Artificial plants and flowers look better than ever. They look like natural plants, full of color and available in countless designs. While they don’t require as much care and maintenance as natural flowers, you still have to look after them in order to make sure they look great. That’s why knowing how to dust artificial flowers properly matters, it’s what keeps them looking fresh instead of dull.
A little regular cleaning will also help them last longer and keep them from looking dull or faded over time.
With this thought in mind, here’s how to dust artificial flowers and help them retain their glowing appearance.
What Cloths Should You Use
Fake artificial flowers tend to be quite fragile. Sure, they’re more solid than natural plants, but they still require care and attention. Plus, unlike natural flowers, if you break something, it won’t grow back, so that means you need to be even more careful. Treat them the same way you would treat a favorite decorative item or heirloom piece.
Now, most people use feather dusters because they’re soft on plants, but hard on dust. On the same note, you can also get a microfiber cloth. Such clothes require more attention, but they’re suitable for large areas. When it comes to intricate designs or tight places, a feather duster is better.
Start wiping leaves and petals at the top and move towards the bottom.
Why Should You Avoid Heat
When learning how to dust artificial flowers, you’ll realize that dust could be a bit stubborn at times. If you’ve skipped cleaning for a while, you might notice a slightly gray film building up on petals and leaves.
When it comes to stubborn dirt deposits, use a gentle cloth that’s a bit wet. That’s it, no chemicals or heat. Heat is one of the most problematic elements and unfortunately, lots of people use it without knowing it.
You don’t even need any high heat to damage an artificial plant. Even a hairdryer on a low setting can put out enough heat to damage or burn a delicate material. This means your plant may start melting, even if just a little bit. It will affect its shape and appearance, as it won’t recover.
Any damage caused by heat will most likely be permanent in terms of deformation.
When Is Dry Dusting Your Only Option
It’s very tempting to use water, especially on a plant that seems to be made of plastic. Submerging it in water may seem ideal, especially since you normally use this method for plenty of other things. It’s not a great solution for artificial plants though. Too much water can seep into joints, fade painted details or even loosen glued parts.
When learning how to dust artificial flowers, submersion is one of the most common contraindications, even if they’re made of plastic. It makes sense to avoid submerging paper flowers and plants in water, but what about the plastic ones?
The explanation is fairly simple. In order to make them look natural and authentic, manufacturers make artificial plants very fragile. Just like natural plants. Therefore, submerging them in water could put too much pressure on weight on fragile elements, leading to deformation or even breakage.
A natural plant may regrow a twig, but an artificial one won’t. Therefore, dry dusting is probably the best choice. If you do have stubborn dirt, a slightly wet microfiber cloth will do.
How Do You Add Shine at the End
Learning how to dust artificial flowers isn’t everything. Once you’re done dusting, you’ll realize that dust starts settling again. It’s just a matter of a few days. From this point of view, you also need a bit of finishing in terms of shininess.
Not only does it make your plants look more natural, but it can also keep dust away.
There are certain artificial plant cleaners or mist sprays that can repel dust and add a more natural layer of shininess. Make sure you pick such products based on the material your plants are made of or you risk damaging them.
How Do You Dust Artificial Flowers in Hard-to-Reach Areas
Again, hairdryers are contraindicated, but if you have a product with a cool setting, you might be able to use it. Just make sure there’s no heat whatsoever, as it can cause the plant to melt. If you don’t have such a hairdryer, you may have to use compressed air.
According to the kind of plant you have, you may need to deal with intricate areas or delicate elements. Some areas could be impossible to reach otherwise. Compressed air (not too much power) can help you dust such elements.
What Do You Do About Stubborn Grime
Stubborn dust, dirt or grime will most likely require more than just a duster. You can wipe leaves with a clean microfiber cloth. Dip it in water first. In some cases, you can use a mild detergent too, but make sure it’s not harmful to the material.
Last, but not least, if you have a small and sturdy plant, you can use the salt method too. Get it in a zip-lock bag with a bit of salt, and they give it a good shake. The salt acts as a gentle abrasive that rubs off dust from textured petals. Make sure the plant is solid enough or you’ll break its leaves.
In the end, figuring out how to dust artificial flowers isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Make sure you’re patient and stick to natural and light solutions to avoid damaging your plants.