Fake plants are trending these days, mainly due to their several advantages. Most of us don’t have the time or inclination to look after real plants, specially when allergies and bugs are risks we’re not willing to take. That’s when fake plants make your house beautiful.

With the fake varieties, we don’t have to water, maintain, or do much to keep our home or porch looking green. However, fake plants can also look quite tacky if they get too dirty or don’t look too realistic.

Wondering how to get that sticky dust off your prized artificial leaves or flowers?

Look below for some handy tips.

Making the Selection

The first step in having clean fake plants is making the right choice. There are actually two kinds of fake plants: fabric or plastic.

You should buy your plants with a view to their easy cleaning potential. While fabrics like silk have a gorgeous appearance, this material attracts dust quite easily. It can be hard to keep such fake plants clean. They wear out pretty quickly too, so we’d always recommend plastic over fabric.

If you are intending to decorate your home with fake plants, it is a good idea to keep a picture of some real plants that you’d like to have in your home, and then use it as a reference when shopping around. You want to get something that looks as real as possible without requiring much upkeep.

Steer away from overly glossy leaves and fake water droplets, and consider fake succulents for the most realistic choices.

Cleaning Silk Plants

If you do go for the fabric choice, you should know how to clean fake plants made of silk. Don’t let them get wet in the first place, as this may cause irreparable damage. When the dust gets noticeable, put the plants in a bag and put in some salt. There should be enough to cover the unclean areas. Shake the bag so that the salt sticks to the plant surfaces.

Take the plant out and leave it for an hour. Next, cover the end of a vacuum attachment with some nylon pantyhose, stretching it over the opening. Turn on the vacuum and remove the salt using the sucking powers. Hopefully, the debris on your silk or polyester plant will also be sucked off. If the debris is stubborn, you may have to try this method a few times.

Cleaning Plastic Plants

You can clean plastic plants with water, even without separating them from the container. If you don’t want to get the container wet, cover it with a trash bag and secure the loose end with a rubber band or string.

Fill a tub, sink, or bucket using warm water. If there’s a lot of dirt on the plants, you may want to add some liquid dishwashing soap or a mild detergent. Now, simply put the plants in the water and move them around to remove the debris. If there’s any stubborn buildup, you might want to scrub it with a cloth.

Rinse the plants under the tap, and you’re done! Set them aside to dry. You can also use a spray nozzle for a quick cleaning every week or so. For extra shine, polish the plants with some olive oil drops on a piece of cloth.

Wrapping Up

Granted, fake plants used to be a faux pas in interior design. However, with the right selection and cleaning routine, you can turn your home decor around without having to worry about keeping it alive! Cleaning fake plants and giving them the almost-real shine just requires a few minutes. So, why not try this out today?