How to clean wicker baskets
6 January 2025
Willow baskets – also known as wicker baskets – are beautiful and practical items with a wide range of uses, and ideal for gifting. Throughout their lifespan, willow baskets are likely to get dirty with use, or cobwebby and dusty depending on where they are stored.
Read on for some handy tips on how to clean a willow basket.
Cleaning a willow basket
There are several different ways you can clean a willow basket without damaging it.
1. Vacuum
Use a vacuum to remove the dust, cobwebs, etc. from your willow basket. The different brush attachments are also useful for cleaning all the nooks and crannies.
2. Scrubbing brush
Use a dry, soft scrubbing brush, paintbrush, or similar to get into those hard-to-reach places. When doing this, work gently and be careful not to damage the willow.
3. Wood-safe detergent / white wine vinegar solution
Wipe your willow basket with a cloth dampened with a mild, wood-safe detergent. 1-part white wine vinegar to 4-parts water in a spray bottle is also safe to use.
4. Baking soda
Use baking soda to absorb odours by gently working it into your willow basket with a brush.
5. Mild bleach solution
Spray or gently scrub your willow basket with a 1:1 solution of water and mild bleach to remove mould, then wipe with a water only cloth afterwards to remove the solution and the mould. Use a dry towel to blot away any excess moisture. Let the basket air dry in a well-ventilated area – natural drying is best.
IMPORTANT: Take care when doing this with a white willow basket as the bleach may stain it – do a patch test first.
6. Warm water
If your willow basket is really muddy or dirty, the best thing to do is fully immerse it in warm water for a short period of time to lift the dirt. You can also put it through the dishwasher, but it may discolour the basket. Do not put antique or heirloom baskets through the dishwasher.
How to prolong the life of your willow basket
There are several different ways to prolong the lifespan of a willow basket. It’s important to use the method which is best for your basket – and this will depend upon what you use your willow basket for.
Food baskets
Whether you use your willow basket to display food in your home, to gather food when foraging, or as a shopping basket, willow baskets that come into contact with food need to be treated in a certain way.
Lightly wipe your basket with a food-based oil from time to time, such as olive, sunflower, walnut oil or similar. This will ‘feed’ the willow, and prolong the lifespan of your basket.
Log baskets and other heavy-duty baskets
To prolong the life of log baskets, or any heavy-duty basket being used indoors or outdoors, treat it using a 50/50 mixture of turpentine and boiled linseed oil.
Any other willow baskets that do not come into contact with food can also be treated in this way.
Homemade waxes and polishes
You can also make your own waxes and polishes using natural materials to protect and extend the life of your basket. Making your own polishes and waxes are part of all our two-day Basketry courses, hosted here at Musgrove Willows. Perfect for seasoned basket weavers or a first foray into basket weaving, we supply all the materials you need for your course – including willow grown right here on our Somerset farm.
Interested in basketry?
Whether you’re interested in our willow weaving courses or simply want to know more about our willow and willow products, get in touch with the Musgrove team today – we’d love to hear from you.
