Feather duster, vacuum cleaner, or paintbrush Microfiber cloths Cleaning rags Hot water Window cleaner with Ammonia D
Run over your faux foliage with a feather duster. Take the plant outside and use a paintbrush to sweep off the excess dust. [1] X Research source Attach a cleaning brush to your vacuum and suck up the dust, dirt, and debris. Wipe down the leaves, stems, and pot with a dry microfiber cloth or a wet rag. Submerge your plastic plants in hot water or spray them down with a hose.
Run over the leaves, flowers, stems, and pot with a feather duster. Attach a cleaning brush to your vacuum and suck up the dirt, dust, and debris. Remove dust from your plants with a blow dryer set to low heat. Wipe away grime from your silk plants with a dry microfiber cloth. [2] X Research source
Pour ½ cup salt into a plastic bag—the size of the bag is dependent upon the size of your silk floral arrangement. Place the silk floral arrangement inside the plastic bag and seal it shut. Shake the bag vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes. The salt will act as scrubbers, removing dust, dirt, and debris from the surface and hard to reach places. Repeat the process as needed. [3] X Research source Open the bag. Turn the silk arrangement upside down with in the bag and shake it once or twice to remove the salt. Remove the arrangement from the bag and return it to its container. [4] X Research source You may substitute cornmeal or rice for salt. [5] X Research source
Spray, dab, or wipe a minuscule amount of cleaning product onto an inconspicuous part of the silk flowers and observe the spot for changes. If the color was negatively affected, do not proceed to use the product; If the color did not change, the product is safe to use. [7] X Research source
Refresh your faux foliage with a silk flower cleaner, which come in spray and aerosol varieties. Coat the entire arrangement with the silk flower cleaner. Follow the instructions provided on the product. Fill a spray bottle with 50/50 water and white vinegar mixture. Spray the entire arrangement with the water-vinegar mixture—don’t forget to spritz the backside of leaves and petals. Dab the arrangement dry with a clean cloth. [8] X Research source You may substitute rubbing alcohol for white vinegar. In a clean 3-gallon bucket, combine 2 gallons of hot water with 1 tablespoon of white flaky soap. Fill a spray bottle with this mixture. Coat the entire arrangement with the water-soap mixture. Dry the arrangement with a clean cloth. If your silk flowers require additional cleaning, you may then apply 1 to 3 coats of non-aerosol silk flower cleaner to your arrangement—allow the silk flowers to dry completely between coats. [9] X Research source
Fill a small basin with cool water—never use hot water, it will melt the glue used to hold the flowers together. Squirt a small amount of dish soap into the water and mix. Dip one stem at a time into the cool, soapy water flower first. If necessary, rub the foliage lightly to remove grime. Remove the stem from the water a blot dry with a clean cloth. Repeat on the remaining stems. Once clean and dry, rearrange the flowers and return them to their container. [10] X Research source
Retrieve a 3 gallon bucket, disposable plastic gloves, protective eyewear, and a bottle of bleach. Pour 1 gallon of hot water into the bucket. Put on the disposable gloves and protective eyewear. Add 1 teaspoon of bleach to the water and stir. If your plants are vividly colored, add an addition ½ teaspoon bleach. Submerge the faux foliage into the water-bleach mixture for 1 hour. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes. [12] X Research source
Retrieve a clean 3-gallon bucket. Pour 1 gallon of hot water into the fresh bucket. Submerge the plants in the water. Add a chlorine neutralizer to the water—carefully follow the instructions on the package. After the allotted soaking time, remove the plants from the bucket and rinse your faux plants under hot water. [13] X Research source
Rinse your silk plants under hot tap water to remove any built-up algae. Create a cleaning paste. Measure out ½ cup un-iodized salt and pour it into a small bowl. Gradually add lemon juice until a paste is created. Apply the paste to the silk plants with a clean toothbrush. Scrub thoroughly. Rinse the silk plant under hot water to remove the paste and any remaining algae. [14] X Research source
