- Clean your wicker chair with a mixture of 1 gallon of hot water and 1/4 cup of sudsy ammonia. Use a soft rag that will allow you to remove visible dirt embedded in the crevices of your wicker chair. If you want to use a brush to clean, be sure the bristles are very soft so you don't break reeds in the process of cleaning. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.
Examine your wicker furniture to assess any restoration needs. Run your hands all over the surface of wicker chair to feel for reeds that may have come unwoven and aren't readily visible to the eye but may snag a guest's silk hosiery. You will need to repair each of these wayward reeds by re-gluing with a good waterproof super strength all purpose glue that can be used outdoors. - Scrap and sand the surface of the chair down to the raw wood in preparation for putting on new stain. Put the chair on a drop cloth and wear gloves and protective eye goggles or glasses. Use a spray primer to get into the nooks and crevices of the wicker
Use oil-based primer first to provide an undercoat for the stain. You might want to do two coats of primer to create a smoother surface for the final stain color as well as recondition the chair's fibers. Allow to dry before staining. - Wicker is traditionally painted the color white. However you can stain your wicker chair the color of your choice. Consider wood colored stains like oak or walnut if you're looking to achieve a natural wood look finish.
Select a good oil based stain. Spray stain like the primer will help you get into the lattice design of the wicker better. Apply two coats of stain color so that the finished look is has a rich quality feel. Allow to dry before between stain coats. Stain on a day when the sun is out so that the primer and stains can dry adequately.
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