This is a great tip if you have wrinkled,
messed up from storing silk flowers and you really just want to toss them, and go buy new, fresh ones. Save your money folks....this is a great tip that will save you lots! I used these flowers almost three years ago, and they have been stored ever since. I took them out of the sack and started to just throw them away.
These were mashed, smashed and I thought there was little hope for them. But...I stopped myself. Why? Because I remember these were a little pricey when I purchased them, and two, they really were perfect for a project I am working on, and three, I was short of time.
The Time factor will get me everytime.
The Fix: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Hold your flowers upside down over the boiling water and let the steam do its trick. Be careful, not to get the flowers wet from the boiling water.
Note: Be careful, as the steam gets really hot quick. You should hold the flowers over the steam for about 1 minute or longer if they are really bad.
Once the steam has released the petals, shape if needed and lay on a flat surface to dry. I am amazed, really. I was going to throw these away and start all over. I am so glad I could not being myself to do that. I will say this..I tossed the flowers into the clothes dryer first to see if that would do the trick. Don't waste your time....did not work one bit!
Wall-a! all my flowers I saved to reuse,
which I was sure were going to the landfill, now are refreshed and drying on my kitchen table. I saved lots of money, and time with this little trick. Not only is it economical, but environmentally smart too, reuse, re-purpose and keep as much "stuff" out of the landfills as possible.
I am happy to say, that of my long list of
to-do things this week, this is one I can check off the list as finished. I am linking up to
Lit and Laundries, Finished for Friday. Stop by for a visit and see what projects smart and talented bloggers have finished for this week....trust me, you will be inspired.
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These were mashed, smashed and I thought there was little hope for them. But...I stopped myself. Why? Because I remember these were a little pricey when I purchased them, and two, they really were perfect for a project I am working on, and three, I was short of time. The Time factor will get me everytime.
The Fix: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Hold your flowers upside down over the boiling water and let the steam do its trick. Be careful, not to get the flowers wet from the boiling water. Note: Be careful, as the steam gets really hot quick. You should hold the flowers over the steam for about 1 minute or longer if they are really bad.
Once the steam has released the petals, shape if needed and lay on a flat surface to dry. I am amazed, really. I was going to throw these away and start all over. I am so glad I could not being myself to do that. I will say this..I tossed the flowers into the clothes dryer first to see if that would do the trick. Don't waste your time....did not work one bit!
Wall-a! all my flowers I saved to reuse, which I was sure were going to the landfill, now are refreshed and drying on my kitchen table. I saved lots of money, and time with this little trick. Not only is it economical, but environmentally smart too, reuse, re-purpose and keep as much "stuff" out of the landfills as possible.
I am happy to say, that of my long list of to-do things this week, this is one I can check off the list as finished. I am linking up to Lit and Laundries, Finished for Friday. Stop by for a visit and see what projects smart and talented bloggers have finished for this week....trust me, you will be inspired.
What a great idea!!! I'm all ready to get all the old silks out of the storage bins---hydrangeas and iris, tulips and some very realistic roses.
ReplyDeleteI've never steam-restored, but every year before I put away the season's posies, I get out several old plastic grocery bags and put in a handful of coarse salt or dry rice, then the stemless flowers (for those with stems, just insert the blooms, then hold tight with your fingers around the neck of the bag). Be sure there's lots of air in the bag, then shake it rather industriously.
You can re-use the same bag and salt for several shakings, if you have that many. It takes away any dust or mini-bunnies trying to form after a whole season sitting out.
Then just knot up the bag and throw it away, or dump it and use it again.
I've got lilacs on the chandelier right now which have been brought out every Spring in this house, and that's been thirteen years.
That's a great idea. I'll be sure to keep that in the back of my mind for the next time I think about throwing old silk flowers away.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to comment on your fabulous purses yesterday. They are so fun!
GENIUS!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip! sandie
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous tip! I have an actual steamer (designed to steam clothing) that I use to steam my handspun yarns to set the twist and I'm sure it would work well on the flowers, too. I'll have to give it a try. My silk flowers could certainly use so freshening up!
ReplyDeleteFabulous tip, Suzanne!! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Jane
Hi Suzanne..great tip on the dry flowers...I got some that is going into our yard sale real soon...
ReplyDeletemight have to rethink that idea now...
Thanks for sharing the tip....love all the purses too...
Have a Blessed day...
Sweet Blessings
Tonja
I too have used the dry rice method and it worked very well. I had to put away a large selection of silk flowers after Christmas for a store once and saved them all for the next year. The shop owner was very impressed. I thought I was just being frugal as usual and didn't want to throw them away!
ReplyDeleteLove yours and they will be pretty as pins.
Wonderful idea! I have some of the spray for freshening up silk flowers, but your hint is much less expensive!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne this is a great tip! I have a barrette with a silk flower that I need to freshen up! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteSteam saves the day!! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Thanks!
ReplyDelete*hugs*deb
Wow Suzanne! that's a terrific tip! glad I came by....i have some silks that could use some freshening up! You're a money saver!!!
ReplyDeleteciao bella
creative carmelina
Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteYour suggestion is too late for me. I do not have anymore silk flowers. I got tired of them collecting dust and hard to keep clean. You did an excellent job on yours. I have decided there is nothing you cannot do.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tip - and just in time for Spring! I have a container of silk Spring flowers that look very sad. I can't wait to perk them up! THANKS!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tip, Suzanne! And one I've never heard of before.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers look great now and are ready to reuse. And I love the fact that they're not just something else that will be added to a landfill!
I'm big on reuse. That's why it tickles me that Earth Day is observed on my birthday...April 22nd. Come visit to see the giveaway I'm doing to celebrate.
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
Great tip. Thank you
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tip! Thanks bunches.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new Friday Follower! Visit me at http://www.rockindeals4you.com/?p=2462 and sign up for my newest giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great tip! I knew about the rice in a bag trip for cleaning, but now I know how to reshape them too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking up to Finished for Friday.
Hi Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tip. Oh, I have washed my flowers in the sink when they get dirty too. A little sprits with the hose in the sink, and they are good to go.
Debbie
What a clever tip; thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much for this tip. I have just received 800 silk flowers for my daughters wedding from America and yes, they were squashed in transit to almost no recognition! I had a feeling that steam would help and searching, found your page! Yes, it will take a bit of time to do these, mainly becasue they are all on stems. So it will be a trial and error process I would imagine. Fiddling, moulding, getting them to look just right before doing the bouquets and table centre pieces. Then there is the floral arrangements for the signing table and the backdrop where they are getting married.
Thankyou again Suzanne
Australian fan!!!
Would this work with the plastic kind too, do you think?? Thanks!
ReplyDelete