The Best Natural Ingredient For Cleaning Mold Off Of Wicker Furniture

Every homeowner can agree that their wicker patio set is probably amongst their favorite home decor pieces. Wicker furniture just has a way of screaming "Summer is here!" Uncovering your wicker furniture is a change of season rite of passage, letting everyone in your neighborhood know that the weather has broken and it is now time to enjoy those backyard barbecues and those late nights in the yard that everyone knows and loves. 

But what happens when you uncover your wicker furniture and notice those unsightly, charcoal-colored splotches? Well, that is either mold or mildew, which can often accrue on wicker furniture, especially after the furniture has been left outdoors or exposed to the elements. But, fret not! This is an issue that can be tackled with only a few common household ingredients. In merely minutes, you can create a solution that will rid your wicker furniture of mold and mildew while also preventing it from coming back. 

By now, you have probably already heard of vinegar's wide array of household cleaning benefits. It is one of the most multipurpose cleaning agents around, as it can be used in your kitchen, in your bathroom, and now, on your wicker furniture, too. 

Vinegar is widely known for its immensely strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, which allow it to rid surfaces of dirt, grease, grime, and even mold and mildew. In fact, it is one of the only cleaning agents that is proven and recommended to safely kill mold. This is because vinegar is a highly acidic substance while mold and mildew are merely forms of fungi. The natural acids found in vinegar attach to the fungi of mold and mildew, successfully attacking and neutralizing them. 

So, if you are looking to give your wicker furniture a nice turn-of-the-season cleaning, reach inside your pantry and grab some vinegar.

Ready to give your neighbors a serious case of patio envy? 

Gather a cleaning cloth, a wash basin, and a bottle of white vinegar. Fill the wash basin with three-fourths of hot water and one-fourth of white vinegar. Mix the solution thoroughly. Then, saturate your cleaning cloth in the solution and wring out any excess, because wicker furniture should never be completely saturated. Then, gently scrub away at your furniture, especially focusing on the mold and mildew-ridden areas first. It may take a few scrubs to remove all of those unsightly spots, but be patient. It can also be beneficial to allow the solution to set for a few minutes before scrubbing. Once you're finished and all of the mold and mildew are no more, pour out the vinegar cleaning solution and fill your basin with plain hot water. Soak a new cleaning cloth in the hot water and gently apply a light rinse over the furniture. Allow to air dry, and voila!