• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
    Textile Indie

    Textile Indie

    • Meet Brittany
    • Blog
    • Work With Me
    • Resources
    • Shop
    • Basketry
      • Pine Needle Basketry
      • Rattan Basketry Resources
    • Spin
      • Spinning Resources
    • Dye
      • Ice Dyeing
      • Natural Dyeing Resources and Info
    • Print
      • Block Printing Resources
    • Sew
      • Sewing Resources for the Home Sewist
    • Felt
    • Videos
    • Basket a Month Club
    • Courses

    How to Protect Your Handwoven Baskets From Mold

    You are here: Home / Basket Weaving / How to Protect Your Handwoven Baskets From Mold

    For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.

    Why protect your baskets?

    Mold, light, water, dirt, and staining…..all potential problems that can attack your beautifully woven baskets.

    I was digging through a basket of yarn the other day when I realized that the basket was growing an unnatural color of green fuzz – and it wasn’t the yarn!

    When I inspected it closer, I found a thin layer of mold growing on my yarn basket’s reed and seagrass. My chin hit the floor. A basket that I had worked to create, one that belonged to a set of six matching baskets, was ruined. What a disappointment!

    I ran around the house checking all the other baskets in my set. Sure enough, all the others in were showing signs of mold. The baskets had retained or absorbed enough moisture in our Pacific Northwest climate to create a healthy breeding ground for this science experiment.

    YouTube video about a basket I rescued

    How to remove mold from a basket

    I made these baskets years ago and didn’t realize the importance of protecting the reed from moisture.

    Happily, I figured out a way to rescue my hard work.

    Here’s how I brought them back to life:

    Soaking and scrubbing

    I soaked and scrubbed the baskets with Method antibacterial cleaner. I like spearmint, but it comes in a variety of natural scents.

    When all signs of mold had been washed away, I set them in front of a fan to speed the drying process and ensure that everything dried thoroughly.

    I usually recommend allowing baskets to dry naturally so they don’t crack, but in this case, I wanted to get all the moisture out as fast as possible so the mold didn’t have a chance to repopulate.

    How to protect your baskets from mold

    After the baskets dried, I took a spray can of Danish Oil Wood sealer (clear natural) and sprayed each basket inside and out. I put two coats on each basket, allowing them to dry for 20 minutes between each coat (the can says 10 minutes between each coat, but I ended up waiting 20 minutes to be sure).

    spray can of Weaver's Stain Danish oil
    Danish Oil – spray or brush on – will protect baskets from mold and dirt.

    This oil stain smells, so I suggest keeping the baskets outdoors while they dry and letting them de-stink before bringing them into the house. The smell goes away after about two days.

    Also, don’t spray this stuff in the house, do it outside! It comes out in a mist that fills the air with little droplets – not good to breathe.

    The Danish Oil I used darkened the reed slightly. I prefer the lighter natural reed color, so this is what I was going for. I am happy with the outcome and will be using this on future baskets.

    In the past, I have used a canned oil or water-based wood sealer and applied it with a brush. This is another option (potentially cheaper, though I haven’t done the math).

    I have used this sealer with a good outcome: Watco Danish Oil Finish.

    I discovered that the spray can is a lot more convenient, easy to use, and super easy to clean up. I found the spray sealer at basketweaving.com here. 

    We put a lot of time and money into our handwoven baskets; it’s important to take good care of them. Though sealing them may not be the most natural thing to do, I do like that my baskets don’t mold when sealed.

    Do you want the best resources, tools, and products for fiber artists?

    Every other Friday, I send an email chock full of fiber craft inspiration for you to explore.

    Each issue focuses on one fiber art skill – spinning, dyeing, basket weaving…

    Sign up Here

    My complete YouTube video on staining and sealing baskets

    I hope you can save any of your baskets that have seen better days.

    For a complete list of basket terminology:

    Basket Weavers Glossary

    For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.

    More basket weaving techniques:

    How to Cut Reed for Basket Stakes

    How to Weave an Open Basket Base

    How to Weave a Closed Basket Base

    Twining a Basket Base: Creating a Stable Basket

    Weaving Techniques for Basket Making

    How to Set Up the Rim of a Basket

    How to do Basic Lashing on a Basket Rim

    How to do Cross-Stitch or X-Lashing on a Basket Rim

    Signing Your Handwoven Baskets: Leaving a Legacy

    Basket Stains and Sealers: Finishing Your Basket

    Basket-of-the Month Club

    Check out Textile Indie’s self-paced basket club if you want to learn to weave beautiful baskets. Twelve different basket designs with video and written instructional support to learn foundational basketry techniques. Over the course of twelve months, you will receive one basket pattern with supporting instructional material. Start at basket one and weave all twelve, or stay as long as you want.

    gallery of 12 different reed baskets

    Sidebar

    Meet Brittany

    Work with Me

    Legal Information

    Textile Indie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Textile Indie also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Textile Indie is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

    About Brittany

    Privacy

    Work with Me

    Free Community

    Follow on Social

    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook

    Resources

    Favorite Tools and Supplies

    Etsy Shop – Basket Supplies

    Basket-of-the-Month Club

    Video Basket Courses

    Copyright © 2023 · Textile Indie · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme