How to Clean & Maintain Kitchen Wicker Baskets

Here is the best way to clean kitchen wicker baskets, without causing structural damage to your pieces! 

Woven wicker baskets are one of those key things I enjoy using as part of my home decor, because they're beautiful and useful!

In the kitchen, I have a lot of baskets. I love how natural wicker baskets bring a timeless, country feel to cottage kitchen, and they're great for storing eggs, produce, tea supplies and many other things.

Lovely as baskets are in the kitchen, there's just one catch. 

Baskets do get dirty after a while! Between cooking grease, general dust and food items I store in them...my baskets do need to be cleaned. 

So I've been learning how to clean the different storage baskets that I use on a day-to-day basis.

Here's how to go about cleaning wicker baskets, and some tips for proper care too! 

Can You Clean a Natural Wicker Basket?

It took me a long time to realize you could clean baskets. I thought exposing them to moisture would ruin the natural fibres. So for a long time, I put up with a lot of grunge. 

Only recently did I learn that you can wash some baskets, without ruining the natural materials they are made of. 

But there is a catch. 

You don't want to add too much moisture to baskets made from soft materials (things like sea grass or water hyacinth). These are more fragile. 

But baskets made from hard, natural materials (like rattan, willow or wood splits) can handle a good rinse without damaging the structure or natural fibers! 

In fact, a good cleaning will restore a basket's natural beauty that can be otherwise lost under a lot of dust! 

How to Clean Soft Woven Baskets

Items You'll Need

• a damp cloth
• a spray bottle for misting
• soft brush (I use horsehair)
• clean cloth
• optional: a fan for quick drying

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Soft Baskets

You need to be careful when cleaning baskets made from fragile or soft materials. You don't want to expose them to too much moisture. 

Here's how I recommend doing it. 

For extreme cases: use a vacuum hose to gently suck up dust and debris from the inside of your soft basket before walking through the following steps.

• take your spray bottle and lightly spritz the inside of the basket. 
• Use a soft brush to pull dust and dirt out of tight spaces. 

• Wipe it dry with a cloth
• If you want things to rapidly dry out, feel free to place your basket in front of a fan.

How to Clean Wicker Baskets of Willow, Rattan or Wood Splints

I love keeping baskets that have a strong, wicker weave. They're tough, and that makes them very easy to clean! 

Items You'll Need

• running water
• a soft brush
• a clean cloth

Step-by-Step Guide for Cleaning Hard Baskets

Dirty wicker baskets can be placed directly under cold running water at your kitchen sink. Moving water will remove the dust particles and anything else in hanging out in your basket! 

Here's how you do it. 

1. Empty the contents of your basket. 
2. Flip the basket upside down and place it directly under running water (if you have a spray hose at your kitchen sink, use it!). 
3. Rinse the outside of your basket, then the inside. 
4. Use a gentle brush to remove dirt buildup in cracks, or sticky foodstuff. 
5. Take a moist cloth and wipe down the entire basket, inside and out. 
6. Leave it to dry in a well-ventilated area (you can lay them out in direct sunlight, but it may bleach your baskets over time). 

How to Use White Vinegar for Cleaning Baskets

If you've just bought a few baskets from local thrift stores, you may want to clean them with something more than cold water!

1. Clean your baskets with water first.
2. Dilute vinegar and water half n' half in a spritz bottle.
3. Liberally spray the vinegar water over your entire basket, then let it sit for about 5 minutes. 
4. Wipe wicker material with a well-rung, moist cloth. 
5. Leave the basket to dry. 

Tips for Regular Maintenance in the Kitchen

1. Dust your baskets a few times a year, especially ones with a tight weave!
2. Give your baskets a regular cleaning 1x a year (or more). 
3. If you spill something in your basket, immediately clean it up so things don't stick. 
4. When storing fruit, eggs or produce in a basket, spread a cloth in the bottom to catch any moisture that might appear. 
5. Store baskets in a dry place to avoid mold (not right by the kitchen sink or other areas where moisture is constant).

FAQ on Cleaning Wicker Baskets

Can I use strong cleaning products on my baskets?

I wouldn't recommend using strong cleaning products on your baskets. Wicker is made from natural material, and you could damage it (or leave the smell behind). 

Should I use soapy water to clean my baskets? 

You don't need to use soap. However, if you've picked up hard woven baskets from a thrift store or secondhand shop and would like to wash them down, feel free to spritz and scrub with soapy water.

Alternatively, you can submerge them in warm sudsy water for 30 seconds or so. Just be sure to rinse all the soap off!

I have mold in my basket; should I wash with a vinegar solution?

It's never a good idea to have mold in your home. You can wash a hard, woven basket down with white vinegar to try and kill it the fungus. But personally? I don't mess with mold in my home! 

What is the best way to clean really large baskets?

If you have a really large basket you need to clean, go ahead and use the bathtub, instead of a kitchen sink. 

How do I get sticky stuff out of my basket?

Run the basket under running water to soften the foodstuff. Gently scrub it with a soft brush. Rinse.