Keep the basket useful: 9 ways to care for woven baskets

Daily cleaning

1. Dry wiping is preferred: Use a natural bristle brush to gently sweep along the woven texture to avoid the wet cloth causing the rattan to swell and deform;

2. Stain treatment: Coffee stains should be immediately wiped with diluted neutral soapy water (pH 6-7), and then pressed and dried with a dry cotton cloth;

3. Seasonal maintenance: Before the rainy season, apply a thin layer of olive oil (food grade) on the basket body to form a waterproof protective film (no more than 5ml per square meter).

Storage and storage

1. Empty support: When not in use for a long time, insert acid-free paper balls to maintain the basket shape to avoid heavy objects squeezing and causing the warp and weft to loosen;

2. Humidity control: The storage environment humidity needs to be maintained at 45%-55%. Silica gel desiccant can be placed in the basket (50g per 10L space);

3. Store away from light: Ultraviolet rays will fade natural materials. It is recommended to wrap them in cotton and linen bags and store them in a cool place.

Advanced Repair

1. Repair of small cracks: Mix bamboo powder and wood glue in a ratio of 2:1 to fill the cracks, and polish them with 200-grit sandpaper after drying;

2. Replacement of bamboo strips: Cut rattan strips of the same material, soften them with steam, and insert them along the original weaving track, and fix the joints with cotton thread;

3. Anti-insect treatment: Spray diluted peppermint oil (10ml peppermint oil + 1L water) regularly to repel bamboo borers without damaging the material.

These maintenance methods are derived from traditional methods and have been verified in laboratories: a properly maintained hand-woven basket can last 5-8 times longer than industrial products. An antique bamboo basket collector shared: "The Iga-ryu bamboo basket I collected in 1985 is still "fumigated and maintained" with steam from boiling water in a tea kettle. Traditional wisdom and scientific maintenance have never been in opposition."