Wicker baskets make an eye-catching statement about you and your style in any interior decor setting. Use your collection for years by taking advantage of these easy Wicker basket care tips. At Wicker Warehouse, we offer various furniture sets made of wicker to enhance any room – such as seats made of wicker seats and tables, conversation sets with chair set conversational pieces as well as dining sets made from natural rattan or wicker designs and washes, these furniture sets made of wicker will enhance any decor! Wicker Hampers Whether hosting indoor or outdoor gatherings large or small – Wicker Furniture Sets make ideal additions.
Keep Baskets out of Sunlight and Away from Heat Sources
Keep your baskets away from direct heat sources such as wood stoves, fireplaces, heat registers, gas stoves or radiators as well as sunlight as prolonged exposure could result in bleaching, fading and drying out of fibers too quickly and make them stiff.
Keep Baskets Away from Grease
Make sure that baskets are kept away from any heat sources such as stoves, wood-burning stoves or fireplaces as these could become dirty with smoke, soot and grease deposits, making it more challenging for cleaning and maintenance purposes.
Maintain Intended Use for Baskets
Avoid mixing baskets used for food storage with baskets designed for holding oil, perfume, potpourri or soaps. Make sure the food-related baskets are kept separate from those designed to hold other things. Line food-related baskets with plastic liners to safeguard their integrity before placing any food items inside them – and consider lining these linings with cloth napkins or paper towels in order to absorb any oil or grease present within them.
Handle Baskets with Care
It is highly advised to handle baskets with care. Use clean hands free from oils, lotions and grease when handling them as body oils can damage baskets, while humidity levels can lead to staining, mold and mildew growth on them. When picking up the basket, hold its bottom, particularly if any items may have fallen inside it; and wear cotton or latex gloves while working with these materials.
Cleaning Your Baskets
Cleaning Your Baskets mes A feather-duster, or brush made of natural bristles, is the most efficient way to rid baskets of dust. Use an upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner with an upholstered nylon stocking as padding on its bottom for optimal dusting results. For deeper cleaning of a basket, wet white cotton cloth (cotton diapers for babies work great) very lightly with cold clean water before wiping it dry; let dry completely after this step is finished as overdrenching could expand fibers or lead to the loss of color/patina/color changes (an advantage appreciated by collectors of antiques).
Rotate Your Basket Collection–Keep it Circulating
Moving baskets around your home and room to expose each basket to changing temperature and humidity levels as well as artificial light sources or sunlight exposure could expose it to objects which could contribute to further degradation of factors.
Maintain Constant Humidity and Temperature Levels
Humidity and temperature fluctuations in our homes can be extremely harmful to basket collections, necessitating air conditioners and dehumidifiers to cool humid conditions in order to prevent mold, mildew, and insect growth. Mildew can be difficult to eliminate completely; its presence compromises both its condition, quality, and value of your basket collection.
Hang or Mount Baskets Properly
When installing your basket into a room, be sure to use wall hangers that match its capacity and accessories. Incorrect mounting devices could alter its shape irreparably.
Keep Baskets Out of Harms Way
Baskets that are delicate should be stored safely away from pets and small children who could break or topple them over. Antler baskets may pose particular harm; therefore they should be displayed on a level surface and placed behind acrylic or glass domes to help prevent curious children from touching them and harming themselves with them. Displaying baskets under domes also serves to keep dust at bay!
Packing and Shipping Your Baskets
First and foremost, check to make sure the containers or wrapping supplies are clear of insects or rodents. Double-boxing your basket is the most secure means of packing an item; make sure it is dry before applying any stain to ensure no fumes escape during shipping. In order to protect yourself against damage during shipping, remember to include on a 3-by-5 card the address, name and phone number of both the creator and recipient of your gift basket.
Be sure to place the card in both baskets prior to sealing your box to ensure accurate delivery. Write or print your address clearly onto a packing label for packing purposes or attach a printed version directly onto the outside of the box itself for accurate address display. It’s wise to store baskets inside another box to provide extra security and stability.
Start by wrapping your basket with multiple layers of archival bubble wrap and paper, packaged together into a bag. Place this bundle in the center of a new shipping container, leaving space in each direction of 4 inches for bubble wrap Styrofoam peanuts (prepacked individually plastic bags), newspapers and any additional packing materials needed for packing. Pack this box into an additional four inch-wide box before filling it up again with packing supplies.
To facilitate easy shipping, to ensure the easiest possible experience it is important that there are no other markings such as bar codes or advertisements other than your shipping label easily read in the box. Avoid using liquor containers with writing on them as this could prompt immediate rejection by the Post Office.
Long Term Basket Storage
To achieve the best results from long term basket storage, follow these guidelines and do not allow large objects such as books to be placed directly on top of storage containers. Baskets stored for extended periods in basements, attics, or garages that contain heavy objects are more vulnerable than boxed ones when temperature fluctuation fluctuates significantly – these should instead be stored in humidified spaces that maintain an appropriate humidity level and temperature regulation. If your collection of baskets is gathering dust somewhere you don’t use them properly then why not share them? Selling it off, exhibiting it at galleries/museums or even giving them away as gifts – that way everyone involved would benefit!
Repairing Damaged Baskets
Repairing and restoring baskets can be an arduous and complex endeavor due to their fragility, material matching issues (sometimes not even available), color mismatch issues and risks posed by incorrect repairs destroying antique value. If your basket has become damaged in any way, try to minimize further damage by keeping it away from circulation until locating an expert or conservator who specializes in basket repair and restoration.
