How can I mend a plastic basket?

Buy one on eBay.

Can you find a similar piece of plastic mesh and cut it to fit the bottom of the basket?
Just lay it over the holey part at the bottom.
I’d probably just order the replacement basket and save myself the frustration though I am an innovative type.

I use fishing line to mend stuff like that. A cheap reel of 8–10lb test is awesome for this.

I’d buy a set of cheap mesh bags/boxes from a dollar store and pop one into the basket space. Use and replace as needed.

@BellaB Iwas going to say that…go to the dollar store and buy a little plastic organizer basket and just cut out a piece to fit the silverware basket thingy that has holes in it. Good call, but I know @Stinley is in Briton but surely they have a similar store, the ½ pound shop maybe? lol

I am agreeing with @ARE_you_kidding_me try some fishing line.

This is what I would try:

Cut an empty bleach bottle up in strips to the size that you need.

Use a soldering tool to melt the edge of the your plastic basket and the strip so that they melt together.

Attach as many bleach bottle steps as you think necessary.

Good luck!

I’d buy the replacement basket. In fact depending on what you anticipate as the probable life of the dishwasher, you might want to buy 2. I make a habit of buying top end appliances, but have discovered that with dishwashers the racks and baskets give or rust out while the machine itself is working flawlessly. The trouble is that manufacturers often discontinue making the replacement parts after an initial run and when that run is drawn down, you can wind up SOL

Sugru is a plastic compound that you can mold into any shape and it dries hard and tough.

“Sugru is amazingly robust. It can withstand temperatures between -50°C (-58°F) and 180°C (356°F), making it freezerproof, heatproof and dishwasherproof. It’s also weatherproof, waterproof, UV-resistant and electrically insulating (up to 24v and under 1 amp). It’s easy to clean with soap and water and equally happy in your washing machine and dishwasher. Sugru can also endure the ocean’s salt water. Just don’t use it in direct contact with an open flame. ”

Probably I would look for a replacement basket but Sugru is fun as hell.

@Call_Me_Jay Wow…that stuff is really cool, I want some! haha

I know this is in General but I would like to remind you this old song from the BeeGees:

The Dishwasher Song:

I can think of earlier days when washing for my wife
Was everything a man could want to do
I could never see a full sink, without thinking what she might think

And how can you mend a broken basket?
How can you stop the shit from falling down?
How can you stop that nasty drain from clogging?
What makes the wash arm go round?
How can you mend this broken basket?
How can a scrubber ever win?
Please help me mend my broken basket and let me live again!

I can still feel the bubbles that gather on my brush
And soapy suds of days gone by
We could never eat lasagna, no one was willing to clean the panaaaaaaaaaa.

And how can you mend a broken basket?
How can you stop the shit from falling down?
How can you stop that nasty drain from clogging?
What makes the wash arm go round?
How can you mend this broken basket?
How can a scrubber ever win?
Please help me mend my broken basket and let me live again!

Having the same problem I use the mesh bags that fruit comes in. We buy bagged mandarin oranges every week.

Thanks all.

I like the mesh bag from oranges idea as I also get a lot of them. The holes are a bit big but if I stuff whole sacks in the compartments then it should work. Very easy to do. I also like the weaving idea. I have some para-cord which might work. I also thought about using zip ties but don’t have any so would have to buy them. Might as well get a new basket…

I like the look of Sugru. I might get some of that anyway to play with! Looks brilliant and is cheap on eBay.

I have a feeling my husband has ordered a new basket from eBay – he was muttering about it yesterday.

@Stinley Do you have dollar/pound stores in Briton? They are everywhere here.

Google says there is something called poundland that is similar to our dollar stores.

Yes. I do like the pound shops. You get ones that everything is a pound and others like Home Bargains where it’s all very cheap.

My daughter had 20 Christmas presents to buy. Poundland, £20 note, job done!

If you decide to attempt to mend the basket, I’m very interested in how the job turns out. It would be hard to devise a tougher test for any sort of bonding agent than the lower level of a dishwasher. Can you keep us posted ?

The mending didn’t happen as the net bag from the oranges is doing fine. Sorry!