Does anyone have any hints on eco friendly houseplant cleaning! My leaves are filthy! I know to probably use soap and water, but are there soaps to avoid! Any helpful hints would be appreciated! It is time to repot!

Unless they are silk, I just use water and a rag to wipe down the plants. I've never personally used soap on them.

Wouldn't that be bad for the leaves? I have no idea, must research this.

I guess a little bit isn't bad for them if they are really dirty! How to clean indoor houseplants

I use baby wipes .

Thank-you Queen
Shari and abm_guccie for the advice. I also went to that website you gave and it was very helpful!

I always use milk.....just wipe the leaves with it....works wonders.....

Terra interesting thing with the milk...in the back of my mind it seems that I have heard that before...I might try it! thanks

Wow, that is cool terra. It has been a long time, but I remember hearing that that milk works well to clean household plants. That's one of the things I like about this forum- you remember things you forgot!

Live, Love, Laughter

HELLO
I ALSO HEARD AND MY MOM USE TO USE WAS OLIVE OIL
THAIS WAY NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE LEAVES IT SHINES AND THE DUST COMES OFF BETTER

Regarding the "cleaning houseplants" with olive oil. I wouldn't do it because number 1 olive oil is way too expensive to use to clean something. And 2 I wouldn't think it would be too good for the leaves as how can the plant breathe, like give off carbon dioxide if it's pores are clogged with oil? I usually throw them in the shower and let the shower do the work. After they get drenched I gently shake the leaves and put the plant back in it's place. This serves two purposes: clean and water!

TRY USEING WET ONES TO WIPE DOWN THE LEAVES ON YOUR HOUSEPLANTS.THE LEAVES WILL SHINE AND IT WILL ELIMINATE THE DUST AND KEEP THE DUST OFF FOR A LONG TIME ALSO.

The best way to clean house plants besides putting them in the shower is with a soft cloth and luke-warm water with a little ivory liquid soap. Not only will the soap clean the leaves, it will also help prevent those pesky little bugs (aphids and spider mites).
Oil of any kind is not good for plants simply because it will clog up a plants spores and the plant won't be able to breathe nor produce oxygen.

I think the milk idea is interesting and can't wait to try it. I heard from my childhood that using baby oil on a cotton ball is ideal. I've always used plain water on a cloth. I'm going to try the milk idea next time.

I had a neighbor years ago who had so many houseplants, there's no way she could clean each one leaf by leaf. On the heartier plants, she basically just hosed them off outside in the warm weather months or in the cold weather months, actually put them in the shower & rinsed them off. She would left them drip dry for a while before putting them back in their places. On her more delicate plants, she would handwipe each leaf with a mild organic soap & water solution. She was a firm believer in using peppermint castile soap for her plants because it was not too harsh & smelled refreshing.

I used to clean house for a lady that had me clean her plants with mayonaise. It was time consuming but they look great!