When it comes to flowers, you might be thinking that nothing compares to a bouquet of fresh flowers. Not so fast!
High-quality silk alternatives can rival the beauty of live plants and flowers without the high cost and maintenance. High-end floral reproductions mean your flowers stay at the peak of their beauty forever and can be perfect imitations even down to the touch.
So much thought goes into your home decor decisions, and artificial flowers are a great way to honor those decisions with timeless floral pieces that you won’t have to constantly prune and regularly replace.
While maintenance is low when you decorate with silk flowers, it’s not non-existent. Silk flowers and plants do require light cleaning to ensure they maintain their brilliance over time.
Read on for our tips and step-by-step guide for caring for your silk flowers.
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Are Silk Flowers In Style?
If you take pride in decorating your home and keeping it in style, you may wonder if artificial flowers will dampen the mood you’re trying to convey. Not so, according to Vogue magazine.
The dusty, plastic fake flowers of yesteryear have been replaced by chic, elegant fake plants that will elevate any design scheme. Silk flowers let you pick and choose styles that fit your home decor regardless of season or temperature.
Whether you’re looking for a bold statement piece in an architectural vase or classic white floral arrangement in clear water, the options abound.
Are Silk Flowers Tacky?
While some low-quality artificial flowers exist, the key to finding convincing, non-tacky fake flowers is to focus on quality and materials used.
If you’re looking for the most realistic flowers based on materials, silk is the way to go. Silk mimics the natural behavior of actual flower petals, giving a soft, authentic feel to any bouquet.
If you’re looking for green plants with lots of foliage, latex and plastic alternatives can realistically imitate the more durable stems and leaves of plants. While high-quality materials may be a little more expensive, they’ll make up for the cost in durability and beauty.
Are Silk Flowers Cheaper than Real Flowers?
While silk is not an inexpensive material, when you consider the cost of fresh flowers that have to be replaced every other week or so, the long-term investment of faux flowers becomes much more practical.
If you compare a single purchase of a fresh bouquet versus a silk bouquet, yes, the latter will be more expensive, but if you compare the cost over months or years, the silk flowers are much more cost effective. The only requirement is that you lightly clean them to maintain their quality.
Steps for Cleaning and Maintaining Silk Flowers
Artificial flowers require much less maintenance than cut flowers and live plants. For silk flowers, just a few easy steps will to ensure they retain their beautiful appearance and keep your home looking great.
Step 1 – Weekly Dusting of Silk Plants
Dusting your silk flowers and plants on a weekly basis is the best way to keep dust, dirt, and pet dander from building up. Thankfully, this is a much simpler task than pruning leaves or changing out dirty water.
You can use cleaning supplies you already have at home like wipes or a duster to clean your silk plants. Additionally, a Swiffer duster is a great way to capture that dust and dirt with a quick swipe.
Step 2 – Quarterly Cleaning of Silk Plants
While regular dusting keeps most of the buildup at bay, you should also give your silk flowers and plants a nice cleaning a few times a year.
Place your plant in the sink and wash using a special treatment spray that is specifically designed for silk plants. This will make them shine and give you added protection against any wear and tear over time.
Step 3 – Properly Store Silk Plants When They Are Not In Use
The great thing about using artificial plants and flowers is that they last forever (or close to it!) This means when you aren’t using them, you can store them easily until you want to bring them out again.
Storing your silk plants in a plastic container or wrapped in a plastic trash bag and sealed with tape will keep them from attracting dust or pests while they are stored. We recommend using clear bins because it makes it easier to identify which artificial plants or silk flowers are in the tub without having to remove the lid.
Step 4 – Removing Stains from Silk Flowers When Necessary
If your silk flower becomes stained, you have a number of options for removal depending on the color and material of the flower.
Whether you’re dealing with white flowers that have become yellow over time or a one-off stain from food or drink, a mixture of white vinegar and dish soap diluted with water should help remove the stain.
Use small amounts of the solution and use a toothbrush to gently clean the flower. If you’re dealing with colorful flowers and are unsure if the colors will run, try finding a specialized silk flower cleaner to avoid doing possible damage to the flower itself.
Silk flowers and plants are the perfect cost-effective alternative to the high maintenance of fresh flowers. High-quality silk flowers can add style and elegance to your home decor, and with the right care, no one will be able to tell the difference!
Do you have any favorite tips for keeping your silk flowers looking fresh and new? Share your tips, questions, and comments with readers in the comments below.
