Homemade Silk Plant Cleaner

Always use low heat and cool water when cleaning silk plants, because high temperatures could loosen the glue that holds floral pieces together.

Dry Cleaning

Often you can blow the dust off with a hair dryer on the low setting. Blow the arrangement outside or while holding it over sheets of newspaper to catch loosened dust. This is useful for detailed arrangements with many tiny petals. Shaking the floral stems in a large paper grocery bag that contains a cup of table salt will also remove dust from small to medium-sized silk plants.

Wet Wash Cleaning

If your silk plants need deeper cleaning, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spritz the plants with this solution, and rinse them under a gentle spray of water at the sink or bathtub. Shake gently and let air dry. Other cleaning options include all-purpose cleaner, a drop or two of dish detergent in plain water, or a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water. Take your larger plants outside on the patio or driveway to spray them with the solution, and rinse with a light spray from a garden hose. If you're unsure about the colorfastness of silk flowers, test a small, inconspicuous area before wet cleaning.