how to clean artifical plants

It's no secret that house plants are growing in popularity, with Vend reporting that house plant sales are up a huge 70% year on year.

Although most house plants are relatively low maintenance, if you're not so green-fingered, you may find you just can't keep them alive. The solution? Artificial flowers and plants. And with lots of beautiful and realistic options on the market, they're a great alternative.

While artificial flowers and plants are much easier to care for than the real deal, they still require a little elbow grease. So here's how to keep them looking blooming wonderful...

How to care for artificial flowers

"Silk flowers is a generic term," explains Tiffany Giudicelli, creative director at Bloom. "Artificial flowers are no longer made from just silk, but a mixture of materials."

As these flowers are fabric, they will need cleaning. "Think about them as you would soft furnishings," says Tiffany. Add them to your dusting list and give them a weekly going-over to keep them looking great - this is especially important for white or lighter blooms that are more easily marked.

According to Amarthine Blooms, you can try to remove stains with a baby wipe or, for a more thorough clean, you can invest in a specialist cleaner. Bloom stocks a Silk Flower Wash that can be used once a month to remove dust and keep your artificial flowers looking in tip-top condition.

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How to care for artificial plants and trees

Artificial plants and trees look chic, but need to be regularly dusted. "Dust is certainly a giveaway when it comes to identifying an artificial plant, so we would recommend taking a clean, soft, dry cloth and, working from the top to the bottom of the plant, gently wipe down each leaf one at a time," says Kirstin White, Homeware Buyer at Dobbies.

Most artificial trees can be kept outside, but always check care labels. "As UV coatings will degrade over time, we would recommend turning artificial trees or topiary monthly so any fading caused by UV affects the plant evenly and is less noticeable," says Kirstin. "Protecting the plants from extreme weather conditions is also advisable, ideally bringing indoors or covering if possible."

How to care for artificial cacti and succulents

Although real cacti and succulents are pretty fuss-free, you may find it easier to look after artificial ones.

Like any other artificial plant, dust is the biggest issue you'll face when cleaning. Wipe them down with a soft, dry cloth, as you would any other plant. "For fiddlier areas, such as inner crevices on artificial cacti, it is also quite effective to use a clean, soft paintbrush to get right into the harder to reach areas," says Kirstin.

Prestige Flowers also suggests cleaning your artificial flowers by using your hairdryer on its coldest setting to blow away dirt. However, you'll need decide whether your plant can cope with this, or whether it's too delicate. If in doubt, dust with a cloth, feather duster or paintbrush.

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Disposing of artificial flowers

If you've decided your artificial flowers are past their best, you'll have to dispose of them in your household waste bin. "As of yet, artificial plants and flowers are not recyclable," says Tiffany.

If you're just deciding to redecorate and your artificial plants still look lively, you can always give them to a charity shop for someone else to enjoy.

General care tips

Whether you opt for artificial flowers, plants, trees or succulents, follow these steps to keep them looking fantastic...

Keep them away from direct sunlight, if possible. "UV from sunlight can cause discolouration and fading and we would recommend checking the care label on the plant to see whether its UV resistant before positioning in a window with direct sunlight," says Kirstin.
Move your artificial plants regularly. This will help reduce concentrated fading in one area.
Love and care for your artificial flowers like you would real ones! "Move them around, from your kitchen to your bedroom, so you can keep enjoying them wherever you are," says Tiffany.

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