Silk Flower Maintenance & Cleaning

Silk flowers are built to last, but like other decorative items in your home, they do require cleaning, care, and maintenance. Consistent care will reduce the amount of time needed to clean your silk flowers, but when cleaning time comes around, the following tips will help you avoid damaging your silk flowers.

Silk flower care

Since they don't require watering, silk flower arrangements are rightly perceived as being very low maintenance. However, regular silk flower care should include weekly brushing with a feather duster to prevent the dulling that will ruin the appearance of silk flowers over both the short-term and long-term.

Unlike real flowers, avoid placing your silk flowers where they will receive excessive sunlight. Too much sun can cause your artificial flowers to fade and will accelerate their deterioration.

Silk flower cleaning

Some people choose to apply an artificial plant cleaner to their silk flowers. Silk plant cleaners are a fairly inexpensive option, and most require no wiping or drying. Look for an artificial plant cleaner that is fragrant and doesn't require rinsing.

If you find that artificial plant cleaner doesn't work well or prefer a natural cleaning method, there are a few domestic tricks that should work for you. Try taking your silk flowers outside and cleaning them with a blow dryer. Make sure the blow dryer is on a low, cool setting. Then wipe the flowers and leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

Another option is to actually wash your silk flowers. Before cleaning with water, soak or remove an inconspicuous leaf on your silk plant. If it doesn't wilt or fade, you should be safe to wash the entire plant. Fill a sink with lukewarm water and a little mild detergent, and swish your silk flowers upside down in the water a few times and allow them to air dry. If you silk flowers are older or frail, we don't recommend this cleaning option.