How Do You Get The Musty Smell Out Of Silk Flowers?

Remove Musty Odours From Silk Flowers

It is not uncommon for silk flowers to have a musty smell. A common cause of this is not being stored in a cool, dry place, which can trigger the growth of mould and fungus spores, leading to an unpleasant smell. You may not be able to see these spores with the naked eye because they are very tiny.

However, you will notice the smell when you start to arrange your flowers. The worst part is that attempting to dust the flowers will make the smell worse as you will be releasing the spores into the air. While spraying the silk flowers with an air freshener may help, it is only temporary.

In this article, we’ll be sharing with you how to get the musty smell out of silk flowers by killing the mould and fungus responsible for the smell. By far, the best way is regularly cleaning your artificial plants with a damp, clean, micro fibre cloth. If you absolutely want to try some other methods, here a few more. As with all methods of cleaning, try on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t cause ant damage.

How To Remove The Musty Smell From Silk Flower

Using vinegar and lemon juice

• Get a clean, dry surface covered with plain paper and place the silk flowers on it. You can also use an old grocery bag for cleaning artificial flowers such as silk flowers, but you have to put the printed side faced down.
• Mix a cup of water, a half-cup of white vinegar, and a teaspoon of lemon juice in a clean, dry spray bottle.
• Cover the bottle and shake vigorously to mix the ingredients.
• Spray the prepared mixture on the silk flowers. Make sure you extend the spray to the petals where the fungus and mould are likely to be. The mixture contains acidic properties from the vinegar and lemon juice that will attack the fungus and mould. After spraying, allow the flowers to dry on their own.
• If the musty smell persists, repeat the spraying for a second time.

Using vinegar and water

If you have a silk flower that has been in store for a very long time and now has a musty, dank smell, you can do the following:

• Mix one cup of white vinegar into 3.8 litres of warm water.
• Place the silk flower into the mixture and soak thoroughly.
• Rinse and allow to dry.
• Repeat the process if the smell persists.

Methods Of Cleaning Silk Flowers

Silk flowers and other types of artificial flowers and plants can help to add to the beauty of a room. Like every other interior decoration accessory, you need to clean these artificial flowers regularly to keep them looking beautiful and new.

For deep cleaning, you can wash flowers in water or vinegar. In this section, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide of how you can take care of your silk flowers and keep them neat and beautiful always.

There are different methods you can use to clean silk flowers; some of them are:

Dry Cleaning Methods

Bag of rice

Rice can be used to remove dirt and grime from fake flowers that have been kept away in storage for an extended period. To do this, measure a cup of uncooked rice into a paper bag and add some flowers to the bag. Shake the bag for about six minutes and then remove the flowers. This will remove dust and dirt from the flower. This works well with dried flowers.

Cornmeal

Cornmeal is also another great way of removing dust and grime from dirty flowers. Get a Ziploc bag and fill it with four to five tablespoons of cornmeal. You can use cornmeal to remove unwanted dirt from flowers.

Place the flower in the Ziploc bag and shake it for about six minutes. When you remove the flowers, shake them to take off excess cornmeal. This should remove the cornmeal dust and the dust from the flower.

Use compressed air

You can also use compressed air to remove some amount of dust and dirt from silk flowers. You can get compressed air at the nearest store near you. However, the use of compressed air should be avoided on delicate silk flowers as this may cause the petal to crumble.

Low-speed hairdryer

You can also use your hairdryer to clean your silk flowers. This is a good choice for delicate flowers that may be damaged by compressed air. Reduce the hair dryer to a low setting and use it to blow dirt from the flower. This method is quite effective at removing very tiny layers of dust.

Use a duster

Use a regular duster to clean your silk flower regularly. Although this does not work well for removing dust and debris build-up, it can effectively remove a lot of dust that has settled on your flowers over a short period.

During your regular dusting routine, include dusting the silk flowers with a feather duster. If some of the dust is stuck, you can use a soft bristle brush to remove them gently. This should be done outside to avoid the dust and dirt from settling on your floor. If a duster is not available, use a microfiber cloth.

Blow dryer

A blow dryer is also an effective tool that you can use to routinely clean your silk flower of dust and dirt. If you are consistent in blowing off dust every time you clean, this will prevent dust from becoming set in and challenging to remove.

Vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is also useful for regular cleaning of your silk flowers. Attach a detachable hose and hold it a few inches from the flowers as you remove dust. With this, the vacuum cleaner should be able to collect some of the dust.

Liquid Cleaning Methods

Washing in water

If you have kept your flowers in storage for a long time, they may have some dust and dirt build-up that will require some washing. In this case, you can wash the flower with water. Mix three tablespoons of dish soap into water and use the soap mixture to gently wash the flower. This removes all dirt on the flower.

White vinegar

Fill a spray bottle with distilled vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:1. Shake the spray bottle until the water and vinegar are mixed together. Spray the mixture on the flower and let it dry. Note that when doing this for the first time, you should test the combination on a small hidden area to ensure that the mixture does not bleach the flower.

Cleaning sprays

There are many sprays that are manufactured specifically for cleaning artificial flowers. Some of these sprays work fine, but you have to be careful when using them. First, ensure that the spray you are buying is designed for silk flowers, as sprays made for general artificial flowers may not work well for silk flowers. Remember, this approach to cleaning silk flowers is more expensive than other methods.

Dishwasher (NOT recommended)

If you have a dishwasher, you may have heard this is a suitable way of cleaning silk flower if the machine is set to a gentle cycle. For the record, this is not something we recommend, so proceed at your own risk.
A small amount of water is enough to wash off the dirt. When using your dishwasher, ensure that you adhere to your manufacturer's instructions, as some silk flowers cannot be washed using a dishwasher. Doing so can lead to the flowers getting damaged.

Choosing Cleaning Method

Artificial flowers may not withstand some cleaning processes, so you have to be careful before choosing a particular cleaning method for your silk flowers. For instance, if you take a good look at the stem of the silk flowers you intend to clean, are the blossoms and leaves made of plastic, silk, velvet, or polyester, or do they have a latex finish?

Check the petal; does it look like the petal detail was hand-painted? Does the stem look like it was hand-wrapped with floral tape, or was it manufactured using moulded plastics? For the leaves, check the sides of the petals and leaves. Were they glued to their support? Is the support a thin wire or a plastic branch? How are the parts of the faux flower joined to the main stem? Are they wired, taped, or Snap-On?

The aim of these questions and investigation is to know if there is a possibility of damaging the fabrics and finishes or displacing delicate parts. From what you have discovered, determine the best method to refresh the flowers without damaging them.

Seek Professional Help When Buying Silk Flowers

Depending on the quality of your flowers will determine how soon your silk flowers and other artificial plantswill produce a smell. When shopping for an artificial flower, it is necessary to go for high-quality ones. High-quality silk flowers are long-lasting, require less maintenance, are clean, resilient, and always available all season.

So, the next time you decide to purchase an artificial plant or flower, ensure that you buy a quality product. While a quality silk flower may cost you more initially, you will surely enjoy the benefit of your investment in the long run. If you are not sure which are quality silk flowers, you can always seek professional help.

Professional artificial flower specialists know the difference between a quality and poorly assembled flower and can advise what cleaning methods are best for each specific type of silk flower.

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