​Most households have at least one straw, rattan or vine basket of some kind, even if it's just a bread basket. They look lovely for a while, until the dust collects in the gaps in the weave, then they just look old and dingy. You'll see lots of them at op shops and garage sales, discarded because they no longer look nice.

You don't have to pass your older baskets on, they are easy to clean.

Choose a nice, hot, sunny day. Then simply fill either the laundry sink or bathtub, depending on the size of the basket, with warm, soapy water (old shampoo is great for this). Immerse the basket in the water and lightly scrub it with an old nail brush or for smaller baskets an old toothbrush.  Rinse, shake the excess water off, wipe over with a towel and leave to dry outside, in the shade.

The water will clean them better than ordinary dusting can and the moisture will keep them from drying out completely, keeping the wood from becoming brittle and splitting.