How to Care for a Wicker Trunk

Wicker is one of my favorite materials, and my wicker trunks are some of my favorite possessions.  It's lightweight but sturdy, it's versatile enough to any job I use it for, and it actually good to when I set it out as a hamper or as a decoration in the living room.  It's also reasonably priced, so you shouldn't have any problems stocking as much of it as you want.  However, like any piece of furniture or investment, the more effort and care you put into it, the longer you can expect it to last, and have it last in good condition.  Here is what I've learned about properly caring for wicker trunks to keep them in good shape for a long time.

So you've know the kind of wicker storage chests and you now want to make sure it's going to last. In order to protect it you're going to want to coat it in something. A coat of varnish or lacquer goes a long way in keeping the wicker itself safe for a long time. Wicker is a plant, remember. It's dried and woven, so it's strong, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If the trunk is painted, you could consider freshening it up every few years or so, depending on how quickly the paint chips.

Once you're done with that, furniture wax can seal everything in and hold it even longer. If you put all these layers on it, there's little doubt that it will be well secured to last for quite some time.

Wicker trunks will gather dust over a period of time, so washing them is recommended.  The danger here is you don't want to get the wicker wet, as it will harden when it dries and then be more prone to breaking.  Use a damp sponge, avoiding any wood as much as possible.  The goal here is to lightly wipe the dust away.  Leave as little moisture behind as possible, and the effect on the wicker will be minimal.  If you've given it the coats of protection I mentioned earlier than chances are you won't get any water on the wicker itself, but even if you do, it won't cause any immediate problems.  Wicker needs protection, but it isn't fragile.

Wicker is fine with humidity, and so I use a few wicker storage chests in my bathroom, one as a hamper and a couple to add to the design of the room.  Don't be worried if you want to try the same thing. However, I would recommend keeping it indoors, because the combination of rain and sun will damage it at a relatively fast rate. There's nothing sadder than seeing the bottom of your favorite wicker chair sagging and eventually breaking through entirely.

Washing wicker is fine, but to be honest I usually just dust it. It's much faster than washing, and I don't risk weakening it at all.

If your wicker is starting to fray, or gets a hole in it and you need it repaired, you can either try doing it yourself or take it to a professional. There are kits available online that include wicker fibers that you can sew over the hole, though it may be tricky to figure out how to exactly match your furniture. If it's something less essential, like a smaller wicker storage basket or something similar, I'll try fixing them, but when it comes to furniture, I have no problem taking it to a shop to make sure the hole is not noticeable when the repair job it over. This costs a bit more, but I prefer the peace of mind.

Of course, this completely bypasses the question of IF it's worth repairing. For smaller holes it is, but for larger repair problems... well, that's for you to decide.

It is not difficult to maintain wicker storage baskets, trunks, or chests properly.  All it takes is a little proper care up front, and you'll be enjoying your furniture years from now.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I'll be happy to respond!