The Dust-Repelling Hack Your Faux Plants Need

The debate between real versus fake plants will probably always be around. And while we love real plants, we also know that faux plants are a godsend for those who don't have a green thumb. They give you a pop of lush, vibrant decor without all the fuss. But they (literally) have a dirty little secret: they're notorious dust magnets. Thanks to static electricity, these lovely fake leaves love to collect dust. While many real plants are naturally great at trapping and reducing dust on their own, faux greens (obviously) can't. This means that in about a week, your maintenance-free greenery is gone and your faux Fiddle Leaf Fig or String of Pearls loses its luster. But what if you could easily repel dust using an everyday laundry staple? 

Liquid fabric softener is packed with anti-static agents (surfactants that eliminate cling to and soften clothing fibers). When properly diluted and applied, it'll neutralize the static charge on your faux plant's leaves. This means that dust particles, which are naturally attracted to electrically-charged surfaces, will no longer cling. The hack helps you create an invisible shield that actually stops new dust from landing on your fake plants, which will help them stay looking cleaner for much longer. Having an easy way to keep them dust-free is one of the game-changing tricks that make artificial flowers and plants look real. And this hack is an effortless way to ensure your "plants" always look good, and it saves you time cleaning each week. 

Ready to transform these dust magnets? You'll need a clean spray bottle, your favorite liquid fabric softener, some water, and a soft microfiber cloth. First, mix one part fabric softener with four parts water in that spray bottle. Before you spray any of your dusty faux plants, feel free to do a test run just to make sure there aren't any issues (especially on items like silk flowers). While this mixture is generally safe to use, it never hurts to double check.

Give the bottle a gentle shake to combine the ingredients well, then lightly mist your faux plants' leaves, stems, and any other dusty crevices. After each mist, take your clean microfiber cloth and gently wipe each leaf. This is the most important step, as the buffing not only gets rid of any existing dust and extra moisture, but evenly distributes the anti-static barrier across each surface. Pay attention to the undersides of leaves, too, as well as any other more difficult to reach or normally out of sight spots. Work your way around the faux plant until every surface is clean, dry, and absolutely glistening. For plants with lots of intricate nooks, a soft bristled paintbrush or toothbrush can also help get rid of any dust before you wipe them down. This easy hack turns a boring weekly chore into a quick seasonal refresh that'll make your faux plants look like the real thing.