The Best Ways to Clean Monstera Leaves

One of the most striking parts of a Monstera plant is its bold, beautiful leaves. But for them to stay healthy, they’ll need regular cleaning and maintenance. Luckily, it’s very simple to clean Monstera leaves.

The best way to clean Monstera leaves is by gently wiping both sides with a damp cloth. Make sure to support whichever side of the leaf you’re not wiping. Clean the leaves at least once a week.

This article will cover the importance of cleaning your Swiss Cheese plant leaves and how to do it properly. I will also discuss other methods to clean your leaves and whether to use chemical products or not.

Let’s get into it!

Why Do You Need To Clean Monstera Leaves?

*Image shows dust collected as I wipe my Monstera leaves with damp cloth*

Plants with large, broad leaves are especially prone to collecting dust, which can cause various problems. Cleaning your Monstera’s leaves is an essential part of keeping it happy and healthy.

Health: Keeping your plant clean allows it to photosynthesize and breathe, which it can’t do if layers of dust are choking the leaves.
Pests: Regularly cleaning gives you a chance to look for pests and, if necessary, remove them before they can do any damage.
Appearance: Removing dust and other debris makes your plant feel good and look good. It will grow more quickly, and leaves will be lusher.

Besides offering a multitude of benefits for your plant, cleaning is also good for you!

Plants improve our mood and lend our homes a natural beauty. And when your plant is at its best, it’s also cleaning the air and removing toxins!

Cleaning Frequency

A good rule of thumb is to clean your Monstera plant at least once per week. However, how often you’ll need to clean your Monstera plant will also depend on several factors, such as where it’s placed and the conditions in your home.

For example, dust will gather less quickly on plants that are in well-aerated spots. Look at other objects and furniture in your home to get a quick idea of which areas are the dustiest.

Once you have your Monstera, examine it during the weekly cleanings and judge whether it needs more or less frequent cleaning, such as twice per week or every other week.

This regular cleaning and maintenance will keep the leaves in top condition. And if there’s anything negatively affecting your plants, such as too much light or pests, you’ll be able to catch it early.

Also read: How Much Light Does Your Monstera Need to Thrive

Items You Need

Items you’ll need to clean your Monstera leaves will depend on which method you like best, some of which are discussed in the next section.

But some commonly used items include:

To Wipe: A cloth, rag, or other pieces of fabric will work great for your plant’s weekly wipe down.
To Water: A mister, watering can, or simple jug allows you to quickly and efficiently water your Monstera.
To Dust: Though cloth will also work, dusters and other soft-bristle tools quickly clear dusty leaves.
To Trim: You’ll need a pair of sharp shears or scissors to prune dying leaves, which steal water from healthy ones.

Most of these items can be found around the house. If you keep a variety of plants, you may even have these already.

Otherwise, you can quickly and cheaply purchase them at any home goods or gardening store.

Best Ways To Clean Monstera Leaves

There are a variety of different ways to clean Monstera leaves. Listed are the five best ways to clean Monstera leaves, each effective despite their different methods. Some require just a few tools, while others require none at all.

Keep in mind; you don’t have to pick just one method! These plants appreciate being regularly wiped down, but they’d also love a shower!

Read through the options below and find the one that works best for you (and your plant).

1. Give Your Monstera a Shower

It may seem strange, but many plants actually love showers as much as you do!

Make sure the water isn’t too hot or cold, but preferably room temperature or lukewarm. Run your hands through the Monstera so that every leaf gets attention, including the undersides.

Keep the shower brief and thorough.

Be careful to double-check that the water stream isn’t too harsh. This will unnecessarily batter the leaves and could knock soil out of the pot.

Monsteras also like a hearty spray-down instead of a shower. As long as the water is still lukewarm, they’ll be happy. This may be a more comfortable option for some, in addition to conserving more water.

2. Give Your Leaves a Wipe Down

Wiping Monstera leaves to clean it from dust

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to clean your Monstera plant leaves is to simply wipe them off!

Using a damp cloth or other tools (sponges also work great!), gently wipe each leaf on both sides. Make sure to support whichever side of the leaf you’re not wiping.

It’s best to start at the stem and work down to the leaf tip. Pay special attention to the underside since that’s where pests and dust love to gather.

If necessary, wipe down each leaf several times to make sure it’s completely clear of residue. The more dust builds up, the harder it is to remove.

3. Brush over the Foliage

Regularly dust your Monstera with a rag, feather duster, or even makeup brush. Just like when wiping them down, make sure to support each leaf as you clean it and work from stem to tip.

This method works perfectly for the Monstera because it’s suited for plants with large foliage.

If you’re having trouble getting rid of dust and other residues, try a mixture of water and vinegar or water and lemon juice.

The ratio of vinegar or lemon juice should be low, no more than two teaspoons per gallon of water. Keep in mind; this isn’t meant to be part of regular maintenance; it’s only for those occasions where buildup is incredibly stubborn.

4. Trim Dying Leaves

Though it may seem contradictory, you need to trim and prune this plant back to make sure it grows. This is especially true when it comes to dying leaves.

Leaves that are yellowing, brown, or withered should be cut off as soon as possible. Otherwise, they’ll suck nutrients away from the healthy leaves.

When trimming, make sure to use a pair of clean, sharp shears. And if you’re looking for larger leaves with those distinct holes, you can also trim older or smaller leaves at the bottom of the plant.

It’s natural for leaves to grow and die. However, a large number of leaves dying on your Monstera might raise an alarm of a more severe problem (most likely root rot).

Light, soil, and watering are three of the primary culprits; review these to ensure your plant is in the best growing conditions possible.

5. Clean The Pot

It’s beneficial to do a thorough deep cleaning of your Monstera pot at least once every other season.

This allows you to refresh the soil, inspect your plant for root rot or mushy stems, gauge the extent of any salt deposits, and check for signs of fungus or other diseases.

A stiff brush and water should remove debris and deposits, both inside and outside of the pot. But for particularly stubborn pieces, you can use a pick, scraper, or other hard tools.

Soak pots in a heavily diluted bleach mixture to disinfect them and ensure no lingering diseases or pests. The mixture should be one part unscented household bleach to nine parts water, and the pots should soak for at least ten minutes.

If the pots are terracotta or similar porous material, soak them in clean water (no bleach) for an additional ten minutes.

If you are using plastic pots and other materials, simply rinse the pots off. Allow the pots to air dry.

Also read: How to Choose the Best Pots for your Monsteras