Hints From Heloise

Fri., July 5, 1996

King Features Syndicate

Dear Heloise: I have some beautiful silk flower arrangements that need a serious cleaning. Can you tell me the best and easiest way to clean them? - Natalie Avery, Colorado Springs, Colo.

A favorite method of yesterday was to swish the flowers in some water, but today some of the silk flowers or arrangements are hand-wrapped and more difficult to clean.

The first step to cleaning any silk flowers is to dust them with a clean, soft paintbrush or makeup brush to remove as much of the dust as you can. Most silk flowers that aren’t hand-wrapped can be swished in warm soapy water to remove dust and dirt. Gently rinse and lay on clean white paper towels to dry.

For expensive or hand-wrapped flowers, you can buy silk flower cleaner in a spray can at your local florist for under $10. Just follow the directions on the can and - voila - great-looking flowers. - Heloise

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