How to Keep your Artificial Flowers and Plants Looking Like New

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Now cut flowers do not require dusting but that is only because the flowers wilt long before they have an opportunity to gather dust. Plants on the other hand do get dusty and require one to wipe off their leaves with a damp cloth. Some leaves appreciate being wiped down with a little mayonnaise. The mayonnaise not only nourishes the plant but causes the plant to really shine.

If a real plant can draw dust so can an artificial one. Keeping your artificial plants and flowers dust free will not only enhance their beauty, but lower the risk of allergies.  One way to assist in keeping not only your plants dust free, but your home is to change your furnace filter frequently and to get your ducts cleaned annually. This will also improve the efficiency of your furnace and help to reduce the costs of your utility bills.

There are many cleaning aids sold in stores to assist with cleaning your artificial flowers and plants. If using a commercial cleaning spray, stand a little ways away from the plant and gently mist it. Avoid getting too much of the cleaner on your plant as you would not want to discolor it. Below is listed some other ways to clean your beautiful artificial plants and flowers:

1. Just prior to vacuuming, take your hair dryer and on the cool setting aim your hair dryer at your plant and moving back and forth blow the dust off of the plant. Now vacuum up the dust.

2. Clean artificial silk flowers by placing them in a paper bag with ¼ cup of salt. Close the bag tightly. Gently shake the bag a few times and when you remove the flowers they should look brand new. Primp and fluff them and place them back in their planter or vase. If you like, this bag and the contents can be saved and reused.

3. Using a cool water wash and a double sink was your flowers. You will need a soft cloth or gloves, lemon dish detergent, cool water and paper towels. DO NOT use HOT water. Many of your contemporary artificial flowers and plants are held together with glue. *Glue may dissolve with hot water or hot air. Fill one side of the sink with cool water and a little lemon dish detergent. Swish until suds form.

• Swish the silk plant around in the soapy water. If any dirt or grime is still adhering to the leaves or petals rub gently with the soft cloth or gloves, not being so abrasive as to cause the flower/plant to fray or fall apart.
• Rinse until all soap residue is off the plant. Any soap left on the plant will cause more residues to adhere to the plant.
• Lay the plants on a paper towel and pat dry with a soft absorbent cloth. Remove from towel and place back into their vase or pot to display and air dry.

4. A gentler way to clean your plants than the salt and bag would be with rice in a shopping bag. Take one shopping bag and place it inside another as shopping bags often have small holes in the center of the bottom. Remove the fake plant or flower and place it along with ½ cup of rice into the shopping bag. Twist the bag closed and shake it for up to one minute. This method is preferred for more delicate fake plants.

• Shake them out until all rice is removed.
• Primp and fluff then place back into their container for display.

Your arrangements will now look more realistic and their beauty will be enhanced as well as the environment in which they are displayed.