How to Clean Wicker and Rattan Baskets (Including Mould)
How to clean wicker and rattan baskets without damaging them: dust first, use a barely damp cloth, deal with mould and musty smells, and dry them fully.
If your basket is dusty, grubby or marked, the big question is whether it can get wet. It can, a little. To clean a wicker basket, dust it dry first with a soft brush or a vacuum, then wipe any marks that remain with a cloth wrung out until it is barely damp. Don't soak it. Then let it dry completely, inside and out, before anything goes back in.
The sections below cover what changes that method: material, mould (and when a basket is past saving), musty smells and laundry baskets. The same steps suit a basket picked up second hand.
Check what your basket is made of
Wicker is a way of weaving, not a material. A wicker basket can be woven from rattan, willow, bamboo, seagrass, water hyacinth or other plant fibres, so check the product listing or label. Our guide to rattan vs wicker explains how the two terms differ.
All of these are natural fibres, which is why water needs care. Soak a basket and the fibres can swell, pulling the weave out of shape, weakening it or fading its colour.
| Material | Gentlest approach |
|---|---|
| Rattan, willow or bamboo | The full method below. |
| Seagrass | Brush lightly so you don't rough up the weave, and keep water to a minimum. See our guide to cleaning seagrass baskets. |
| Water hyacinth | Brush lightly and spot clean with a barely damp cloth only where you must. |
Treat this as general guidance, and follow any care instructions that came with your basket.
What you need
- a soft brush, such as a clean, dry paintbrush
- two or three microfibre cloths
- a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
- washing up liquid (dish soap in the US) and a bowl of warm water
- white vinegar, for stains (optional)
- an old toothbrush
- a towel
- small scissors, for loose strands
How to clean a wicker basket step by step
Work through the steps in order and stop once the basket is clean. A basket that is only dusty may need nothing more than step 1. If yours is painted, stop there too and brush gently, because water and hard brushing can lift the paint.
1. Empty it and dust it dry
Take everything out, including any fabric liner. Brush the basket with a soft brush or a dry microfibre cloth, following the direction of the weave; brushing across it can loosen the strands. Then vacuum on a low setting with the brush attachment, loosen dust in corners with an old toothbrush and vacuum again.
If a strand sticks out, snip it with scissors rather than pulling it, which can make the damage worse.
You're done when a dry cloth wiped over the basket comes away clean.
2. Wipe it with a barely damp cloth
Mix a few drops of washing up liquid into a bowl of warm water. Dip a microfibre cloth and wring it out hard, until it no longer drips. Wipe along the weave, rinsing and wringing the cloth whenever it looks dirty. Don't pour water over the basket or leave water sitting in the weave.
Keep going until the cloth comes away clean from a section you've already wiped.
3. Spot treat stubborn marks
For a mark the cloth won't shift, dip an old toothbrush in the soapy water, tap off the excess and work gently at the spot, again along the weave.
If you'd rather use a natural cleaner, mix roughly 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Patch test it first. Dab a little on a hidden spot, such as under the base, and let it dry. If the colour or finish changes, don't use vinegar on the rest of the basket. If the test spot looks unchanged, dampen a clean cloth in the mix, wring it out well and wipe the stain along the weave.
Move on when the mark has faded or gone. A second gentle pass is fine, but if a faint mark remains, live with it rather than scrubbing harder or adding more water.
4. Wipe away any residue
Wipe every area you cleaned with a fresh cloth dampened in plain water and wrung out well, to take off leftover soap or vinegar. Those areas should then feel clean, not tacky or slippery.
5. Dry it fully
Don't rush this step. Natural fibre put away damp can develop mildew spots over time, a harder problem than the dust you started with.
Pat the basket with a towel, then let it air dry somewhere well ventilated, out of direct sun and away from radiators, heaters and fires. Don't use a hairdryer. Strong sun can fade the colour, and direct heat can dry out the fibres and warp the basket.
The basket is ready when it feels dry to the touch inside and out, base included. If in doubt, give it longer.
How to remove mould from a wicker basket
If you can see mould on a basket, try this gentle method:
- Take the basket outside on a dry day, so anything you brush off stays outdoors.
- Brush off loose growth with a soft brush.
- Patch test the vinegar mix if you haven't already, then wipe the affected areas with roughly 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water on a cloth wrung out well.
- Let it dry completely in the shade. Don't soak it or speed up the drying with a heater.
Mould is very hard to remove properly from a basket, so treat this as worth a try rather than a sure fix.
When to stop and replace the basket
Our rule is to wait until the basket is completely dry, then replace it if any of these is true:
- It still smells musty.
- The mould comes back.
- The fibres feel soft, crumble or break when you press them gently.
Past that point, more scrubbing and water only strain fibres that are already weak.
How to get rid of a musty smell
If a basket smells musty but shows no mould, make sure it is completely dry and let it air in a well ventilated room. If the smell lingers, bicarbonate of soda (baking soda in the US) is one simple option. Leave a small bowl of it inside the basket overnight, or sprinkle a light layer inside, wait a few hours, then brush or vacuum it out.
Still musty? Try the vinegar wipe above, and if the smell survives that once the basket is fully dry, follow the replace rule.
How to clean a wicker laundry basket
Whether it's one of our laundry baskets or an old favourite, clean it the same way as any other basket. The difference is the damp towels and clothes it can end up holding, so three habits matter more:
- Use a liner or laundry bag. It keeps clothes off the weave, and you can take it out and wash it.
- Keep damp clothes out. Dry wet towels and clothes first, or take them straight to the wash. Moisture held against the weave for long can lead to mildew.
- Let it air. Leave any lid off now and then, and keep the basket where air can move around it.
How to keep wicker baskets clean for longer
Damp, heat and strong sun are behind the damage this guide tries to avoid, so where a basket lives matters.
Store it dry and ventilated, away from sealed plastic boxes and damp lofts, cellars or garages, where moisture can build up. Radiators, fires and long spells in a sunny window can fade the colour and leave the fibres brittle, so keep it clear of all three. In a humid room, run a dehumidifier. Drier air makes it harder for mould to take hold.
If you have a woven lampshade, see our guide on how to clean a rattan pendant light.
Wicker basket cleaning FAQs
Can I wash a wicker basket in water?
Yes, but only with a damp cloth. Soaking it or rinsing it under a tap or shower risks swelling and fading. If one gets soaked by accident, take it out of the water, blot it with towels and dry it as in step 5. A slightly warped basket can sometimes be pressed gently back into shape while it is still damp.
Can I put a wicker basket in the dishwasher or washing machine?
We wouldn't. Both soak the basket through, and a dishwasher adds heat on top.
How do I clean a rattan basket?
The same way as any wicker basket, since rattan is one of the materials wicker is woven from. For rattan chairs or tables, follow our guide to cleaning rattan furniture.
How often should I clean wicker baskets?
As a rule of thumb, dust them every few weeks. Save the damp clean for when a basket looks grubby or picks up a mark, since every wet clean means another round of drying.
If a basket is past saving, you'll find a replacement among our woven wicker and rattan baskets.
