Care
How to clean artificial plants and artificial flowers
Artificial plants need no water and no sunlight, but they do collect dust. In Mumbai that happens fast, especially near a window or a busy road. Ten minutes of cleaning every few weeks keeps artificial plants, artificial flowers and artificial palm trees looking real instead of tired.
Dust every two to three weeks
Dust is what makes an artificial plant look fake. It settles on the top face of every leaf and flattens the colour.
Use a dry microfibre cloth and wipe each leaf from the stem outwards. For artificial palm trees and tall trees with many leaves, a soft brush or a hair dryer on cool setting is faster. Work top to bottom so the dust falls away from the leaves you already cleaned.
Wash real touch leaves twice a year
Real touch leaves are polyester and PU. They can be washed. Mix a few drops of mild dish soap in cool water, dip a soft cloth, and wipe both faces of the leaf. Rinse the cloth often so you are not moving dust around.
Do not soak the whole plant, and do not put it under a running tap. Water sitting inside a fibre trunk takes days to dry and can loosen the glue. Wipe dry with a clean cloth and let it air out for an hour before you put it back.
What to avoid
No bleach, no thinner, no alcohol based cleaner. They strip the UV coating and the colour goes patchy.
No hot water and no steam. Heat softens the leaf and it will not hold its shape after that.
No outdoor pressure washing. It tears the finer leaves off the stem.
Storing plants between events
Decorators and event planners reuse the same stock many times. Store artificial plants upright, not stacked, so the leaves do not take a permanent bend. If you must box them, wrap the crown loosely in newspaper and keep the box the right way up.
Keep them out of a damp godown. Damp will not rot polyester, but it will leave a smell that transfers to fabric.
How long they last
Indoors, a UV protected artificial plant holds its colour for years. Under direct sun, cheaper stock fades in a season. Everything we make is UV protected, which is why it also works under a covered balcony or a shopfront.
If a plant looks dull after cleaning, it is usually the dust in the joints, not the colour. Go over the stem and the base of each leaf again.