The Only Way You Should Be Cleaning A Spider Plant's Leaves

If you own a spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) or two in your home, then you know just how low maintenance these houseplants can be. Known for their easy dispositions, spider plants are often lauded as the perfect indoor houseplant, as they are extremely forgiving and can thrive in a wide variety of environments. That being said, there are a few small tasks a spider plant owner may want to undertake in order to boost the health and appearance of their plant. Like any other stationary item, a spider plant can be a secret dust magnet in your home. The easiest way to clean your spider plant is to dampen a soft rag, like a microfiber cloth, and gently wipe it along the leaves to remove any dust. 

Layers of dust residing on your plant doesn't just make it look dirty, but they can actually affect the health of your houseplants and reduce the amount of light they receive from the sun. Thus, regularly dusting your spider plant, as well as any other houseplant you may own, is an important chore that helps stimulate your plants' growth and improve their appearance. Your plant could also have sticky residue from a past insect or pest infestation, which should be removed. However, you want to be careful with the ingredients you choose to use. It's not always recommended to use dish soap on your plant's leaves, and we'll explain why.

The short answer is no. When it comes to dusting and cleaning your spider plant's leaves, it may be tempting to add a few drops of dishwashing liquid or detergent to your damp microfiber cloth to really get a squeaky clean spider plant. However, this can actually be damaging to your plant. Not only can dish soap strip the leaves of their natural oils and waxes, but it can even risk burning them. Common, powerful detergent ingredients like sodium hydroxide and lye are not healthy for your plants. Instead, just use a cloth and a few drops of water.

It's typically recommended to wipe down your spider plant's leaves with water whenever you see dust forming. You may want to shine light onto the plant to check, as this can expose any otherwise-invisible dust on the leaves. The cleaner the leaves of your spider plant, the better the plant can photosynthesize, or receive energy from the sun. Don't forget to wipe down both the tops and the bottoms of the leaves. 

If you notice your spider plants are becoming extremely dusty and you don't feel like wiping down each individual leaf, you can always try the fun alternative of bringing them into the shower with you for a quick rinse off.