It’s all too easy to get complacent about your silk flowers but keeping them clean and fresh is integral to loving, appreciating, and maintaining them. Making how to clean silk flowers like a pro is vital.
Perhaps you picked up a dusty silk flower arrangement at a thrift store. Or wish to revive that vintage silk bouquet you’ve been stashing away for years.
Whatever the case, one thing is certain: cleaning and caring for silk flowers is no small feat.
So, whether it’s a single stem or a whole flower arrangement, we have some pro tips to ensure your silk blooms stay perky, vibrant, and looking their best.
Follow these seven steps on how to clean silk flowers like a pro to enjoy your favorite flake florals for many years to come.
Choosing the Right Detergent
When it comes to cleaning silk flowers, a suitable detergent is key.
The detergent you choose should be designed to wash delicate fabrics like silk or chiffon. Any all-purpose detergent will be too harsh and could damage your lovelies.
Also, avoid chlorine bleach, as it will cause discoloration.
After selecting the appropriate detergent, dilute it in plenty of cold water. Use approximately two cups of detergent for each gallon of water.
If you’re dealing with adamant stains or dirt build-up, slightly increase the amount of detergent or opt for a solvent-based cleaner.
That is where it can be tempting to switch from cold water to hot- but don’t! Silk is especially sensitive to temperature extremes and can be damaged by hot water – so stick to the cold!
Preparing Your Silk Flowers for Cleaning
Now that you have gathered your supplies, it’s time to prepare your silk flowers for cleaning.
Start by unfolding or disassembling each of the stems and unbending any wire parts. It will allow you to thoroughly clean each flower piece by getting to every nook and cranny.
Next, use a soft brush or dust cloth to remove any excess dirt or dust from the stems and petals.
Don’t be too vigorous with the brush, as some silk flowers have delicate petals and stem that can easily tear.
Once that’s all done, let your silk flowers sit for about 10 minutes so any freshly-cleaned bits can somewhat dry off.
Pre-Treat Any Spots and Stains
Nobody’s perfect—not even your silk flowers! Before taking the plunge and cleaning, check for any areas needing extra attention to pre-treat them.
Maybe a spot, stain, or something else needs some extra TLC. For example, if your flowers have sap or pollen, you’ll want to pre-treat them before cleaning the entire flower.
Pre-Treating Method:
Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and dab it onto the area you want to treat. But before using rubbing alcohol, find out if it can stain the particular materials for your flowers.
Then, use a cloth dampened with lukewarm water to ensure no residue is left behind.
Finally, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub away any stubborn residue that won’t come off with just the cloth and alcohol solution.
When done, let the flower dry naturally for the treatment to set in properly and prevent stains from returning!
By pre-treating areas of your silk flowers before washing them all together, you can help ensure that every inch of your artificial bloom looks as good as new once it’s completely dried!
Cleaning the Petals & Leaves
You’re halfway there! Now it’s time to clean the petals and leaves. It’s essential to use a gentle approach to avoid damaging your flowers with the steps below:
Start by removing any dust particles with a soft paintbrush. Be sure to brush lightly—you don’t want to damage the delicate petals or leaves.
Dip a cotton swab in warm, soapy water and gently rub the petals and leaves, taking extra care with any fragile areas. Rinse with warm water afterward and dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
For even more precision, you can use a toothpick or tweezers for parts that are hard to reach—but again, be gentle!
If you have any stubborn stains, try rubbing alcohol on a cloth and wipe gently until the stains have been lifted away.
Repeat these steps until your flowers look as good as new!
Getting Rid of Dust and Dirt
You can start cleaning after appropriately placing your flowers in a dry area.
Dust and dirt are the biggest culprits for ruining your faux flowers. So getting rid of them before proceeding to any other cleaning step is vital.
Even better, you have several methods to choose from to carry this out:
How to dust the flowers
Use a clean, soft brush, like a makeup brush, to gently remove all the dust and dirt particles.
Utilize a feather duster or electrostatic dust mop with microfiber heads.
If all else fails, use canned air specifically designed for dusting keyboards and other electronics—but make sure you hold the can at a 45-degree angle so you don’t spray water onto your flowers!
These three methods should help you remove the dust and dirt that has built up on your silk flowers over time. Just be gentle during application—the last thing you want is to damage or tear your faux blooms!
Drying Your Silk Flowers Safely
Now that you’ve removed all the dirt and grime from your silk flowers, the last step is to dry them safely-handle the flowers carefully to avoid causing any damage.
Hand-drying Tips
The safest way to dry your silk flowers is by hand. It reduces the risk of damage and allows you to check for any remaining dirt or debris.
Always use a soft rag or cloth rather than a brush or other abrasive material when drying your flowers. They can damage the delicate surface of the flowers.
Drying Racks
If you don’t want to dry your silk flowers by hand, specialized drying racks on the market are designed for this purpose. These racks can be used indoors or outdoors and come with adjustable shelves to dry flowers of all shapes and sizes.
However, read the instructions carefully before using the above, as they can vary depending on the model.
Fan-drying
Another method for drying your silk flowers is fan-drying.
It involves setting up a fan some distance away from your silk flower arrangement and letting it blow over them until they’re completely dry—do not point it directly at them as this could cause damage.
This method can take some time, but it seems ideal when drying several arrangements simultaneously.
How to Prevent Oil from Ruining Your Silk Flowers
Now, let’s talk about prevention.
It’s all good that you know how to clean silk flowers, but if you want your petals to keep their shape and look sparkly new, you will want to prevent oil-based stains as much as possible.
Fortunately, you can do several things to help protect your blossoms:
Keep away from beauty products
If you have a routine of putting on makeup, creams, or lotions around your home, keeping them at a distance is in your flowers’ best interest.
Oil-based products like these will quickly seep into the petals and make it much harder to remove them.
Don’t put them in direct sunlight
Did you know that too much UV light can cause fading? As with your skin, too much exposure to the sun’s rays can kill away the petals’ bright colors over time.
Consider placing your faux plants in an area with plenty of lighting but away from direct sunlight.
Don’t handle them often
One of the downfalls of having beautiful lookalikes instead of real flowers is that they don’t respond well when touched.
So if possible, try not to move them around or handle them too often — doing so can cause dust or other particles to stick to the delicate petals.
That can be challenging (or even impossible) to remove.
Conclusion
And that’s it — you have all the knowledge to clean silk flowers like a pro in seven easy steps.
Whether you’re looking to restore your silk flower arrangement to its former glory or want to spruce it up for Mother’s Day, the tips in this article will make the cleaning journey straightforward and more efficient.
Whether it’s a bouquet of silk flowers or a single bloom, you can confidently give your flowery friend a thorough and gentle makeover.
Ready to get to work? Don your apron, grab your cleaning supplies, and enjoy the refreshing scent of clean silk flowers in your home.