How to clean and care for artificial flowers and foliage 

This sounds so interesting and I never heard anything like it! So you put the flower in a zip lock bag with coarse (rock salt) and just shake it?

@@UrMomGoes2College Kosher Salt is best then table salt. Put flower head in ziplock and hang onto the stem and edge of ziplock bag. Then hang upside down and gigle salt out or use a tooth brush and hair dryer on cool to blow out any leftover salt and dirt.

@@gbarnett9470 very cool!

I've heard the same I think sea salt or kosher can't remember.

Hi Robyn, thank you for sharing. That's a great tip. I've been surrounded by artificial for years and really don't find they gather much dust. I put it down to not having carpet or rugs on my floors. Kind regards Astar

@@AstarsPlace …. Thank you for your lovely reply x

Hello Doana, I have used this method for years and it works a treat. I have a larger than life white moth orchids display that has graced my lounge for more than 20 years and it still looks great. Every year when the house gets a deep cleansing 'spring-clean' all the orchids/foliage get pulled out, washed, dried and put back. Take special care Astar

Hi Rosie, I've had some that are almost 30 years old. Some in this house think they should have gone years ago, but they are as beautiful as the day I got them. Quick wash, dry off, and they continue on. Warm regards Astar

Its the best 'one-liner' to fall from my mouth for ages!!! Honestly, it's so frustrating and the second one is the writing/naming on shampoo and conditioner bottles... who wears their glasses in the shower? I've taken to putting giant S & C letters so that I can identify which is which. I keep saying all the time that product/packing companies need to pass everything through me before it hits the market! Form & function should be top priority. Very warm regards Astar

I am from Auckland NZ. It's almost summer, the weather is great and soon we will have holidays. Yay for the beach and relaxing times. Kind regards Astar

Hello, here is my TIP, BUT approach with caution ⚠️ and a gentle ✋. I use a 'bic' or similar lighter and VERY CAREFULLY apply the flame to the fraying edges. As soon as the 🔥 catches immediately knock it out. Works a treat. I've just started posting my Q&A to IGTV @astarsplace. I could do a show & tell there if that would be helpful? Kind regards Astar

@@AstarsPlace Excellent! Thank you!

Brenda, it works a treat. Warm regards Astar

I toss a scented dryer sheet into the tubs, taking care to put a sheet of wax paper between the dryer sheet and the flowers. The sheet can leave an oily stain, but it leaves the flowers smelling nice and absorbs bad scents. Otherwise, use distilled white vinegar, a natural odor neutralizer, to clean the plastic tub first. Maybe add a little vinegar to the bath when cleaning the flowers? I've used vinegar on nearly everything, from leather to christening dresses to rugs, and it's never left a stain. It evaporates pretty quickly, too, so you won't have to worry about a lingering vinegar smell.

Hi Anne, can you tell me if your orchids are what they call 'real touch'. These have a coating that is like latex. Although lovely to feel, over time it breaks down and causes yellowing to the petals. If the petals are a polyester, sometimes the glue breaks down and thus the petal discolouration. In the past when I've been faced with your current dilemma, a quick mist with white spray paint has fixed the issue. Hope this helps? Kind regards Astar

Hello from me, the palm is artificial. My house used yo over flow FRESH until they got white fly... horrible sap ducking nasty little buggars. I tired everything and still they returned. I reached the point of ...the END. OUT. In due course I'll add them to our collection here at Prestige Botanicals. Very warm regards Astar

Hi Rebecca, yes you can. As an aside - often, I use the hair dryer to help bring bent or damaged stems & petals back into shape. Works a treat every time. Warm regards Astar

@@AstarsPlace Thank you Astar.

Hello @blessed its all my pleasure. I'm here to inspire and help take your craft to a new level of enjoyment. Warm regards Astar

As long as its gentle is should be fine. Warm regards Astar