How to Keep Your Rattan Furniture Bug Free

However, for all it’s positives, this type of furniture does attract bugs and pests, due to its tightly woven weave giving them the perfect place to hide, spin webs and make nests.

But don’t worry, as we’ve got some tips to keep your rattan furniture bug free!

What are the Signs of Bugs?

If you’re new to the world of outdoor living, it’s hard to know what the signs of bugs and pests are. Luckily, once you’re aware, they’re easy to spot.

Some signs include abandoned webs, debris caught in webs, wasp combs, faeces or frass, stained furniture, and leaf litter. You may also come across nests, which are usually found within corners of the furniture.

When discovering these signs, it’s best to be mindful and take precautions. While the risk of damage is minimal, one of the most common types of pests, spiders, have been known to create nests which can alter the look of your furniture. So, it’s always best to check and clear any webs where you can.

Clean Regularly

Once you’ve identified the signs of pests, the first step is to ensure you’re cleaning your garden furniture regularly. Hoovering your furniture is a straightforward approach, as it can get to hard-to-reach places and it’s gentle on your furniture.

You can clean the weave with a soft bristle brush and warm, soapy water or a diluted bleach solution; but we advise using a minimal amount as bleach can cause cracks or a build-up of dirt.

While rattan furniture is a great all-round choice for any patio, there are alternatives that are easier to clean and less prone to bugs, such as aluminium.

If you have a firepit table, you should be aware that spiders love the smell of gas and can make their way into the pipes! If they spin webs and lay eggs, this can cause a blockage, so if a firepit suddenly stops working, we always recommend checking for spiders and cleaning them out.

Repellents

On top of cleaning your furniture, you can also use a variety of products that’ll help repel unwanted pests. Some options include diluted vinegar, lemon-scented sprays and essential oils.

For the diluted vinegar spray, mix approximately three cups of water and one cup of vinegar. The vinegar won’t kill pests, but its harsh acidity and aroma will keep them away. When using a cleaning spray, opt for one that’s lemon-scented or one that contains citrus, as its acidic nature will deter spiders, as they don’t like acidic scents and tastes.

Another alternative is essential oils, such as peppermint, rosemary, lavender, and citrus. These oils effectively repel bugs due to their strong scents and chemical properties, so you won’t have to worry about the likes of mosquitoes, ants, flies, spiders, and wasps.

The only problem with essential oils is that most of these will wash away after rainfall and will lose efficacy after being exposed to sunlight for a period. This does mean you’ll have to reapply every other week or so, depending on the weather.

It’s also important to note that some of these oils should be diluted, as some household pets can be sensitive to the aromas and ingredients.

Furniture Covers

Typically, bugs are nocturnal, which is why you’ll often find debris or freshly spun webs on your furniture in the morning. To keep these away at night, and to further protect your rattan, we recommend using a furniture cover.

These weatherproof covers should prevent pests and help keep on top of maintaining your furniture. While these covers are high-quality and durable, you can clean them with a soap and water solution.

No matter what type of garden furniture you have, you’ll always come across bugs and pests in an outdoor space – it’s impossible to keep them away. But by following the steps outlined in this blog, you’ll be able to enjoy your rattan furniture without a bug in sight, so why not come down to a store today and explore our collections?