Best way to clean branches

I'm sure this has been covered before, but if someone can just quickly tell me what the best way to help me out I'd really appreciate it. I usually just go find new ones but I'd prefer to keep the ones I have atm - they've just started to get a bit stinky and need a clean. Is a rinse with water adequate or do I need to use some sort of cleaning agent, and if so what kind should I use? And how do I make sure the wood doesn't absorb the chemicals?

They've already been rinsed and sterilized in the oven when I first collected them.

Thank you for any help!

Hot water, scrubbing brush followed by a bake in the sun.

I scrub mine clean with a scrubbing brush and warm water and, after drying for a week or so, cover them with a couple layers of a water based varnish before another two weeks of hanging in a dry place outdoors.

Thanks guys!