Basket Care and Reshaping

Bolga Baskets: 

When you rinse or reshape your basket or hat, always use cold water to prevent dye from bleeding.

  1. Wet the item thoroughly with cold water, using a hose, faucet, or spray bottle. Take care to keep any leather elements dry.
  2. Let the basket sit for a few minutes so the natural fibers can absorb water and become more pliable.
  3. Then, press and smooth the item to your desired shape.
  4. Holding the basket by the handle, shake out the excess water.
  5. Place the item in a warm place with good airflow to dry. Do not place wet items on a surface where dye transfer would be a problem or protect your surfaces with a material like cardboard until the basket is fully dry.

This process can be repeated as often as needed.

Iringa Baskets: 

When you rinse or reshape your basket, always use cold water to prevent dye from bleeding.

  1. Wet the reeds by either spraying creased areas lightly with a spray bottle or saturating the entire basket if a more thorough reshaping is needed.
  2. Let the basket sit for a few minutes so the natural fibers can absorb water and become more pliable.
  3. Shake out excess water if you have fully saturated the basket.
  4. Then, press and mold the basket to your desired shape.
  5. Place the basket in a warm place with good airflow to dry. Do not place wet items on a surface where dye transfer would be a problem, or protect your surfaces (e.g., with cardboard) until fully dry.
  6. For a thorough reshaping, when the entire basket is wet, you may wish to stuff the basket full of crumpled newspaper as it dries, to help it maintain the desired shape.

This process can be repeated as often as needed.

Sisal Baskets: 

When you rinse or reshape your basket, always use cold water to prevent dye from bleeding.

  1. Wet the basket, either spraying creased areas lightly with a spray bottle, or saturating the entire basket if a more thorough reshaping is needed.
  2. Let the basket sit for a few minutes so the natural fibers can absorb water and become more pliable.
  3. Shake out the excess water if you have fully saturated the basket.
  4. Then, press and mold the basket to your desired shape.
  5. Place the basket in a warm place with good airflow to dry. Do not place wet items on a surface where dye transfer would be a problem or protect your surface with cardboard.
  6. For a thorough reshaping, when the entire basket is wet, you may wish to stuff the basket full of crumpled newspaper as it dries, to help it maintain the desired shape.

This process can be repeated as often as needed.

Senegal Baskets: 

Senegalese baskets are not reshaped the way our other baskets are. The thick coils hold their form well and should not need the same kind of reshaping.

To lightly clean a Senegal basket, simply wipe with a damp cloth to clean the plastic.

To reshape a Senegal basket, apply gentle pressure to achieve the desired shape. For example, a large hamper may start to lean slightly over time; you can reshape it by laying the basket on its side, removing the lid, and gently pressing with both hands.

We do not recommend wetting or saturating your Senegalese basket. The thick coils of grass are likely to mold before they fully dry.