How to Clean Wicker Chairs: Natural vs Resin Wicker

To clean wicker chairs, vacuum or brush the dust out of the weave first. Then match the method to the material: resin wicker can be washed with mild soap and warm water and rinsed, while natural wicker should only be wiped with a well-wrung damp cloth and dried quickly. Either way, finish by letting the chair dry completely in the shade. This guide shows how to tell which kind you own, then walks through each method, plus mildew, white and painted wicker.

Natural or Resin Wicker? How to Tell

Wicker is a weaving style, not a material, and the material decides how much water it can take. Williamsburg Wicker, a furniture maker, splits care into natural wicker (rattan, willow, bamboo), which is meant for indoor use, and synthetic resin wicker, which is waterproof and made for outdoors. Most wicker chairs sold for patios are resin over a metal frame. If a chair has lived outside for years without falling apart, it is almost certainly resin.

	Resin (synthetic) wicker	Natural wicker
Look up close	Uniform strands, smooth and slightly glossy, often flat or round and identical along the whole chair	Slightly irregular strands, visible grain, rough ends where the weave is tucked in
Feel	Smooth, a little like plastic	Dry and fibrous like wood or straw
Frame under it	Usually aluminum or steel	Often a wood frame or bent rattan poles
Water	Waterproof	Can swell, sag or warp when soaked
Where it belongs	Patios and decks	Covered porches and indoors
Cleaning method	Mild soap, soft brush, hose or bucket rinse	Brush or vacuum, damp cloth, no soaking

Unsure? Check a hidden spot under the seat or the tag from the maker. When you still cannot tell, treat the chair as natural wicker. The gentle method is always safe, and you can step up to soap and water only when you know it is resin.

What You Need Before You Start

A vacuum with a brush attachment, or a soft brush, to lift dust from the weave.
A soft toothbrush for crevices and tight corners.
Mild dish soap and warm water in a bucket.
Two or three clean cloths: one for washing, one for rinsing, one for drying.
A garden hose with a gentle spray, for resin wicker only.
A shady, airy spot to let the chair dry.

Test any cleaner on a small hidden area first, as Williamsburg Wicker advises. Skip abrasive cleaners and stiff wire brushes, which scratch the surface of resin strands.

How to Clean Resin (All-Weather) Wicker

Step 1: Remove Loose Dirt

Take off the cushions, then clear leaves and cobwebs with a leaf blower, a soft brush or a vacuum brush attachment. Going over the weave dry stops dirt from turning to mud once you add water. Work along the direction of the strands and get into the underside of the seat, where grime collects.

Step 2: Wash With Mild Soap

Mix a few drops of dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Dip a soft brush or cloth, shake off the excess and scrub along the weave. Use a toothbrush on tight corners. Castlery, a furniture brand, notes that synthetic wicker tolerates a slightly stronger solution than natural wicker, but stay with mild soap and avoid abrasive cleaners.

Step 3: Rinse and Dry in the Shade

Rinse with a garden hose or clean buckets of water until no suds remain. Soap left in the weave attracts dirt and leaves a film. Williamsburg Wicker recommends letting resin wicker air dry in the shade, which prevents water spots and mildew. Tip the chair to drain water from the legs and underside of the seat, and do not put cushions back until both are dry.

How to Clean Natural Wicker, Rattan and Rush

Step 1: Dust the Weave

Natural fibers are dry and brittle, so start gently. Use a soft brush or vacuum brush attachment, and a toothbrush for crevices. Williamsburg Wicker also mentions compressed air as a way to blow dirt out of a tight weave.

Step 2: Wipe With a Damp Cloth

Mix a few drops of dish soap in warm water. Wring a cloth out well so it is damp, never dripping, and wipe along the weave. Castlery warns that prolonged water causes sagging, warping and brittleness in natural wicker, and Williamsburg Wicker likewise says to avoid too much soap and water. Rinse by wiping with a second cloth dampened with clean water.

Step 3: Dry Fast, Out of Direct Sun

Blot with a dry cloth, then dry the chair with a fan or in the shade. Williamsburg Wicker stresses that natural wicker must be totally dry to prevent mold and mildew. It also says natural wicker deteriorates faster in sunlight and weather, so keep it on a covered porch or indoors. To prevent dryness, the same source suggests wiping occasionally with a damp cloth containing a few drops of lemon oil, or applying a light coat of furniture polish.

Is It Okay to Hose Down Wicker Furniture?

It depends on the material. Hosing is fine for resin wicker, which Williamsburg Wicker describes as waterproof, as long as you use a gentle spray and let it drain and dry afterward. Do not hose natural wicker. Soaking makes the fibers swell and can loosen the weave, so wipe it instead. Whatever the material, never aim a pressure washer at wicker, because the jet can split strands and push water into the frame.

