How to Remove Dust From Silk Plants

Silk plants add a tropical touch to your home, but tend to get dusty.

Silk plants add beauty to your home and bring a touch of the outdoors inside. These silk arrangements can last for years if given the proper care. Some silk plants are fragile and cannot withstand moisture; therefore, these types of plants should be cleaned as gently as possible. Other silk plants can withstand a more thorough cleaning and will look as good as new, if you know how to clean them properly.

Things You'll Need

• Feather duster or blow dryer
• Plastic bag
• Cornmeal or salt
• Soft cloth
• Liquid dish-washing detergent

Instructions

Fragile Method

1. Take your silk plants outside to dust it so that the dust particles will not settle into other areas of your home.

2. Use a feather duster and lightly dust your silk plant arrangement. Alternately, you can plug in a blow dryer on low or a cool heat setting and blow the dust off the plant.

3. Dust the silk plant from the top down, making sure to dust the bottom portion of the plant and the container.

Dry Method

1. Remove your silk plant carefully from its container.

2. Place it in a large plastic bag that has about a half cup of cornmeal or salt in it.

3. Twist the top of the bag so that no cornmeal or salt will escape and shake it vigorously. The grains of salt or cornmeal will act as a scrubber and effectively clean the silk plant.

4. Remove the silk plant from the bag partially by holding it by the stem. Shake it gently to remove any cornmeal or salt remaining on the leaves. If any remains once you remove it from the bag, just gently brush it with a soft cloth over a trash can.

Wet Method

1. Remove the silk plant from the container. Usually silk plants come in one piece and you will not have to remove individual stems.

2. Fill a bucket or sink with cold water and a squirt of liquid dish-washing detergent.

3. Place the plant into the water and swish it around for a few seconds, making sure to get all of the leaves.

4. Use your fingers to rub any stains or hard to remove grime from the plant.

5. Remove the silk plants from the water and gently shake off the excess water. Use a soft towel to blot it and then stand it up in a container to allow it to finish drying. Replace it into the original container.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your silk plant with water in an inconspicuous area for color fastness, before you attempt to clean it with the wet method.

References

• Silk-Flower-Smart: How To Clean Silk Flowers, Foliage and Artificial Plants

Resources

• Plant-Care: Latest Silk Flower Arrangements – Right or Wrong