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Outdoor Rattan Furniture: A Guide To Choosing The Best

By: Jason Harris

I am amazed, simply amazed, at how fast the outdoor rattan furniture market is exploding. It seems that almost every day there are new designs, new patterns , new colors - and new companies springing up everywhere selling them.

Let's deal with one subject right off: What is rattan? Actually, rattan is a natural plant product - it is grown in the moist, humid tropical regions of Asia and India. Bamboo grows there as well, but unlike bamboo, which has a hollow stalk, rattan is solid. In addition, bamboo is less flexible than rattan - which is good as this allows the maker to fashion it into all sorts of useful furniture objects.

Rattan is first harvested in the rain forests where it grows naturally. The plant stalks are cut into lengths appropriate for the type of furniture object that it will be made into. After harvesting the rattan must be treated and specially cared for, as the leaves can become infested with a fungus. Treating the rattan leaves will eliminate this problem, but some lower-quality suppliers will not treat the rattan properly, and as a result the rattan can become discolored over time.

This leads me to my first recommendation: unless you consider yourself an expert on the subject, make sure that you buy your outdoor rattan furniture from a reliable dealer. If you don't you may invest your hard-earned money on junk that will just not last, or look its best.

Since outdoor rattan furniture is a natural product, you should make sure that you do not leave your furniture outside sitting on floors or decks that have pools of water that do not drain away. Eventually the water can become absorbed into the rattan, causing it to swell, and gaps may appear in the frame or woven fabric of the back and sides.

Maintaining your outdoor rattan furniture is very easy: vacuum the dust and dirt from it, or use a warm, soapy cloth. If your furniture does get wet, it should be allowed to dry - thoroughly - especially before storing it away for the winter season.

If your outdoor rattan furniture requires more care, you can entrust it to a furniture restoration specialist. If rough spots appear on your furniture, you can take care of these yourself if you like: just sand the area lightly and then apply a good finish or varnish. If more extensive work needs done - if the frame is cracked, or the weaving needs repaired - you should contact your furniture restorer.

Properly cared for your outdoor rattan furniture will last for many years. Rattan is recognized the world over as a quality material for furniture that must be kept outdoors. It is cool, lightweight, and requires only a little maintenance. For all of its cost, it really is one of the best values around in outdoor furniture!

Article Source: http://www.essentialgardenguide.com/gardening-articles

Author: Jason Harris writes about home improvement and Outdoor Wicker Furniture Learn all aboutpatio furniture by visiting his home and garden site.
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