Have you seen it - how the outdoor rattan furniture market is exploding? It really is - not only new companies entering the field, but all sorts of new designs and colors, new patterns - but also a reliance on the traditional designs as well.

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.

The rattan grower, as mentioned above, grows the rattan in tropical areas. They will harvest the plants at the right time and cut the stalks down to the right length for use in furniture. Rattan can become infested with a fungus that can discolor and eventually destroy the plant fibers. Reputable harvesters will treat their rattan plants with chemicals to prevent this from happening, but less reputable companies will not do it, or do it properly -- as a result, the rattan can develop these problems later.

Which leads me to this first recommendation: to avoid buying an inferior product you need to make sure that you are dealing with an outlet or furniture dealer who is knowledgeable and reputable. Unless you are an expert on rattan, you will need to rely on their judgment - so pick a good dealer or you may end up buying an inferior product.

Remember: Outdoor rattan furniture is made from naturally occurring materials. For this reason do not allow your furniture to sit in pools of standing water. Why? Because it will eventually absorb the water, and this can cause swelling and gaps to appear in where the rattan is woven together.

If you need to maintain your outdoor rattan furniture you can keep it relatively clean by vacuuming dust and dirt from it, or by cleaning with warm soapy water. If your furniture does get wet, it should be allowed to dry thoroughly - especially before storing.

If your outdoor rattan furniture requires more care than what you can give, it's time to call upon the services of a professional furniture restorer. If you like you can lightly sand and refinish any rough areas on your furniture. But if more extensive work needs done - repair of cracked frames, or re-weaving - that's the time to call on a professional

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!

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Author: Jason Harris talks about home repair and Outdoor Wicker Furniture Learn all aboutPortable Charcoal Grills by visiting his website. Get your own completely unique content version of this article.