Leave Dust Behind: How to Freshen Artificial Flowers and Trees

Low-maintenance is in! Even high-priced interior designers incorporate silk flowers and trees into their designs.

No watering, fertilizing, or pruning! Leaves and blooms never wilt or fade, and you don't need a green thumb to keep them looking lovely and lush in any season. However, within a few months, they do tend to collect a layer of dust. How do you clean these without losing leaves or upsetting the beautiful arrangement?

No one has the time to wipe each individual leaf. But there is a much faster way!

Gentle Whisking Prevents Dust Build-Up.

At least once a week, you can use a soft feather duster to shake dust off the leaves and branches of your artificial plants. Be careful! If flowers or leaves fall off, try to re-affix them to the proper spots. Often, you simply have to snap the loose items back onto the right branch stubs.

Try a Simple Solution.

Every week or two, you can lightly apply a thin layer of clear disinfectant spray (such as Lysol) to the blossoms and leaves of your artificial plants. This will minimize dust collection.

Give It a Cleansing Rain.

Every few months, you will want to do a more thorough cleaning. Take the artificial plant outdoors to the driveway, sidewalk, or another paved surface. Test color-fastness by soaking one or two leaves with clear water. Let the sample leaves dry, then shake them lightly to see how clean and shiny they have become.

If this has proven to be successful, then it is time to tackle the entire plant. First, check inside the pot. Is the filler made of Styrofoam, cardboard, or paper? If the filler is water-soluble, you will need to remove the plant from it before proceeding. If the container itself is not waterproof, you will also want to remove it.

Use your garden hose and a spray nozzle (set for light shower, spritz, or gentle mist). Tip the plant slightly, so the water will shake off onto the ground, instead of into the plant base. Spray the entire plant thoroughly. Then shake off as much water as possible.

City dwellers can accomplish the same ends by misting synthetic plants with a water-filled spray bottle in the shower. Place your potted items on a deck, balcony, or patio to dry.

Be gentle! You don't want to break your plants.

Air It Out!

Set the plant in a sunny spot, sheltered from the wind, to dry for a few hours. Once it is completely dry, you can re-pot it and put it back in its spot.

Avoid Costly Cleaning Products.

Artificial plant cleaning products are available, but they are quite costly and quite unnecessary. Household cleaning chemicals may damage the color of the leaves as well. These simple steps will keep your plants looking fresh and healthy and perhaps even realistic!