Seat Material Properties
All Gloster woven furniture is made from only the highest quality man-made fiber. Soft to the touch, this remarkable material has many benefits including high suppleness, tear resistance, UV resistance and weather resistance. The polyethylene based, extruded and through-dyed wicker is completely weatherproof as well as being colorfast, extremely hard wearing and easy to clean. The wicker is resistant to chlorine, salt water, tanning lotions and oils.
Woven furniture can be left outside all year round and is able to withstand temperatures from -20 degreeC to +55 degreeC (-4°F to 131°F). When very cold, the weave will become stiffer than normal and when very hot, the weave will become more elastic. However, it will always revert to it's normal elasticity, once the ambient temperature stabilizes.
Gloster uses a more textured, thicker type of wicker than most other manufacturers. Although this wicker is harder to weave, it is stronger, more resistant to tension, tearing and splitting, wears better and gives a more natural feel to the product.
Cleaning
We recommend that woven furniture is regularly cleaned using Gloster's Sling & Woven Cleaner, following the instructions detailed on the label. It is important to use a non-foaming cleaner on woven furniture, as a foaming product will leave residues in the gaps in-between the weave which will then attract dirt. A pressure hose on a low setting is acceptable to use on woven furniture, but avoid any teak components, as the high pressure can erode the surface of the timber.
Gloster's Sling & Woven Cleaner - 25oz / 750ml plastic bottle with trigger-action head. Water-based formula - both non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Cleans and restores the new look of sling and synthetic wicker woven furniture. Special non-foaming formula. Each bottle is supplied complete with a special applicator pad.
Repairing
Scratch marks or abrasion to the edges of the fiber can be repaired by very briefly and carefully applying heat (i.e. the flame of a cigarette lighter) to the affected area and rubbing along the length of the fiber with a piece of hard cardboard to restore a smooth edge. This can be a tricky procedure to perfect, so we suggest you try a couple of test runs on an area of wicker that is hidden from view - i.e. on the underside of the furniture.
If fibers are accidentally cut or broken, a piece of furniture can generally be repaired successfully by removing the broken section of wicker and carefully weaving in a new strip.
Cleaning Cushions
One of the best ways to keep cushions looking good and to delay the need for deep cleaning is to properly maintain the fabric cushion cover. This can be accomplished by simply brushing off dirt before it becomes embedded, wiping up spills as soon as they occur or spot cleaning soon after stains occur. Cushion covers should always be removed from the cushion filling prior to any cleaning. Cushions should be stored in a dry location when not in use. Read our Gloster Cushion Fabrics Care & Maintenance Fact Sheet.
General Tips
DO NOT dry clean
DO NOT use bleach
DO NOT use aggressive detergents
DO NOT iron or steam iron
DO NOT tumble dry
Bottom Frame Material Properties
Aluminum is a light and tough metal with an excellent strength to weight ratio and corrosion resistance - making it an ideal material for outdoor furniture.
The corrosion resistance of Gloster's aluminum furniture is enhanced by pre-treating the aluminum extrusions with a chrome conversion coating that deposits a thin layer of chrome on the surface. The treated frame is subsequently coated with an electro-statically applied, powder coat finish. The electro-static application method ensures 100% coverage of the metal's surface area and provides a consistent and tough finish that far exceeds other conventional paint finishes. The resulting finish is knock and scratch resistant, impervious to moisture, highly resistant to corrosion and easy to clean.
