Aside from their aesthetic value, another great thing that makes Tonga baskets a worthy buy is that they’re easy to maintain. They’re practically one of those hang-and-forget type of products.
But of course, they do get dirty. When it comes to this, we all know that it's far easier to head off a problem before it takes root. So we recommend giving them some TLC from time to time.
How often should you clean your African Tonga basket? Well, this will depend on where it’s located inside your home. Dusting it once every two weeks is enough if they’re placed on a spot that doesn’t really gather that much dust, kitchen stains, insect droppings, or any other minute debris. This will prevent any caking of dust and debris that might cause problems later on.
Deep cleaning is recommended if your Tonga basket has been exposed to a damp environment, resulting in the formation of molds or mildew. You can also do this for dried-up stains, or if it has accumulated too much dirt; otherwise, biweekly dusting is enough.
So, without further ado, here are some tips on how to clean your African Tonga baskets.
DRY CLEANING EVERY TWO WEEKS
Materials: Feather duster, microfiber dusting cloth, or any soft cloth
Steps:
- If it’s hanging on your wall, take it down, and then bring it outside of your house or to any well-ventilated area of your home. This is to prevent the dust from circulating in your home while you’re cleaning the basket.
- Visually assess if there are any small debris you need to take out or any protruding part that needs trimming.
- Use gentle strokes if you’re using a feather duster. That’s enough pressure to get the dust particles to cling onto the feathers through static electricity. Shake off the dust from the feather duster from time to time by lightly tapping it against any hard surface outside your home.
- Gently wipe the entire basket thoroughly with a microfiber dusting cloth. Any soft cloth will do the job, too, although it won’t be as efficient in trapping dust.
DEEP CLEANING
Materials: Vacuum plus dust brush attachment, water, liquid soap, vinegar, soft cloth or sponge, small bucket
Too much dust
- Vacuum the basket using a dust brush attachment to remove dirt all over the basket, especially from the crevices.
- Fill half of the small bucket with water, then add 5-10 drops of gentle liquid soap.
- Dip the soft cloth or sponge in the mixture. To avoid soaking the basket, wring the sponge or soft cloth well before wiping the basket.
- Once done, allow the Tonga basket to air dry outside.
Mold and mildew
- Create a mixture of three-parts water and one-part vinegar.
- Dip an old toothbrush in the mixture, then lightly scrub the areas where mold and mildew has formed. This spot-cleaning technique can be used for stains, too.
- Wet a sponge or soft cloth with clean water. Wring it well before wiping the entire basket. Do this twice to completely remove any remaining vinegar-water solution.
- Air dry the basket outside or place it in an area of your home where there’s good circulation of air.
Got questions about Tonga baskets? Don’t hesitate to contact us! We’re here to help!