Mildew, White and Painted Wicker

Removing Mildew

For mildew on resin wicker, Williamsburg Wicker suggests a paste of warm water and baking soda, or a mildew remover, scrubbed on gently and rinsed off right away to avoid bleaching or fading. Castlery recommends a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water, applied with a cloth, left briefly, wiped clean and dried completely. On natural wicker, keep the moisture to a minimum: dab the spot, wipe it clean and dry it with a fan. Then work out why it got wet. Covers help, and our guide to patio furniture covers shows the options.

Cleaning White Wicker

White wicker shows dirt quickly, but the method is the same as for any wicker of its type. Dust it dry first, wash with mild soap, and rinse well so no film remains. Skip harsh chemicals. If a stain does not lift, try the baking soda paste on resin and test it on a hidden spot before scrubbing the visible side.

Cleaning Painted Wicker

Painted wicker is almost always natural wicker with a coat of paint, so use the damp cloth method and nothing stronger. Scrubbing hard or soaking can lift flaking paint. If the paint is already chipped, clean around it gently and see our guide on how to repair wicker patio furniture before you repaint.

Can You Clean Wicker With Murphy’s Oil Soap or Vinegar?

Both are mild enough to use with care. Vinegar diluted with an equal amount of water is one of the cleaning mixes Castlery suggests for mildew. Murphy’s oil soap is a mild liquid soap, so it fits the advice from Williamsburg Wicker to stick with mild soap, but use only a little, wring the cloth well, and rinse it off. Test either on a hidden spot first, and follow the maker’s care sheet if you have one.

How to Make Wicker Look New Again

A deep clean does most of the work: dust, wash, rinse and dry fully. After that, treat what cleaning cannot fix. For natural wicker that has gone dry, the occasional lemon oil or light furniture polish wipe suggested by Williamsburg Wicker helps keep it from drying out. Faded resin is a sign of too much sun, so move the chair into shade or cover it when not in use. Williamsburg Wicker notes that prolonged sunlight causes fading in resin wicker. For loose strands, cracked weave or flaking paint, cleaning will not be enough, and our wicker repair guide covers those fixes.

Cushions and Covers

Wicker chairs stay cleaner when the cushions and covers do their job. Take cushions off before you wash the frame, and let them dry fully before they go back, since damp foam against wicker is a common source of mildew. If yours are worn, see our picks for outdoor cushions, and cover the chairs in the off season with one of the patio furniture covers we recommend. For other materials, our guide to how to clean patio furniture covers metal, wood and plastic.

Cleaning Kit

You can clean most wicker with what is already in the house: a vacuum brush attachment, dish soap, warm water and a few cloths. One tool worth buying is a brush that fits the weave.

OXO Good Grips Heavy Duty Scrub Brush

A hand scrub brush is the right tool for resin wicker. A firm but not wire-hard brush with a grip works soap into the weave along the strands, and the head is small enough to reach under the seat. Use it on resin wicker only, with light pressure, and keep to a soft cloth and toothbrush for natural wicker.

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✅ Pros

Comfortable grip for scrubbing
Small head reaches under seats
Also useful for other patio furniture

❌ Cons

Too stiff for natural wicker
Press lightly to avoid scratching resin

Best For: Washing resin wicker chairs and other outdoor furniture.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can you clean wicker with Murphy's oil soap?

Yes, in small amounts. Murphy’s oil soap is a mild soap, which fits the advice to use mild soap on wicker. Dilute it in warm water, wring the cloth out well, wipe along the weave and rinse with a clean damp cloth. Test a hidden spot first and dry the chair fully.

How to make wicker look new again?

Start with a full clean: dust the weave, wash with mild soap and warm water, rinse and dry in the shade. Then handle the rest. Wipe dry natural wicker with a few drops of lemon oil, keep resin out of strong sun, and repair loose strands or flaking paint.

How to rejuvenate wicker chairs?

Clean first, because grime dulls wicker. Brush out dust, wash with mild soap, rinse and dry fully. Natural wicker that has dried out can be wiped with a damp cloth and a few drops of lemon oil. Tighten loose joints and redo worn paint or finish.

Is it okay to hose down wicker furniture?

Only if it is resin wicker, which is waterproof. Use a gentle spray, then let it drain and air dry in the shade. Do not hose natural wicker, because soaking makes it swell, sag or warp. Skip pressure washers on both types.

How to clean synthetic wicker furniture

Brush or vacuum off loose dirt, then scrub with a soft brush and warm water mixed with a few drops of mild dish soap. Rinse with a hose until no suds remain and let the chair air dry in the shade. Avoid abrasive cleaners.

Keep reading: how to repair wicker patio furniture, how to clean patio furniture, best outdoor furniture, best outdoor sectional sofas and best hanging egg chairs.