How to Clean Artificial Flowers

Before creating a fake flower arrangement or storing your artificial floral bouquet away, follow this guide on how to clean silk flowers. With a few simple how-to tips, you’ll learn how to care for artificial flowers, prevent fake flowers from fading, and how to store artificial flowers so your floral investment can last for years!

How to Clean Silk Flowers

To clean silk flowers that combine fabric and plastic, dust the leaves and blooms with a damp cloth or feather duster. For small stems, or intricate spaces, use a dry craft or paint brush. If the artificial flower doesn’t contain latex or foam or doesn’t feel “real touch,” you can clean the blooms and leaves by wiping them with a small amount of soap and water. Make sure to dry your fake flowers thoroughly before storing them.

Another quick method to remove dust from your fake flowers is to gently dust them with a hairdryer on a cool setting or spray them with compressed or canned air. We recommend dusting with a hairdryer before using a damp cloth; this will ensure you’re not just wiping dust on the blooms.

How to clean “real touch” artificial flowers is slightly different. They are made from latex or foam and cannot get wet—clean blooms with a dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth or a fragrance-free baby wipe. Fragrance-free baby wipes can also help to remove stains or slight discoloration.

What are the benefits of artificial flowers?

Artificial flowers provide a hassle-free approach to floral design. Fake flowers are reusable, durable, don’t require water or sun, and are a budget-friendly option for anyone looking to create stunning, no-maintenance flower arrangements that last for years. Before choosing the perfect artificial flowers for your home decor, read the product description and learn what material each type of artificial flower is made of. This will help you make an educated decision on the quality and how to display your new artificial florals.

What are the types of artificial flowers?

Not all artificial flowers are created equal. There are several different types of artificial flowers, including silk or fabric, real-touch, and plastic. Silk flowers typically have fabric blooms and leaves with a wired plastic stem for flexibility. A plastic coating or film is sometimes applied to the fabric to increase longevity. Real-touch artificial flowers are made of foam, latex, or have a latex-coated fabric leaf, creating a feeling of a live, damp petal. If you’re planning on using any artificial flowers outside, only use plastic or artificial flowers with UV-protected fabric leaves. Fake flowers containing latex or foam will quickly break down or disintegrate in the elements. Before purchasing, read the product description to know what materials make up your future artificial flowers. Many artificial flowers are created from recycled fabric, plastic, and wire. Through our sustainability initiatives, we continue to partner with vendors who prioritize lowering the environmental impact of artificial flowers and plants through recycling, upcycling, and the use of biomass plastics. For more information on our efforts,

How to Store Artificial Flowers

You may wonder how to store artificial flowers in your craft room. Before storing, clean your fake flowers. Once your flowers are completely dry, store them in a breathable yet sealed container. A plastic bin with a closed lid is perfect! Make sure each bloom has enough room and isn’t squashed by other heavier stems. Store out of direct sunlight so the florals won’t fade over time. For long stems, we recommend a wrapping paper box. Layer each bloom in an opposite direction to avoid squashing the flowers on the bottom. We recommend adding a small closet cedar block to keep things fresh.

How to Keep Fake Flowers from Fading

To ensure the longest life for your fake florals:

• Style them in a space that is out of direct sunlight.
• Do not place in window sills or any space that gets intense sun. This light will strip or slowly fade the color from the fabric blooms. Always store your fake flowers out of direct sunlight as well.
• We recommend storing them in a sealed yet breathable container in a closet or under a bed. For outdoor artificial flowers, plant out of direct sunlight (under an awning is perfect) and spray with UV-protectant spray, which you can find at your local art supply store. 

How to Cut Fake Flowers

Before cutting your artificial flowers, bend the stem to your desired height. If you can keep the stem long instead of cutting it, you can then reuse your stem in another design at another height. Bending is perfect for opaque vases. If you must cut your artificial flowers, use high-quality, heavy-duty wire cutters. If the stem is thick and you’re having difficulty cutting the wire inside, try bending the stem back and forth several times. This movement should snap the wire where you’ve created an impression from the wire cutters. If you style your cut stems in water, seal the open end with hot glue so the wire won’t rust. 

Can Fake Flowers Get Wet?

Depending on the type, some fake flowers can get wet. Ensure they are fabric and plastic, not latex or foam, before showering or submerging them. Latex or foam blooms and leaves will disintegrate in water. Do not get “real touch” flowers wet.

Can Fake Flower Go Outside?

Some types of fake flowers were created to style outdoors. These outdoor artificial flowers are typically UV-treated and made from plastic and fabric. Do not use latex, foam, or “real touch” flowers outside. They will disintegrate. Look for the words “outdoor,” “plastic,” and “UV protected” in the product description. You may also ask what to spray on artificial flowers to keep from fading? We recommend spraying your outdoor artificial flowers with a UV-protectant spray you can find at your local art supply store. When styling outdoors, display under an awning and out of direct sunlight to prevent fading and increase the lifespan of your fake outdoor flowers. Securely fasten your outdoor artificial flowers to a container to ensure they won’t blow away. If you’re planting your artificial flowers directly in the ground, ensure they’re planted deeply. If the soil is loose or you live in a high wind area, secure the fake plant stem to another object (we suggest a small chicken wire ball) before planting the stem like a real plant.

How to Make Artificial Flowers Look Real

The first step in how to make artificial flowers look real is to purchase high-quality, botanically recreated fake flowers. Remember, not all fake flowers are created equal.

First, search for images of the natural flower online and compare the fake flower against it. Typically, “real-touch” florals will look and feel the most realistic as they have petals and blooms that feel soft and almost damp to the touch.

Next, read the product description to ensure the stem and, if possible, the petals are wired so you can manipulate and style the flower. Wired stems and blooms allow you to mimic the organic styling of real flowers. Once your fake flowers are delivered, take them out of their packaging and fluff the leaves and petals. To fluff, simply bend and separate the bloom and leaves to create an organic look. We recommend searching online for images of the natural flower and styling your artificial flower to match. Shape the stem in an organic vs. straight line.

Style your artificial flowers as though you were styling fresh florals.

Bend or cut their stems, so the floral blooms stand at least ½ the height of the vase. For example, if your vase is 9″, your arrangement should stand at least 18″. If the vase is clear, seal the end of your stems with hot glue, then fill with water. Use floral design tools such as hairpins, floral frogs, or grid taping to provide structure and help create a fake flower arrangement that looks real.

How are silk flowers made?

CallaFloral sources ethically made artificial flowers from China and the U.S.A. Most artificial flowers are created either by hand or from a mold. Artificial flowers combine wire, plastic, fabric, and sometimes latex or foam. We strive to lower our environmental impact by partnering with vendors that use recycled fabrics, wire, and biomass plastics (bio-based plastics are fully or partially made from biological resources rather than fossil raw materials).