How to Wash a House Plant

Overview

Houseplants bring greenery indoors where it can be appreciated year-round. Many houseplants are grown for their large leaves or exotic appearance. In the home, these leaves become targets for dust and grime, especially on plants displayed in kitchens or bathrooms where grease or product residue can settle on them. Dirty leaves to not respire well and they have trouble soaking up the light the plant needs to thrive. Washing the houseplant properly keeps it looking its best and ensures it remains healthy.

Step 1

Dust leaves with a feather duster. Alternately, use a soft-bristled make-up brush on small leaves where a feather duster is too large for the job. Use the feather duster only on smooth-leaved brushes. For hairy-leaved houseplants, dust with a camel's hair brush, dusting in the same direction that the hairs lie on the leaves.

Step 2

Dip a soft cotton cloth in lukewarm water. Wipe leaves clean with the damp cloth. Start wiping where the leaf joins the stem, then wipe to the tip of the leaf. Take care not to pull the leaf off the plant. Use this method only on smooth-leaved houseplants.

Step 3

Fill a water syringe or turkey baster with lukewarm water. Spray the water onto leaves that have grime that doesn't easily wipe off. The sharp spray of water should dislodge the dirt.

Step 4

Wrap the pot in a plastic garbage bag and tie it closed around the stem of the plant. Set the entire plant in the bathtub and turn the shower. Spray the plants with lukewarm water from the shower for five to 10 minutes, washing away most of the dirt. Wipe the leaves a second time with a soft cloth afterward to finish cleaning them. Remove the garbage bags and place the plant back in its normal display place.