Touch Up - Indoor Rattan
Indoor rattan and wicker furniture is fairly easy to maintain and should be treated similarly to outdoor rattan. Like outdoor rattan products, indoor rattan furniture is typically hassle free and requires little care in comparison to other furniture materials. Here are some tips and tricks to keeping your indoor rattan furniture look like the day you bought it.
Supplies Needed:
- Acetone
- Clean Soft Rag
- Steel Wool or Fine Grit Sandpaper
- Blush Spray Paint
- Appropriately Colored Furniture Touch-Up Marker
- Appropriately Colored Furniture Fill Stick
Always wear eye and skin protection to prevent liquid or other materials from entering your body.
Cleaning and Maintaining Rattan
Rattan should be maintained just like any other wood furniture. Vacuum your rattan and wicker pieces occasionally with a soft brush vacuum attachment to remove dust. Use wood furniture polish such as Murphy's Oil Soap® or Pledge® as directed to keep the original finish clean.
How to Remove Scratches From Rattan
- If the surface is not smooth, sand first with steel wool or fine grit sandpaper.
- Apply the appropriate colored marker to the affected and surrounding areas and blend.
- Blend with your finger or paper towel.
- If a darker touch up is needed, let dry for 30 seconds and reapply marker.
- If the shine on the finish is not consistent apply blush spray, remembering to spray the surrounding areas to blend.
*For minor scratches, rub with lemon oil OR apply blush spray
How To Remove Dents and Gouges From Rattan
- Apply a fill stick that is similar to your furniture's finish.
- Firmly rub the fill stick over the area.
- Blend with your finger or a paper towel.
- Remove the extra fill stick material off the surrounding area.
- Spray lightly with glass to match the original shine.
What to Use Based On Your Furniture Color
Pecan Glaze: Use Maple Brown or Cherry Universal Touch Up Marker. Fill Stick 230-0408 or similar dark color as the wood.
Whitewash: Whitewash Marker (blend with your finger or paper towel if too light)
Natural: Clear Coat Spray
How To Remove Unwanted Surface Paint From Rattan
If your indoor rattan furniture collects unwanted surface paint or other blemishes you can choose to remove them using acetone or without acetone.
Using Acetone
- Pour acetone on a rag and allow to dry for 5 seconds. Remember to always apply the acetone first in an unnoticeable area to check the color fastness of the finish before using over the entire piece.
- Lightly wipe the area where you want to remove the paint.
Without Using Acetone
- Sand the area lightly with steel wool.
- Spray a light coat of blush to bring back the original shine.
How to Touch Up White Wicker
Supplies Needed:
- White Gloss Spray Paint
- Paper Towel or Dry Clean Rag
- Liquid Correction Fluid (Wite-Out)
- Steel Wool or Fine Grit Sandpaper
Fixing Discoloration Of White Wicker
- Shake the can of white gloss spray paint vigorously for 5-10 seconds.
- Hold paint can 6"-10" away from the area you are touching up.
- Pressing the paint can nozzle, sweep across the discolored area, releasing the nozzle before returning to the start position.
- Repeat Step 3, blending and painting lighter as you move away from the spot.
- Allow to dry and repeat if necessary.
Damage to White Bare Wood or Rattan
- Paint Liquid Correction Fluid (Wite-out) on the bare wood or rattan area.
- Shake the can of white glass spray paint vigorously for 5-10 seconds.
- Hold paint can 6"-10" away from the area you are touching up.
- Pressing the paint can nozzle, sweep across the bare area, releasing the nozzle before returning to the start position.
- Repeat Step 3, blending and painting lighter as you move away from the spot.
- Allow to dry and repeat if necessary.
*Always wear eye and skin protection to prevent liquid or other materials from entering your body.