How to Clean Silk Plants With Rubbing Alcohol

Silk plants requires special care due to the thin and delicate material, and should be cleaned only when necessary to avoid wear and tear. According to Karen and Tony Reynolds, authors of "Silk Mama's 15 Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Silk Plants," you can easily care for your artificial plants by dusting them weekly, followed with a cleaning solution made of rubbing alcohol and cool water. Dilute the alcohol before using on the plant to avoid damage.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
• 1/2 cup cool water
• Empty spray bottle
• Lint-free cleaning cloth

Instructions

1. Mix alcohol with water. Pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle and shake to thoroughly mix the solution. The water dilutes the potency of the alcohol to prevent damage to the silk material.

2. Spray the mixture onto the silk plant. Lightly mist the plant, spraying in a sweeping motion at least 1 foot away from the plant. Soaking the plant can cause the plant's glue to dissolve and saturate the plant's leaves.

3. Wipe down the plant and leaves. Use the clean cloth and only wipe down to remove dirt and dust.

4. Place the plant in well-ventilated area. Your plant will need to be in an airy area to dry completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Rubbing the plant and leaves in an up-and-down motion can cause damage to the plant.

References

• Silk Mama's 15 Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Silk Plants; Karen and Tony Reynolds; April 2009