Rattan garden furniture is everywhere, and for good reason. It looks good, it's comfortable, it works with almost any garden style, and it handles British weather far better than most people expect. But "handles British weather" and "requires zero maintenance" are not the same thing. If you want your rattan furniture to look good for years rather than months, you need to understand what it's made of and how to care for it properly.
We've been selling rattan garden furniture at Rosewood & Stone for years. We also use it ourselves, which means we've learned through experience what works, what doesn't, and what the care instructions never tell you.
PE Rattan vs Natural Rattan: Understanding What You Actually Have
This distinction matters, because the care requirements are completely different. If you get this wrong, you could damage your furniture while trying to clean it.
Natural Rattan
Natural rattan comes from a tropical palm plant. It's been used for indoor furniture for centuries. It's beautiful, it has a lovely warm tone, and it is spectacularly unsuitable for outdoor use in the UK. Natural rattan absorbs water, swells, cracks, develops mould, and falls apart when exposed to rain and damp. If you have natural rattan furniture, it belongs indoors or in a fully enclosed conservatory. Full stop.
You can identify natural rattan by its colour variation (it's genuinely wood-coloured, not uniform), its slightly rough texture, and the fact that it feels warm to the touch. It also smells faintly of wood when damp.
PE Rattan (Polyethylene Rattan)
PE rattan, sometimes called synthetic rattan or resin rattan, is an entirely different material. It's made from polyethylene (the same family of plastics used for food containers), extruded into strands that mimic the look of natural rattan, and then hand-woven over a frame, usually powder-coated steel.
All of our rattan garden furniture at Rosewood & Stone, from the Cotehele single egg chair to the Blickling 9-piece dining set, uses PE rattan on steel frames. This is the industry standard for outdoor furniture that's meant to live outside in the UK.
PE rattan has several genuine advantages for outdoor use:
- It doesn't absorb water
- It won't swell, warp, or crack
- It's UV-resistant (though not UV-proof, which we'll get to)
- It doesn't rot
- It's easy to clean
- It's flexible enough to withstand being sat on, leaned on, and generally used without becoming brittle
The rest of this guide is about PE rattan, since that's what the vast majority of outdoor garden furniture is made from.
Regular Cleaning: What to Do and How Often
The single most effective thing you can do for your rattan furniture is clean it regularly. Not deep clean. Just a basic wipe-down every few weeks during the season. This prevents dirt building up in the weave pattern, which is what leads to most of the problems people encounter.
Routine Cleaning (Every 2-3 Weeks in Summer)
- Brush off loose dirt, leaves, and debris with a soft brush. A hand brush or old washing-up brush works well. Pay attention to where the weave meets the frame, as dirt collects in these gaps.
- Mix warm water with a small squirt of washing-up liquid. You don't need much.
- Wash all surfaces with a soft cloth or sponge. For the weave texture, use the brush to get into crevices.
- Rinse with clean water from a garden hose on a gentle setting.
- Dry with a clean cloth and leave to air dry fully.
That's it. Ten minutes per piece, and your furniture will look like new all season.
Products to Use
- Washing-up liquid and warm water: your go-to for almost everything.
- White vinegar solution (1:4 vinegar to water): for mould and mildew. Also good for removing watermarks and general grime.
- Non-abrasive cream cleaner (like Cif Original): for stubborn marks on frames and flat surfaces. Not on the weave itself.
- Automotive plastic restorer (like Autoglym Bumper Care): for refreshing faded PE rattan. This works surprisingly well and is one of the best-kept secrets in garden furniture care.
Products to Avoid
- Bleach: can discolour PE rattan and weaken it over time.
- White spirit or turpentine: dissolves the surface of polyethylene.
- Abrasive cleaners or scouring pads: scratch the surface, making it more prone to dirt adhesion and fading.
- Acetone or nail polish remover: will damage PE rattan immediately.
- WD-40: people suggest it for everything, but it leaves a residue that attracts dirt.
Dealing with Mould and Algae
Let's address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the mould in the garden. The UK climate is essentially a mould production facility from October to April. Mild, damp, limited sunlight, and still air. Your PE rattan furniture will grow mould at some point. This is normal. It's not a sign of poor quality. It happens to all outdoor surfaces in the UK, from garden walls to bin lids.
Why Mould Grows on PE Rattan
Mould doesn't grow on the plastic itself. It grows on the thin layer of organic matter (dirt, pollen, dust, bird droppings) that accumulates on the surface. This is why regular cleaning prevents mould: no food source, no mould.
