Question from suzanne mikula
Hello Debra and readers!
I have a question about some Woodchip and Seagrass baskets which I was considering buying. The person selling them purchased them from World Market, but there is no information on the basket’s tags or on their website about the materials used to make the basket.
The person selling these baskets has the lightest (almost white) colored ones and said they don’t look stained, but bleached if anything. I called World Market, but since they don’t have the light colored basket in stock, they can’t tell me about it’s materials. I tried to do some research on Woodchip material online, but couldn’t find much. Any advice? I love baskets but I’m wondering how one goes about telling which kinds are non-toxic and which aren’t. I know one way to tell is by smelling them; but is that always a reliable way to tell whether something is toxic or not? In the case of these baskets, I cannot smell them, unless I buy them, and if smell may not a reliable method, what is? Even if wood looks unstained or isn’t painted, could it be chemically processed in some way? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Suzanne
Debra’s Answer
To the best of my knowledge, the thin strips of wood used to make baskets are not toxic, and neither is seagrass. Might they be treated with something? Yes. Are they? We have no way of knowing because nobody has the information.
If they were treated with a toxic wood preservative, it is likely you would smell it.
I myself have at least a dozen baskets in my house and have lived with baskets for many many years. I tend to stick with the natural color baskets, or those that look like they have natural vegetable dyes, as painted baskets DO often have toxic fumes.
