How To Waterproof Wicker Baskets Using Paint Or Tung Oil?

Wicker baskets are often a great choice as a table piece, wall decor, storage of various kinds like storing towels, even fruits on the table, or any other thing.

These are light-colored and allow proper air circulation. Wicker baskets are also used in designing the interiors for their simple, clean and natural look.

However, these wicker baskets or furniture alike fall prey to moisture and heat and deteriorate over time. This might result in rotting or the formation of mildew. It only makes sense to preserve and protect these wonderfully and beautifully crafted pieces of art.

Hence, today let’s discuss some methods to waterproof these cute little (or big) wicker baskets enhancing their life span.

But before that let’s understand a few things about wicker to help understand its waterproofing process.

Kinds of Wicker

Wicker is the technique using which organic reed, grass, bamboo or even man-made products are weaved into something, say, a basket.

Say, rattan, which is almost used interchangeably with wicker furniture. Rattan is the vine (a close relative of palm) that is weaved to form wicker furniture.

Wicker baskets or furniture made out of naturally occurring things like grasses, branches or roots are called Natural wicker.

On the other hand, those products made out of man-made things like resin are known as Synthetic wicker or even Resin wicker.  HDPE or High-Density Polyethylene is considered to be the best quality material for synthetic resin wickers.

Does Rain ruin Wicker baskets?

Yes, rain can definitely ruin and harm wicker baskets.

Natural wicker is not meant to be used for outdoor purposes. Due to constant exposure to rain and moisture, it runs the risk of developing mildew, mold, discoloration and even a bad odor. It should be properly stored and used indoors.

Also, it is usually suggested to keep the wickers covered with something, like plastic which wouldn’t allow moisture to pass through, when not in use.

Natural wicker, especially non-treated wicker, is extremely vulnerable to rain and moisture in general.

Synthetic wicker like resin wicker which is made up of resin is waterproof. Resin is a plastic-like material and is treated using chemicals and certain methods to make it withstand extreme climatic conditions.

Another material like HDPE is extremely durable, non-porous and dyed. It makes it extremely strong, waterproof and a popular choice for synthetic resin wicker. There are other materials too which are used for making resin wicker and might not be as durable as HDPE.  

Hence, wicker should be protected and waterproofed to make it durable.

As discussed, wicker (especially natural) baskets, also wicker furniture, need waterproofing. Here are a few methods you can use to achieve the same!

How To Waterproof Wicker Baskets Using Paint?

One of the primary ways in which wicker baskets can be waterproofed is by painting them. The paint used should be oil-based.

Oil paint is primarily oil with some color pigment in it. Again, this oil is the solvent used which is organic like mineral turpentine.

Water-based paints or acrylic paints aren’t really used for waterproofing wicker baskets. Surely, they have the flexibility to expand or contract but aren’t resistant to weather conditions. Also, when water-based paints dry up too quickly it hampers the overall finish and long-term usage.

Take a look at this Oil paint suitable for wicker:

Photo	Product	Buy
	Rust-Oleum 245210 Universal All Surface Spray Paint, 12 oz, Satin White	Check Price On Amazon

The oil-based paint forms a hard layer and is resistant to the weather, water and protects the wicker basket. It fails to create adhesion with the water’s surface hence repels it.

Required Material:

• Oil based paint
• Chalk paint / primer
• Paint brush
• Spray paint
• Cloth
• Dish wash
• Cleaning brush
• White vinegar (optional)

Step by Step Process:

1. Clean wicker basket

To achieve a clear beautiful finish on the basket, you must clean it properly. Dust particles or other forms of dirt would hinder the painting process.

Take out everything from inside the basket.

Take a dry cloth and dust off any dust particles you see. 

After that, mix 2-3 drops of dishwashing soap in some water. Now immerse a cloth into the solution and with that damp cloth and a brush clean up the surface.

Tip: If your wicker has developed some mold or mildew, you can add white vinegar into the solution. This would help you remove the stubborn mold.

2. Dry it

After cleaning the wicker basket you need to let it dry.

As mentioned before, Oil-based paints cannot form adhesion bonds with the water surface. Hence letting the basket dry completely is a very important step to avoid this water getting trapped inside and causing harm.

