How To Make Plants’ Leaves Shiny: 9 Easy Methods for Everyone

How to make plants’ leaves shiny is a hot topic among plant lovers who want to know how to keep their indoor plants glowing – some methods include dusting with water and soap, using banana peels and using a feather duster.

Not all treatments you see will give you the desired results; some, like baby wipes, might burn your plants if they contain harsh chemicals. Here are simple but effective methods to make your houseplant leaves shiny.

How To Make Plants Leaves Shiny Using These Easy Methods?

To make the leaves shiny using these easy methods, dust them with soap and water, wipe them with banana peels, dust them with a dusting feather, use coconut oil, cow milk, dilute vinegar with water, apply mayonnaise, mix lemon with water, or use neem oil.

1. Dust the Plant Regularly With Water and Soap

Yes, we understand you have tried dusting your plant once in six months, and it did not work. The key word here is regularly; that way, you will not have stubborn dirt build-up. Water mixed with soap is the simplest method for any plant lover.

Use a soft damp cloth and a bit of soapy water if required to wipe to dust the leaves regularly. You can use a spray bottle and use it directly on the leaves, wiping them down with a clean cloth. Use chemical-free soap and rinse it off thoroughly to remove all residue.

Wet the cloth and wring it to ensure no water is dripping. Gently wipe the leaf from the base upwards while supporting it with the other hand until you are left with shiny leaves.

2. Wipe the Leaves Using Banana Peels

One of the simplest yet strange ways for cleaning houseplant leaves is to use banana peels. All you need is to save the peels and rub the soft inner part on the surface till the leaves shine.

You may need more than one peel as the first will carry all the dust. The natural mineral oils in the peel will give your plant a silky shine and a pleasant fragrance in the house. Use these leaves at least once a month or when your plants need a rub, depending on how much dust settles on your plant.

The used peels can be placed directly onto the pot as it serves as organic fertilizer. It decomposes, releasing nutrients into the soil as a slow-release fertilizer.

3. Get a Dusting Feather To Wipe off the Dust

A dusting feather is useful to help keep your houseplants clean. It is an easy way to quickly clean the leaves without using many solutions. Simply pick your feather and dust every leaf, being careful not to break them.

Do this at least once a week or every other week to keep the dirt from building up. While this method is easy, it works best on thicker and more leafy plants. The weaker plants will easily break from the dusting. Keeping a dusting feather at home will allow you to grab it more often and dust down the plants.

4. Use Coconut Oil To Wipe Down the Dust

Coconut oil is very popular, especially for cleaning fiddle leaf fig leaves. It cleans with ease giving your leaves a shiny look. When using this method, ensure you wipe off the dust first, not just apply the oil on top of the grime and dust.

Don’t make this a constant leaf shiner, as it will harm your plant with prolonged use. This oil will sit on the leaves, creating a glossy veneer rather than cleaning the leaves. Using it constantly will accumulate on the leaf, attracting dust and debris and causing build-ups that make cleaning even more difficult.

Dust mixed with rich oil can be a nightmare on the leaves as it clogs them up. This makes it difficult for the plant to breathe and produce energy from the sunlight. Bottomline, use this oil as a short-term solution for cleaning leaves.

5. Use Milk To Clean the Leaves

Milk is commonly used to clean and shine plant leaves. It contains fat that settles on the leaves, making them look shiny for a short time.

Milk also contains minerals and vitamins that benefit the plant. It also provides small doses of calcium that are healthy for the leaves and protein that helps break up any residue and debris on the leaves.

If you have skim milk, mix it with water at a ratio of half and half to make it practical for cleaning the leaves. When used as a concentrate, it will be too thick and can be left on the leaf as residue that attracts dust.

6. Use a Mixture of Vinegar and Water

Vinegar alone will hurt your plant leaves, so dilute it heavily with water to make it effective. It breaks up any residue and mineral deposits on the leaves, leaving them clean and shiny.

However, take caution that plants with thin, soft leaves can be harmed by this solution as it’s best used on thick leaves. Mix two teaspoons of vinegar with a gallon of water to effectively clean your leaves.

Do not use this solution more than once on your plants, as it can burn your leaves if used constantly. Use the other safe and effective methods from this guide.

7. Dab Mayonnaise on the Leaves

Ordinary mayonnaise can be used to bring that desired leaf shine. Simply put this store-bought product on a paper towel and gently rub it on the houseplant leaves. They will get a glossy sheen that will last a while.

Unlike oils, mayonnaise does not leave a layer on the leaf because it’s rubbed using a paper towel. This ensures no residue remains on the leaves; thus, healthy leaves equal healthy plants.

You can use mayonnaise to wipe down your leaves constantly, as it does not have side effects on the plant. It also gives an extra leaf shine that lasts longer than other solutions.

8. Use a Mixture of Lemon Juice and Water To Clean the Leaves

Lemon juice mixed with water can also wipe down your leaves but with caution. Like vinegar, you must dilute it thoroughly to keep it from burning the leaves. Mix about half a lemon squeezed into a pint of water.

This mixture removes residue and any buildup off your leaves, leaving them bright and shiny. Use this solution once in a long while to avoid damaging the leaves. Do not use it on soft leaves as it will burn them; use it on thick waxy leaves.

9. Use Neem Oil

Neem oil is a gardener’s best friend as it helps keep the leaves bright and beautiful and provides protection from pests. Using this oil will ensure your plant has round protection.

Simply use it to wipe down the leaves as a concentrate or mix it with water to create a solution. Use a clean, soft cloth to soak the solution and wipe each leaf gently.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Is Baby Oil Safe for Cleaning Plant Leaves?

No, baby oil is not safe for cleaning plant leaves. It is not recommended as it is greasy and easily clogs the leaf pores like any other fatty, oily substance. This causes the leaves to stop breathing or from receiving sunlight, causing them to die slowly.

– What Happens When You Use Baby Wipes To Clean Plant Leaves?

When you use baby wipes to clean plant leaves there can be problems. As not all wipes and soft and gentle enough there may be some chemicals and ingredients that are too harsh for the plants. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using wipes to wipe plant leaves.

– Does Olive Oil Make a Good Plant Cleaner?

No, olive oil does not make a good plant cleaner. Though it cleans the leaves, it harms them over time. If you use it constantly it attracts dust that can build up to clog up the pores on the leaves. Use it only when you don’t have another solution handy.

Conclusion

With this guide on how to make plant leaves shiny, you can make your houseplants look better using these simple methods. Many houseplants have a natural leaf shine, but some don’t; therefore, you must polish them occasionally. With that in mind, let’s consider the essential points to remember as you shine your leaves.

• Using a homemade or DIY plant cleaner is better than buying a commercial one that could be loaded with harsh ingredients harmful to your plant.
• Each plant has a beautiful natural luster that only needs some help to get the best leaf shine.
• Don’t leave your plant leaf to gather too much dust and grime that will be tough to remove or may cause damage.
• For your indoor plants to look their best, clean them regularly using one of the friendly solutions from the above list.

Finally, don’t use just any solution or method; constantly research more to find the pros and cons before use.