Fall is coming, and autumn cleanups don’t stop at the front
porch. What about those indoor artificial plants and silk flowers? Haven’t they
been collecting dust through open windows all summer?
Low-maintenance is
in!
Silk
flowers and faux trees need 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. Some even look nearly
natural.
However, within a few months, they do tend to grow a bit dusty
and musty. How do you clean these without losing leaves or upsetting the beautiful
floral arrangement?
No one has the time to wipe each individual leaf. But there
is a much faster way! In fact, on an ongoing basis, three strategies are
helpful. Here they are, listed in increasing amounts of effort and
thoroughness.
1. Give artificial plants a gentle
whisking to prevent dusty 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.
2. Try a simple
spraying 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.
3. Give them a
cleansing rain.
Every few months, you will want to do a more thorough
cleaning. Take the artificial plant outdoors to the deck, driveway, sidewalk, patio,
or another solid 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 a 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.
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.
What about cleaning
artificial plants or silk flowers in an apartment or condominium?
A city dweller 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 or balcony to dry.
Avoid costly cleaning
products, as these are not needed for this job.
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.
Image/s:
Public domain clipart
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