Cane Chair Care

Location

• Caned chairs and other pieces of caned furniture is susceptible to direct sunlight. It dries out the caning and causes it to become brittle and subsequently break. Also avoid areas of low humidity and high heat, such as next to a heat register. If you have a number of pieces of caned furniture, the use of a humidifier is beneficial. Caned chairs should never be placed outdoors where they are subject to all weather conditions.

Treatment

• On a weekly basis, caned chairs need to be moistened with a damp cloth on both sides of the caning. Allow at least two hours of drying time before using the chair. Do not sit in a caned chair when your clothes are wet. Use a food-safe, solvent-free oil on the caned section of the chair at least once a year. Wait about 5 minutes to allow the oil to soak in, and wipe off any excess oil. Allow the chair to dry completely before using.

Weight

• Caned chairs are intended to support weight evenly and should never be used as a step stool. Kneeling on the caned section is also detrimental to the security of the caning. Although it detracts from the beauty of the caning, the use of a padded cushion on chairs that possess a seat diameter of greater than 14 inches is recommended by the website The Wicker Woman. The cushion aids in evenly distributing the weight when the chair is in use and avoids pressure on any one strand of cane material.

Do's and Don'ts

• Do not allow the caned chair to become dirty and grimy. Do clean it regularly with a damp cloth, and polish with an appropriate oil-based product. Never apply a finish to the cane that prevents the cane materials to absorb moisture, such as polyurethanes or varnishes. Do not use a silicone-based cleaner on a caned chair.