Happy Houseplants Are Dust-Free

Happy houseplants, they say, are dust-free. 

Bummer for the plants in my house, because of all the assignable cleaning tasks, me and the mister draw straws to dust. We're the anti-dusters. 

But every now and then the little garden angel on my shoulder perks up and swears she can hear the plants gasping ... pleading for us to give them a shine. And realistically, the armchair botanist in me recognizes that my houseplants, which bring me great joy while absorbing airborne pollutants found in the house, are not able to perform their filtration duties with dust-covered leaves. They also find it a little difficult for the oxygen to pass through dust and back into the air. 

Don't get me wrong—it's not like we have a layer of thick moon dust all over the place (we just complain while dusting). So I make sure to give my houseplants a good birdbath at least once in the spring and another one in the fall. It's easy and relatively quick, and the benefits are well worth the effort. 

• For my larger-leafed plants, like my peace lilies, I use a soft wash cloth that's barely damp. I work meticulously through the plant, gently wiping off the tops and bottoms of each leaf. While I'm at it, I trim off dried or dead leaves and make sure there are no unwanted pests ... a couple of years ago we lost a ficus tree to a very hungry caterpillar. Then I add fertilizer to my watering can and give it a good drink. 

• For my smaller-leafed plants, or those in big planters, I put them in the shower. Using tepid water with a slow stream, I use the shower wand and use my fingers to get the leaves squeaky clean. This is also a good opportunity to check for dead leaves and other things that need to be cleaned out. Before I turn off the water, I swirl it around the base of the plant and clean off the planter. After 10 or 15 minutes, I get the mister to take them back to their favorite spots in the house. 

One thing I do avoid is leaf polish. Just good ol' H₂O for this optimistic gardener.

• Do you clean your houseplants?
• How often, and do you have any unusual practices?