To know me is to know that I love lush plants. But I’ll admit that there’s one downside to this obsession: I have difficulty keeping them alive, whether they’re on a windowsill or tucked into a cozy corner of my living room.
Thankfully, I was recently reminded of one simple care tip that can boost my chances of being more of a green thumb—cleaning my plants’ leaves. Turns out, implementing this easy habit can do wonders for their health.
In order to understand why it’s important to keep your plants’ leaves free of any dust and grime, I checked in with two plant experts. Below, Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, known as The Houseplant Guru, and Christopher Satch of NYC Plant Help, a horticultural consultancy that makes house calls for struggling plants, share their top tips and tricks for cleaning your plants’ leaves.
Why Should You Clean Your Plants’ Leaves?
You regularly remove dust from surfaces in your home, so your houseplants deserve the same treatment. Everything from unvacuumed pet hair to neglecting your HVAC system can cause dust to accumulate in your home. These slip-ups can affect your greenery’s health as time passes.
“Though plants don't have noses and lungs, they do take in air through pores, called stomata, scattered all over their leaves and other green parts, as well as the roots,” Satch explains. “Over time, dust and grime will settle and clog plant pores.” And the last thing you want is for your plants to have any difficulty breathing.
And that’s not all, according to Eldred Steinkopf, who notes this can also impact their ability to make food. “A plant gets its ‘food’ from the light it receives through photosynthesis. If dust blocks the light, the plant's health will decline. A sickly plant is more likely to attract pests and disease,” Eldred Steinkopf says.
How Often Should You Clean Your Plants’ Leaves?
It’s not a straightforward answer, says Eldred Steinkopf, as your environment has a lot do with it. For instance, if you live in an area with harsh winters and your heat is running non-stop, there were likely be more dust to clean around your home. Location comes into play as well. “If it is in a bathroom, where powder and beauty products may be used, it may need to be wiped down or showered more often,” she explains.
The best approach is to keep an eye on your plants rather than following a set schedule. “Check your plants when you water them and decide if they need a wipe down,” Eldred Steinkopf says.
The Best Way to Clean Your Plants’ Leaves
“The most common, tried-and-true method for small indoor plants is to take them to the sink or shower and simply rinse them off with the blast of the shower, just like rain does in nature,” Satch says.
You can also use a Swiffer pad, small, soft brush, sponge, or cloth if you’re not up for moving the plant to the sink or shower for a good cleaning. Proceed with care, though. “Support the leaf with one hand and wipe it down with the other,” Eldred Steinkopf advises.
And when it comes to plants with small leaves that are too large to shower—a ficus, for example—consider this method: “Wipe down a few leaves every time you water, so the task isn’t so daunting,” Eldred Steinkopf says. “If you wipe a few every time you water, it will stay clean.”
What to Avoid When Cleaning
It’s best to stay away from using any cleaners or scented wipes on your plants, because they can do more harm than good. “The chemicals in cleaners and scented wipes can damage the waxy cuticles of plants,” Satch warns.
Skip plant shine as well, as “it gives the plant an unnatural shine and can clog the stomata of the plant,” says Eldred Steinkopf. “And often, the shine attracts dust that sticks to the shiny surface.”
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