The woven texture of rattan creates lots of small crevices where organic matter collects and moisture is retained. North-facing surfaces and sheltered spots are worst affected because they get the least sunlight and airflow.
Removing Mould
- Mix one part white vinegar with four parts warm water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the affected areas generously.
- Leave for 10-15 minutes. The vinegar needs time to kill the mould.
- Scrub with a soft brush, working with the direction of the weave.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Repeat if needed for heavy growth.
- Dry the furniture as much as possible.
For very heavy mould or algae (the green slippery type), you can use a dedicated outdoor mould remover such as HG Mould Remover or Wet & Forget. Follow the product instructions, but always test on a hidden area first.
Preventing Mould
- Position furniture where it gets some airflow. Tight corners against walls with no air circulation are the worst spots.
- Give furniture a wash before putting it away for winter, and again when you bring it out in spring.
- If covering furniture, use breathable covers. Non-breathable covers trap moisture and create a perfect environment for mould.
- Periodically move furniture to prevent constant damp on one side.
Pressure Washing: Yes or No?
No.
Well, almost no. A pressure washer on its highest setting can force PE rattan strands out of the weave, damage joints between the weave and frame, and strip powder coating off steel. The concentrated jet of water gets behind the weave and pushes it outward, loosening the whole structure.
However, if you have a pressure washer with an adjustable nozzle, you can use it on the very lowest, widest setting, held at least 50cm from the surface. At this point, though, you're basically using an expensive garden hose. You'd be better off just using the hose.
The exception is cleaning the ground underneath and around the furniture, where a pressure washer is fine. Just move the furniture out of the way first.
UV Protection and Colour Fading
PE rattan is UV-resistant, but that's not the same as UV-proof. Over several years of direct sun exposure, some colour change is inevitable. Dark colours (black, dark brown, dark grey) tend to fade more noticeably than lighter colours.
How much fading depends on several factors:
- Quality of the PE rattan: higher-quality material has better UV stabilisers mixed into the plastic during manufacturing.
- Hours of direct sun exposure: south-facing patios in the south of England will see more fading than sheltered spots in Scotland.
- Whether the furniture is covered when not in use: a UV-resistant cover significantly reduces fading.
What You Can Do
If fading has already occurred, an automotive plastic restorer can bring back some of the original colour. Products like Autoglym Bumper and Trim Gel or CarPlan Demon Shine Plastic Restorer are designed for exactly this kind of plastic. Apply with a cloth, buff off, and you'll be surprised at the improvement.
To prevent further fading, use a breathable furniture cover when the furniture isn't in use during sunny periods. This adds years to the appearance of your furniture.
Also worth noting: fading is cosmetic. It doesn't affect the structural integrity or the comfort of the furniture. A slightly faded Petworth double egg chair is still perfectly functional and comfortable. It just looks more lived-in.
Winter Care for PE Rattan Furniture
This is where UK-specific advice matters most. Our winters are not cold so much as they are relentlessly wet. PE rattan itself handles this fine, but the combination of constant moisture, limited drying, and occasional frost creates conditions that accelerate wear if you don't take precautions.
Can PE Rattan Stay Outside Over Winter?
Yes. PE rattan on steel frames is designed to be left outside year-round. The rattan won't be damaged by rain, frost, or cold temperatures. The steel frame, being powder-coated, is also well-protected.
However, "can" and "should" are different questions. Furniture left completely exposed all winter will accumulate dirt and mould, which means more work in spring. It may also suffer cosmetic wear that shortens its overall attractive lifespan.
The ideal approach: leave the furniture outside but use breathable covers. This protects against the worst of the weather while allowing air circulation to prevent condensation and mould under the cover.
If you have space in a shed, garage, or outbuilding, storing furniture inside over winter is even better. It just isn't strictly necessary for PE rattan on steel. See our detailed advice on egg chair and patio set winter storage options.
Cushions Over Winter
Cushions are a different story entirely. Never leave cushions outside over winter, even under covers. Foam inners absorb moisture through the fabric, and once damp, they develop mould inside the pad that's impossible to fully remove. Bring all cushions indoors. A spare bedroom, airing cupboard, or dry loft works fine. Store them in breathable bags, not plastic bags, which trap residual moisture.
When to Use Covers vs When to Store
This comes down to your space and how much effort you want to invest.
