Today’s Solutions: August 15, 2026

Cleaning your plants may seem trivial, but there is scientific support behind keeping your leafy friends squeaky clean. The stomata and chlorophyll of plants, which absorb carbon dioxide and help perform photosynthesis, can be clogged and blocked by dirt and dust. Cleaning your plants helps ensure they stay healthy and continue to clean your home’s air.

Don’t want to spend valuable hours cleaning individual leaves? Here are some tips for quick plant hygiene:

Take a shower

Put your plants in the tub and give them a quick rinse. Shake out extra water and your plants are clean, watered, and ready to go. If you have a small shower or don’t have a detachable showerhead, bathing the plants in your sink is also a great option.

Use a feather duster

This is a great technique for your more delicate or hydration-sensitive plants, and it can be easily worked into your regular dusting schedule.

Take them outside 

Putting your plants out when it rains or using the shower setting on your garden hose is fast and keeps the mess out of your house.

Use a mister

Regular misting with a handheld bottle should keep that pesky dust away and make sure your plants have an even daily watering.

While you’re at it, clear out any dead leaves and look for signs of bugs to give your plant an extra helping hand. So, return the life-giving favor our plants give to us by taking a moment out of the day to keep them clean and healthy.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

How this city in Illinois plans to stop homelessness by the end of the year

Less than a decade ago, more than 700 people were homeless in the small, 150,000 person city of Rockford, Illinois, about 90 miles northwest ...

Read More

This map shows what Indigenous land you live on

If you’ve attended a virtual lecture or presentation lately you may have noticed that the speakers initiated the event with an acknowledgment of which ...

Read More

More on beavers and rewilding

We decided to dust off and update this innovative solution to restoring habitats with the most industrious aquatic mammal: beavers.  At The Optimist Daily, ...

Read More

9 driving changes you can make to save more and burn less

Gas prices keep going up. While many of us can’t yet afford an electric vehicle, and we still need to get places, there are ...

Read More