solution, go over the area you need to clean. You should not use too much water over the woven area as it can soften and when it dries again it will form undulations, or sag and stretch. Make sure you dry it well before using it again.

The woven wicker can develop cracks and some of the strands can become lose and sag. Here are some of the things you can do about it:

1. When cracks appear this is because of the ambient dryness that is affecting your wicker. Just rub in some linseed oil and let it rest for one or two days so that it is all absorbed. This is vitamin "c" for your wicker.

2. For loose strands of weave a gentle rubbing, and I stress gentle, with a fine grit sandpaper over the rough area.

3. Wicker, like leather, when wet will memorize the shape in which it dries. Sometimes you will find the weave has shifted or sagged. You can wet it, again carefully, and stretch so it dries in that position, recovering the original form.

4. Strands that have broken or become unattached can be a problem. As long as it is not extensive damage, your best bet is to get hold of the same material and weave. If you are not comfortable with the idea you will have to find an expert. However if you decide to proceed with the repair make sure it is a small area and then careful, and very patiently, try it out, one weave at a time.

The most important part of taking care of your wicker furniture is the dull but effective measure of constant dusting.