How to Freshen Caning on Chairs

Caning -- the rattan weaving that graces the seat of many modern and antique wooden chairs -- is an ancient craft that produces sturdy and comfortable furniture. Under normal dry conditions, caning can last for decades with little aesthetic maintenance required. If your caned chair sits outdoors or is otherwise exposed to moist conditions, the rattan may not only become dull, it may attract mold and mildew. Any time the caning looks weathered, freshen it up in your backyard.

Things You'll Need

• Tarp
• Bleach
• Dish soap
• Bucket
• Nylon scrub brush

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Place the chair on a tarp-covered, flat surface outdoors.

   • 2

     Mix a gallon of warm tap water, 3/4 cup of bleach and a squeeze of dish soap in a bucket.

   • 3

     Dip the nylon scrub brush in the soapy bleach water. Scrub the cane well, taking care not to scrub the wood.

   • 4

     Rinse the cane with plain water.

   • 5

     Allow the cane to dry outdoors. After a few hours, bring the chair inside, but don't use it until the rattan has dried for a few days.