How do you clean off house plants?

Question

I have numerous house plants that are dusty and dull looking. What can I use to clean them gently? I remember years ago someone said a cotton ball with mayo on it - ever heard any such thing? Misting them just makes them look worse - it doesn't clean them!

Answer 1

adding leaf shine stuff or mayo to clean the leaves of a house plant isn't a good idea.... the surface of the leaves do need the dust removed, in fact, because the dust can clog the pores that the plant 'breathes' thru... but so can oils and waxes to shine the leaf.... plain water on a soft cloth is fine, but the lady who gives hers the shower and the drenching is doing a good thing for hers!!!...

Answer 2

I put my houseplants- and i have about 30 of them- into the bathtub/shower about 5 or 6 at a time and give them a good spray off with room temperature water. I also give them a good soaking, to flush out some of the salts in the soil (that make the white residue around the saucers) and spray off their leaves gently with the hand held shower nozzle. then let them drain a while and then feed them with some miracle grow or other water soluble fertilizer- I do this about once a month to keep their leaves clean - and i have some zygo cactus that are over 20 years old. GL

Answer 3

To clean them simply use a small amount of dishing washing detergent in water. AFTER you clean them, the mayo and cotton ball trick definitely will shine them up.

Answer 4

I wipe the bigger leaves with a microfiber cleaning clothe. I also blow the dust off with aircan. Never heard of the mayo thing. Might try that tonight on the palm tree.

Answer 5

Hose them off outside. Milk water will make the leaves shine.