Staining a Basket with Liquid Minwax

My dear friend Anne from Kumon left me a message about wanting more information on staining baskets. Also over at We Are That Family, they are having Works For Me Wednesday where people show and tell ideas that work for them, so I want to show how Minwax works for me. Here is what I do.
I stain my baskets with Minwax. That's Minwax in the yellow can. Don't go for some off brand of stain. I repeat Minwax!!! Ok. ok....There are some really great basket stains on the market from basket weaving supply stores, but they just aren't as readily available as Minwax is. You can get Minwax, that's Minwax in the yellow can, at your home improvement stores like Lowes, Home Depot and Sears. If you have a lot of baskets to stain, go for the gallon size in your favorite color. If you are trying colors out, go for the smallest size you can get. Lay down a piece of newspaper and have a disposable foam brush. The foam brushes can be purchased at your craft store for sometimes 20 for $1.00.

Just lay down some newspaper, dip your foam brush in the stain and paint it on. Paint the outside, the inside, the bottom, the handle, everywhere. What is so wonderful about Minwax is that you do not have to wipe it off. It just soaks immediately into the basket and it doesn't leave a sticky feel to your basket. Please believe me when I tell you I've tried many other brands of stain, and for baskets, they can be a big fat sticky mess and make you just want to throw your basket in the trash. In the photo above, the left side of my basket has not been stained and the right side has. Usually one coat of stain is all that I will do on my basket. The Minwax stain is so thin and runny that it runs right between all the weaving and twining to give a nice even stain to it all and it soaks right into the reed. Do your staining in a well ventilated area and just let your basket dry overnight after staining. Then you are good to go the next day. (IMHO...Your foam brush is not worth saving after using on stain)

Minwax makes a spray stain and quite honestly, it is wonderful too. (I should do a commercial for this company) I use it when I am in a hurry, but it does cost more and again, I still need to let my basket dry overnight. It is just like using a can of hairspray or a can of spray paint. (Whichever you are familiar with using) Again, just be sure to spray all sides, inside, outside, top and bottom etc.

Remember, if you have used dyed reed in your basket, stain will alter its color. I do not stain baskets if I have woven light pastel colors because I do not want them to turn muddy. Dark colors such as burgundy and navy blue seem to do well with stain.

One final word. For those of you who stain your baskets the natural way with solutions made from walnut shells or other plant products I applaud you and in no way am I trying to say my way is a better way, it is just my way and that is what I wanted to share.

If any of you ever have basket weaving questions, please post them in a comment or an e-mail and I'll do my best to answer them as quickly as possible.

Baskets of Blessings to you all,

Nancy