Restore Wicker Baskets To Their Former Glory With This Cleaning Hack

You can easily use a basket in your home for stylish storage. Whether you want a small wicker one to house odds and ends on your nightstand or a big one to hold your blankets, they're a versatile organizing tool. However, what if your wicker basket doesn't match your room's aesthetic? If you have one that is a bright yellow or orange, but you prefer to have a tan or light brown one, that doesn't mean you're destined to have an eyesore in your space. Instead, you can strip the finish with a little bit of oven cleaner.

This oven cleaner hack will remove the finish on the wicker, leaving behind the neutral straw color underneath. This shade is much more on-trend with today's designs, allowing you to make a thrifted flip work better for your modern space. The best part of this hack is that it uses something you likely already have in your cleaning cabinet and doesn't take much time or skill to pull off (Unlike sanding the finish off of wood!). Here is how to strip the finish off of wicker baskets with oven cleaner.

To transform your wicker basket from a dated finish or layer of paint to a toasty brown, liberally add layers of oven cleaner foam all over your basket. An example of this is the Easy-Off Oven Cleaner, which you can get for $4.99 on Amazon. You want to apply a thick coating, allowing the cleaning agent to penetrate the finish and loosen its bond to the wicker. While there is no official amount to use, you want to add enough where you can no longer see the wicker underneath. Allow the foam to sit for 30 minutes, and apply soapy water via a spray bottle across the entire thing. Then, either take the basket outside or put it in a tub, and begin to scrub it clean with a hard bristle brush. You should be able to see the finish begin to come off with each pass.

If needed, you can continue to apply more layers and scrub to remove more and more of the finish. Continue to brush it until you get to your desired shade. Finally, either take a hose or shower hose attachment and rinse off the oven cleaner and varnish. If you did this project in your bathtub, make sure to clean your tub afterward to ensure there isn't any finish or oven cleaner residue on its surface.

When using oven cleaner, always make sure you're in a well-ventilated room. It's best to do this project outside, but if you must do it inside, do so in a room with windows open and a fan on. That's because these cleaners use harsh chemicals in order to create an acidic enough cleaner that quickly degreases. These chemicals can irritate your lungs, nose, and eyes. According to Mount Sinai, in extreme cases, breathing in too many fumes or swallowing oven cleaner can lead to oven cleaner poisoning, which will need immediate medical attention. You also want to make sure you use rubber gloves at a minimum, and consider wearing protective eyewear if you think you might get splashed while scrubbing or a face mask to prevent breathing in fumes.

When using this hack, you can change the brush depending on your basket's size. For example, if you have a large basket big enough to hold blankets, it will be more efficient to use a larger handheld brush. But if you're trying to strip a smaller trinket basket, a toothbrush could be a better fit. Follow these tips and you'll be decorating your home with woven baskets in no time!