Give Now  »

Noon Edition

Pollen Stains

Pollen

Bees revel in pollen and flowers couldn't reproduce without it, but for flower arrangers pollen is a pain, especially on anthers that protrude from flowers such as lilies.

Anyone who arranges flowers for church where vases sit on white linen is nervous about pollen. Celebrants and worshippers may brush inadvertently against a flower arrangement, so all stamens in church arrangements are best removed from the flowers.

Do



  • Grasp the pistil and stamens with a tissue and sever them with a quick twist.
  • Or spray with hair spray to set the pollen in place.


If pollen grains do get onto fabric:



  • Shake the material to get rid of as much pollen as possible.
  • Suck up any remaining pollen with a hand-held vacuum, or apply sticky tape.


Don't



  • Dab at pollen stains with a damp cloth.


  • Try to brush it off with your hand, as this drives the grains deeper into the fabric.


Do



  • Lie the fabric face down on a paper towel and dab from the back with dry cleaning fluid.
  • Shift repeatedly to clean spots as the towel absorbs the stain.
  • Then pre-treat with laundry stain remover and wash in the hottest water and bleach that the fabric can tolerate.


Support For Indiana Public Media Comes From

About Focus on Flowers