Do Fake Plants Need Water?

The impact greenery can have on the look and feel of a room cannot be overstated. But real plants aren't for everyone. For those who can't care for plants (or don't want to), want to add a touch of green in low-light settings, or are afraid of growing real plants, artificial plants may be a welcome, beautiful addition to the real thing. But in order for artificial plants to look real, you have to make sure they're kept clean so they don't look fake.

Artificial plants don't require water or fertilizer and won't shed their leaves when the wind blows, but they still require care to stay beautiful. And this care is entirely in the form of dealing with dust. While real plant leaves can accumulate dust (and require regular cleaning), fake plants always seem to accumulate a thick layer of grime faster—and a buildup of dust is a telltale sign that your plant friend is fake of.

To keep your artificial greenery looking full of life, you'll need to dust them regularly and give them a deeper cleaning every once in a while. Here's how to do it.

one ：Shower method

If you can fit a plant into your shower, it's a quick and easy way to flush away dirt. Grab a trash bag, duster (or paint brush, vacuum cleaner), and plant, and head to the bathroom. Or, if you have hoses, take them outside.

1. Take the plant outside or into the shower.

2. Use a small paint brush or microfiber duster to remove dust from the artificial plant leaves. (You can also use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to pick up dust, but the suction power may be too strong for some delicate artificial plants.)

3. Wrap the trash bag around any part of the plant that shouldn't get wet (such as moss in a plant pot), then seal the top of the bag with string or packing tape.

4. Use cold water from a shower head or hose to rinse plant leaves, stems, surfaces or areas where dust collects.

5. Place the plant on a towel or in a cool place outdoors to dry.

two： Leaf-by-leaf method

This method is a little more laborious, but can still be done quickly. All you need is a damp cloth and you can leave the plant in place.

1. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the plant piece by piece.

2. If the plant is large, you may need to rinse off the dusty cloth before finishing. Simply run the cloth under cold water until it's mostly clean, then squeeze out the excess water until the cloth is just damp, then continue cleaning one by one.

three： Vinegar method

If water alone doesn't seem to remove the dirt, or your plants are more complex, you may want to add some white vinegar (literally) to the mix. Vinegar helps remove the accumulated dust film.

1. Create a half vinegar, half water solution and mix it in a spray bottle.

2. Spray your artificial plants with the solution. For very stubborn buildup, let the vinegar solution sit for about five minutes.

3. Use a clean damp cloth to wipe away as much vinegar and dust as possible.