How to Clean Silk Flowers January 8, 2017 – Posted in: Tips and Tricks of the Trade

Silk swags, wreaths, and arrangements, are a great way to keep your home beautiful year-round. In fact, many silk flowers today are so realistic, it is difficult to tell whether they are real or artificial. That is, until a layer of dust appears on them. Cleaning can be easy however, and will help extend the life of your beloved silks for years to come.

Because silk flowers get dusty just like furniture, they need to be tidied up periodically. Try to incorporate dusting the silks when you’re dusting the furniture. When you come to the silk flowers, use a hair dryer on a low to medium speed. While using the coolest setting, hold the hair dryer about 10-12 inches away, and the dust should just blow off. Preferably, this should be done every two weeks.

In cases where dust has built up over time, you may need something other than a hair dryer. In that case, the easiest and most effective way to clean silks is with a commercial silk flower cleaner. Various brands can be found at most craft and discount stores. These products work by lifting dust and grease from the surface, while bringing out the silk flowers natural beauty. With no rinsing or wiping, you just spray on and let dry. Plus, the dried foam helps resist dust build up in the future.

However, there are a ‘few’ artificial flowers or manufacturing processes, that may not stand up well when stronger methods are used to clean silks.

Check to see if the flowers might be hand-painted, or hand-made. If so, there may be a possibility of ruining fabrics and finishes, or dislodging delicately assembled parts. Take your findings into account if you wish to try cleaning your silk flowers with a commercial cleaner. It’s up to you to decide!

We hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions, you can always visit us at:www.wreathsunlimited.com and use the Ask Us?

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