Use Covers When:
- You have nowhere to store the furniture indoors
- The furniture is too heavy or bulky to move easily
- You want to use the furniture occasionally through winter (a dry, mild day in February, for example)
- You have a dining set or lounge set that would be impractical to disassemble and store
Store Indoors When:
- You have space in a shed, garage, or outbuilding
- The furniture is light enough to move (most single egg chairs and rocking chairs are easy to carry)
- You want maximum lifespan from your furniture
- Your garden is very exposed to wind (covers can blow off or flap, causing more harm than good)
Choosing the Right Cover
Not all furniture covers are equal. You want:
- Breathable fabric: waterproof but breathable covers prevent condensation build-up. Fully waterproof non-breathable covers create their own damp microclimate underneath.
- Correct sizing: a cover that's too large flaps in the wind and lets rain in through gaps. Too small and it doesn't cover properly.
- Tie-down straps or drawstrings: essential in the UK, where autumn and winter winds will remove any cover that isn't secured.
- Air vents: built-in vents near the bottom help moisture escape.
Repair Tips for Loose Weave
Over time, individual strands of PE rattan can come loose. This usually happens at points where the weave is attached to the frame, or where the furniture takes the most stress (the edges of seat areas, for example). It's common and usually repairable.
Quick Fix for Popped Strands
If a single strand has popped out of the weave pattern but isn't broken, you can often tuck it back in and secure it. Use a flat-head screwdriver or butter knife to push the strand back under the adjacent weave. Then apply a small amount of strong adhesive (superglue or a plastic-bonding glue like Loctite Plastics Bonding System) to hold it in place. Wipe away excess glue immediately.
Replacing Broken Strands
For strands that have actually snapped, you need replacement PE rattan. This is available online in rolls, in various widths and colours. The process:
- Remove the broken strand completely by cutting it at both ends where it attaches to the frame.
- Cut a new strand to length, leaving an extra 5cm at each end.
- Weave the new strand in, following the pattern of the surrounding weave (over-under-over-under).
- Secure both ends to the frame with glue or by tucking them tightly under adjacent strands.
This takes patience but is perfectly doable as a DIY repair. The new strand may not match the colour exactly, especially on furniture that has faded slightly, but it will blend in over time as it weathers to match.
When Repair Isn't Worth It
If you have a large area of failed weave, multiple broken strands, or the weave is pulling away from the frame in several places, the furniture is reaching the end of its life. Repairing extensive weave damage is time-consuming and the result is rarely as good as the original. At this point, replacement is the better option.
Browse our egg chairs, patio sets, and dining sets if you're looking for a new set with PE rattan that will give you years of use.
How Long Does PE Rattan Actually Last in UK Conditions?
This is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on the quality of the material, how you care for it, and how exposed your garden is.
Good quality PE rattan on a powder-coated steel frame, with reasonable care, should last five to eight years in UK outdoor conditions. By "reasonable care" we mean regular cleaning during the season, covering or storing over winter, and keeping cushions dry.
Without any care, the same furniture will still last three to five years structurally, but it will look tired after two or three. Mould build-up, fading, and dirt accumulation make neglected furniture look older than it is.
With excellent care (regular cleaning, indoor winter storage, prompt treatment of any issues), some PE rattan furniture lasts ten years or more. We've had customers still using pieces they bought from us years ago that still look perfectly presentable.
The steel frame usually outlasts the rattan. Frames rarely fail unless the powder coating is compromised and rust takes hold. The rattan weave is typically the first component to show wear, beginning with colour changes, then some loosening, and eventually brittleness in heavily used areas.
Getting the Most Years Out of Your Furniture
To maximise the lifespan of furniture like the Knole double egg chair, Cliveden lounge set, or Bodiam double egg chair:
- Clean regularly through the season (every two to three weeks)
- Deal with mould immediately rather than letting it establish
- Use breathable covers when not in use for extended periods
- Store cushions indoors when not in use
- Store furniture indoors over winter if possible
- Treat any rust spots on the frame immediately
- Rotate furniture periodically to even out sun exposure
- Don't drag furniture across rough surfaces (lift it instead)
PE rattan garden furniture represents good value because it balances appearance, comfort, durability, and price effectively. A Cotehele single egg chair at £159.99 that lasts six years costs you about £27 per year. A Blickling dining set at £699.99 over seven years works out to £100 per year for a table that seats eight. By any measure, that's a reasonable cost for something you use regularly throughout summer.
Take care of it properly and you'll get even more value. The furniture doesn't ask for much. A clean now and then, somewhere dry for the winter months, and a bit of attention when something goes wrong. In return, you get years of comfortable, good-looking outdoor living.