Summer is the season when outdoor furniture is used most frequently. Because when the sun is bright, we all enjoy a pleasant time in our own garden. But the weather is always unpredictable, and rain often becomes uninvited guests. It has brought a great test to our outdoor furniture. Perhaps the short-term rain will not bring much impact, but the long-term rainy season will increase the possibility of mold to our outdoor furniture. Although mold may not be obvious, mold will make your beautiful furniture look less attractive, and even affect its service life. Fresh and dexterous rattan effect garden furniture is the garden furniture of many people. You must be very worried about whether your garden furniture will mildew and what to do after mold.

Rattan style furniture is divided into two types of materials, natural rattan and synthetic rattan, and these two types also have different properties in terms of mold resistance. Good quality synthetic rattan is resistant to mold and mildew, so you don't need to do anything except clean it at the end of the season each year. Natural rattan is not specially treated, and if the water is left in the rattan and exposed to heat and air, it will create an environment suitable for mold and bacteria to grow. Don't worry too much if your outdoor furniture is made of natural rattan, as long as you take steps and treat it, your furniture will work well outdoors.

How do you get mold out of rattan furniture？
Mold not only affects the appearance of furniture, but also causes it to develop an odor. If your rattan outdoor furniture has grown mold, don't worry. Removing mold from rattan is not as difficult as it may seem, just follow these steps.

First, you need to prepare a duster, vacuum cleaner, bucket, bleach, water, plastic gloves, soft bristle cleaning brush and sponge towel. Start by brushing the furniture with a chicken feather duster to remove any dirt and dust. For dusty nooks and crannies, use a vacuum with a handheld attachment to suck out as much of the area as possible. Then mix bleach and water in a bucket to make a 50:50 solution. Then dip the soft-bristled brush into the bleach and water solution while wearing rubber gloves, as bleach is harmful to the skin. Then use the brush to scrub any areas where the mold has started to grow. If you have any areas where mold is difficult to remove, use a toothbrush to scrub these areas more thoroughly. Rinse the bleach from the furniture with a water-soaked sponge, then simply towel dry and place in a cool place to air dry.

How do you prevent rattan furniture from getting moldy?
After we have finished dealing with the mold on the furniture, in order to prevent further mildew in the future. We can take precautions for our rattan patio furniture set in advance to reduce the possibility of mildew. Here are three of the simplest and most economical ways to choose from.

1. Use Tung Oil
Tung oil can provide a good protective layer for the rattan to prevent water stains from entering the rattan, thus preventing mold growth. To brush the rattan furniture with tung oil, first you need to clean the furniture with detergent and water, and then apply the oil evenly on the furniture with a soft cloth. After smearing, remember to place the furniture for a period of time and wipe off the excess tung oil. In addition, for the best results, please smear the furniture before using it seasonally every year.

2. Apply the paint and varnish
Painting is also an effective way to prevent mold. Painting is the same principle as applying tung oil, forming an additional layer on the surface of the rattan. Before painting again, clean up the furniture first, and then gently polish the surface of the rattan garden furniture with fine-grained sandpaper, so that the paint can be better attached. After applying a layer of paint on its surface, apply two extra layers of varnish. If you don't want to paint the furniture, you can also choose to apply three layers of varnish. Varnishes also need to be reapplied every few years to remain effective. If you live in a place with high humidity, you can use a heavier marine varnish.

3. Cover furniture
The most direct way to block the entry of water vapor and prevent mold is to use a cover. It is easier and faster than painting and oiling. However, you should choose a suitable and durable cover for your furniture, which can reach to the bottom of the leg to prevent water from getting under and will not tear easily. So before choosing the cover, measure the size of your furniture in advance.

Furniture made of rattan is both beautiful and fashionable and needs us to take good care of it. I also hope that after reading this article, the next time you encounter moldy furniture, you can deal with ease. Of course, if you are afraid of mold, you can choose high-quality synthetic rattan garden furniture to avoid this problem for you.