Spread out a cloth or towel and put your basket on it directly under the sun.

If it’s sunny, your basket shouldn’t take more than 2 hours to dry completely. However, if it’s a bit cloudy, you might have to wait for 4-5 hours.

3. Apply primer or chalk paint

Before actually painting the basket, you need to apply either primer or chalk paint to it. Doing this ensures that you receive an even smooth finish at the end.

You can use below popularly used primer:

Photo	Product	Buy
	Rust-Oleum 334019 Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Primer Spray, 12 oz, Flat White	Check Price On Amazon

Apply the primer/ chalk paint to the entire thing. Don’t miss out on any spots. Then let it dry for at least 24 hours.

4. Apply the Oil based waterproof paint

Now is the time to apply paint to the basket. Spray paint undoubtedly works the best when painting wicker baskets. It would help you to reach the tricky angles and put up a decent finish within a short period with minimal effort.

Apply 2-3 coats of paint. Usually, two layers of paint is good enough.

5. DRY!

Now, don’t put anything into it. Let it dry completely. The longer you wait, the better it gets. Let the paint fully sit on your wicker basket.

Waiting for 5-7 days would definitely change the game for you. So be PATIENT!

Precautions:

Always prepare your area before going into painting. Put some newspaper or cardboard or some cloth around to protect your walls and floor.

While the paint dries, don’t touch it or put anything into it.

To create some paint designs, use tape to seal off areas you don’t want the paint to be applied.

How To Waterproof Wicker Baskets Using Tung Oil?

Tung oil also known as China oil is a drying agent used in inks, paints, and varnishes. Originating from South America and China, this is extracted from the tung tree nuts.

It’s used to finish and protect wood especially. It creates a transparent, wet, and a bit shiny look on the surface. 100% Tung oil is a very thick solution and “wicker” is done using softwoods like bamboo, grass and others.

Here’s tung oil for you to check out:

Photo	Product	Buy
	HOPE'S 100% Pure Tung Oil, Food Safe, Premium Waterproof Natural Wood Finish and Sealer for Indoor and Outdoor Projects, 32 Fl Oz, 1 Pack	Check Price On Amazon

Hence, you need to dilute this Tung oil with a solvent like turpentine, or mineral spirit to almost 50-60 % solvency, thus making it application ready. Alternatively, you can look for tung oil which is less concentrated and can be found in your nearby hardware stores.

Tung oil is an excellent option to waterproof the wicker basket and furniture alike. 

Required Material:

• Tung oil
• Dish wash
• Cloth
• Brush

Steps by Step Process:

1. Clean and Dry the Wicker Basket:

Similar to that of painting, you should clean and let the wicker basket dry completely before applying the tung oil. Refer to steps 1 and 2 of the “ How To Waterproof Wicker Baskets Using Paint? ” section described above.

2. Apply tung oil

Dip a cloth into tung oil. Now use it to cover the basket entirely.

You should at least do 5 coats to make it completely waterproof.

Also, between each coat, you should maintain a gap of 24 hours to let the previous coat set.

Precautions:

After you’re done with the entire process, you should leave the basket for another 2-3 days.

During this phase, the tung oil hardens on the surface and makes it completely waterproof. Just don’t use it or keep anything inside it.

Paint Vs Tung oil

While both of the processes are widely used and effective there are bound to be some preferences.

Paint:

Painting the wicker basket gives it a totally new look! It doesn’t look boring or just some other basket in the house. You get the flexibility of giving it your own touch.

Also, painting wicker baskets or furniture lets you forget about waterproofing for at least 3 years. You can use it for three years without much problem. After which you’ll be required to paint it using the same process.

Tung oil:

Tung oil is a transparent oil. Hence, nothing would actually change on the outside except for a bit of shine. It preserves the natural color of the wicker.

It requires much more effort and you’ll be required to re-do it every year!

Hence, the paint would win against tung oil any day!

Final Words:

Whether you choose painting or tung oil to preserve your wicker basket, it would definitely do good than harm.

Taking good care of a wicker basket, or furniture, makes it last up to 15 long years!

Hence, it’s only cost-effective to waterproof it. It’d also add up to the aesthetic appeal of your room or house as it gets old or “antique”.