The wet isn't a problem unless it gets wet and stays that way, but you've already figured that out. This stuff is really hardy, though, so a good scrubbing now and again, with a mild detergent in a bucket of water would be a good thing. Keeping the wicker painted will help. Sun is what will cause the most deterioration.

oopsie - you *are* rambling LOL! I think you like it angled in the last picture? I also have a double rocker (oak, not painted though DH says I can paint it white when it needs refinishing), and a big old pickle crock in the basement. Here are pics of those (PS'd to show white trim we're going to install in the spring). The pickle crock was to be used for umbrellas, I can also fill it with branches for winter, but when it gets really cold out I like to bring it in so it doesn't get water in it and then freeze (and crack). I also have 2 small (2ft x 2ft x 2ft high) wooden (maple? very close to the honey maple finish we have on our interior trim) tables I wanted to paint white, so I can group things. They use to be in our FR but didn't match the coffee table. I haven't heard back yet on the wicker chairs that were on CL a month ago (ad's still there). I was thinking wood on one side, wicker on the other (though I have 2 wooden tables so one on each side b/t the windows to hide the outlets)? If I get the chairs it will go a long way toward filling the (48 ft long) porch. Though I'd love a swing too if we could find the right spot to put it where it won't bang into house or railing. I can live w/o a swing as long as I have my rocker(s) though! Wouldn't you know I got rid of egg crate stuff when we moved - but I'll check thrifts and sales for a long cushion I can recover (if I can find Sunbrella material cheap). My mom might have one - she bought new sunroom furniture in the fall, didn't like the cushions so I think she bought all new cushions, maybe I can get the old ones and recover those (rusty red). I have 4 cushions we used to use on our high-backed wrought iron patio chairs, but may be too short for the settee and too big for chairs (and not wide enough). BTW, oopsie, I love brick and think your porch looks great with the black shutters and the dark (black?) rockers. NHB - I'll go check out your thread again - didn't mean to hijack it but I *will* try the Valentine's line on DH when he notices the wicker piece in the basement LOL. I love all of your porches, old house and new.

DO NOT pressure wash the wicker - too fragile. Just wet it with a garden hose, spray it with a cleaner and let it it about 20 min and then rinse and allow to dry THOROUGHLY before painting it. Anne, if your paint flaked it was probably because you used an acrylic spray and someone had previously used oil - it will always spray then. Spraying wicker is far easier than painting it by hand - SO hard to get in all the bits and pieces. As for color...what else will be in the room? I love white wicker but it must be in the right place to not disappear. I love wicker painted black or Meisel green. I tried to find a color that was similar to this but mine turned out more turquoise but I still like it and it's not worth changing. This is what I wanted: This is what I ended up with: Here is one with black wicker:

Do keep us updated as to how it turns out. I have 4 wicker breakfast chairs I'd like to either paint or stain. My chairs have a cream/pickled finish and I was told by a local specialty store (they dealt in wicker/rattan) that the finish could only be removed by dipping the whole piece of furniture. Once the old finish was removed, only then would they stain it. It was going to cost more to do that than what I paid for the set, so I declined.