Better Homes & Gardens says this fix boosts growth—and beginner gardeners often forget it.

May 19, 2025

How Clean Leaves Give Your Houseplants Serious Glow-Up Energy

Clear dust = clearer growth. Here's how a five-minute habit can transform your indoor garden.

When Better Homes & Gardens recently shared a behind-the-scenes tip from their plant stylist, I finally understood why my monstera was giving... sad salad.

If you've ever looked at your plant and wondered, "Shouldn’t you be doing more by now?" — you’re not alone. Most indoor plants stall not because of bad light or poor soil... but because their leaves can’t breathe.

Here’s the kicker: plants ‘inhale’ through their leaves. When dust builds up, you’re basically putting a blanket over their lungs.

Why It Matters: Your Plant Isn’t Just Sitting There

In nature, wind and rain clear dust naturally. Indoors? That dust just hangs around. It blocks sunlight, clogs pores (yes, plants have them too — called stomata), and slows down photosynthesis. Translation: your plant can’t turn light into fuel.

This often shows up as:

Stunted new growth
Drooping despite watering
Yellowing leaves even with fertiliser
A dull finish instead of that glossy Instagram shine

But with a quick wipe every couple of weeks? Total reset. It’s like going from foggy glasses to 20/20 clarity — for your plants.

How to Clean Leaves Without Causing Drama

Let’s keep it simple — you don’t need fancy sprays or microfiber gloves in fifty shades. If it’s clean and soft, it’ll do the trick.

What You’ll Need

A soft cloth (old T-shirt, baby face washer, or microfibre)
Lukewarm water
A mild drop of dish soap (optional for grimy leaves)

Step-by-Step

Support the leaf from behind. Place your free hand underneath so you're not tugging.
Wipe gently downward with the damp cloth — top side first, then underneath.
Rinse your cloth regularly so you're not just moving dust around.
For hairy or fuzzy leaves (like African violets), skip the damp cloth and use a soft brush instead.

Tip: Don’t use leaf shine products. They might make things “look” cleaner, but most block stomata and attract dust faster.

The Fastest Hack for Leaf Cleaning

If you’ve got a jungle of indoor babies and no time for wiping each one, here’s the quick-and-dirty trick straight from our shop’s weekend clean-up:

Pop your plant in the shower.

Use lukewarm (not hot) water
Spray it gently for 1–2 minutes
Let it drip dry in a no-draft spot

This mimics natural rain and clears dust in 30 seconds flat. Works best for sturdy-leafed plants — think fiddle leaf figs, rubber trees, and peace lilies.

But What If I’ve Never Done This… Like, Ever?

Start today — even if it’s just one plant. Cleaning leaves is the kind of task that not only helps your plants thrive but gives you a moment to slow down and reconnect. There's something meditative about it. One gentle swipe at a time. One breathy leaf at a time.

And hey — seeing that deep green, glossy comeback from a sad, dusty leaf? Chef’s kiss.

It’s More Than Surface Level

We’ve had new gardeners come in worried about a “sick-looking” plant — only to find that a week after giving it a clean and rehydrating its soil, it perked up like it had a mini-holiday in Queensland. It’s not rocket science. It just makes sense.

Used to feel like the plant was fading. Now it’s putting out new leaves every fortnight.

Dirty Leaves = Missed Potential

Your houseplant may be trying to grow. To breathe. To shine. But it can’t do that under a layer of dirt. Cleaning its leaves is like opening the blinds for someone who's been kept in the dark.

It’s the simplest gateway into better growth — and that kind of care? It adds up to lush, happy greenery with a little more life in every leaf.

See you in the leaf-polish aisle,

Candeece 🌱

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