It’s not just you who gets turned off by a dirty vase; cut flowers are also very sensitive to their surroundings. In fact, one of the best ways of extending your bouquet’s vase-life is to give them a nice and thoroughly clean home to begin with.
There are several ways to ensure your vases are as clean and healthy as possible, so your fresh-cut flower arrangements can thrive. Knowing how to clean a vase can save you a lot of trouble and keep your flowers fresher for longer. Depending on the strength of chemicals you wish to use, and how much time you have, you can use any of the following methods to achieve the perfect signature vase for your Bouq to thrive in.
Salt and Vinegar
A cheap and effective method for removing stubborn white stains and residue on a flower vase, salt and vinegar aren’t just great on chips.
Step 1: Take a tablespoon of ordinary table salt.
Step 2: Mix it with a tablespoon of white vinegar until it forms a paste.
Step 3: Using a cloth or bottle brush, apply the paste to all areas of the vase with residue.
Step 4: Leave for 30 minutes then scrub off lightly with a cloth or bottle brush.
Step 5: Rinse out thoroughly with warm water.
Bleach
To be sure of getting rid of harmful bacteria that can infect your cut flowers, try using a bleach solution. Remember to be extra careful at all times when using it though, as bleach can stain clothing and cause skin and eye irritation.
Step 1: Mix one part bleach to 10 parts water.
Step 2: Pour the solution into the vase.
Step 3: Leave for 2 – 4 hours.
Step 4: Use a bottle brush to scrub the inside of the vase.
Step 5: Wash with soapy water before rinsing again thoroughly and drying.
Denture Tablets
Fizzy, effervescent denture tablets, such as Polident, can be perfect for removing stubborn stains caused by the minerals in your tap water.
Step 1: Fill your signature vase with water.
Step 2: Depending on the size of the vase, drop in one or two denture tablets.
Step 3: Leave the mixture to sit and fizz overnight.
Step 4: Shake well in the morning to remove final stains.
Step 5: Pour out mixture and wash well.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
If you want to know how to clean a vase with what you have in your house already, then combining these two powerful cleaning agents is an excellent way to get rid of that annoying white film on your favorite flower vase.
Step 1: Fill flower vase with water.
Step 2: Add two tablespoons of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda.)
Step 3: Add two tablespoons of white vinegar and it will start fizzing.
Step 4: Leave to sit and loosen the mineral stains for 2 – 4 hours.
Step 5: Clean with a bottle brush or cloth.
Step 6: Rinse flower vase well with warm water.
Rice and Dishwashing Liquid
An understated yet extremely flexible side dish to many meals, rice can add another point to its list of talents: signature vase cleaner. That’s right, the small and tough, yet not too hard nature of rice makes it perfect for scouring the stains on the inside of your vases.
Step 1: Half fill your vase with warm soapy water.
Step 2: Add two tablespoons of vinegar.
Step 3: Add half a cup of uncooked rice.
Step 4: Covering the top of the flower vase, swish the mixture around for 2-3 minutes, so the rice gently abrades the stains.
Step 5: Leave to sit overnight.
Step 6: Swirl for a few more minutes before emptying the vase and rinsing well.
Alka-Seltzer
For smaller vases that are difficult to scrub, the bubbling, fizzy power of Alka-Seltzer tablets can work wonders.
Step 1: Fill your vase with hot water.
Step 2: Drop in one or two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
Step 3: Leave to sit for 2-4 hours.
Step 4: Rinse out well with warm water.
Once you have your signature vase sparkling, the next step is filling it with a spectacular bouquet. Helpfully, our subscription service means that you can have amazing flowers delivered all-year-round or on whatever special dates you want. All of our cut flowers are farm fresh and from sustainable partners, while we also keep waste to an absolute minimum by only ever cutting what’s needed. When you need online flower ordering, The Bouqs pairs kindness with quality to bring you long-lasting bouquets.
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