Common Kitchen Items That Can Get Thrifted Baskets Squeaky Clean

While you never know what you'll find in the aisles of your favorite thrift store, you can almost always count on finding at least one basket for sale. In fact, woven baskets are among the most common items you'll find in thrift stores. These classic storage vessels are typically woven and often made of natural materials. Those two factors can add up to lots of accumulated grossness. Dust and grime get trapped in the texture. Give your baskets a wipe with a cloth, but there's still crud wedged between every warp and weft.

Both dish soap and baking soda will take new-to-you baskets from ghastly to great in no time, tackling baskets of the dirtiest degree. However, save the baking soda, which can also serve as a handy bleach alternative, for extremely dirty baskets. The combination of these affordable and often on-hand ingredients will leave you confident that you've bid adieu to lingering nastiness. Because baskets made of natural materials can suffer damage from a soak or a spray-down with water, moderation with these ingredients is key.

Before your new basket from Goodwill becomes a household fixture, give it a proper cleaning. If your basket isn't terribly dirty, give it a de-dusting with a soft cloth, feather duster, vacuum, and brush attachment. However, your thrift store find might be in need of a much more intensive cleaning than even a vacuum brush can do. When it's time to bring in the dish soap or baking soda, use a light hand.

A damp — not wet — cloth with a dab of dish soap is all you need for a more in-depth scrub down. Rub the cloth over both sides of the basket. To lift away the soap, use a series of dampened cloths instead of a spray down or soaking. If there are serious stains, it's time for a baking soda cleaning hack. Make a paste with baking soda and a small amount of water. Apply it to the stained area, let it sit for a few minutes, and brush the baking soda away. Remember to let your baskets dry thoroughly after cleaning them to avoid mold and mildew growth — you can opt to let them sun for 20 minutes to get the job done.