There is perhaps nothing better than coming home to a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from your main squeeze or even your children. Since most women don’t get gorgeous flowers on a regular basis, it’s easy to see why ladies would want to make the beautiful addition to any room last for longer. Though switching out the water frequently and keeping the blossoms in a cooler setting are well-known tricks, there are a few other household items that also fit the bill.
Drop an aspirin in the vase
That’s right, aspirin is not just for relieving inflammation, the OTC medication can also help keep flowers fresher, Reader’s Digest reports. When you get a stunning bouquet, simply trim the stems to your desired length, cutting on the diagonal, and then add a crushed aspirin to a vase of fresh water before arranging the blooms. Redo each step every few days for added benefits.
Add bleach to perk up blooms
Sure, most women know that bleach is a great way to kill germs and remove unsightly stains, but some might be less familiar with its ability to keep flowers blooming. However, adding just 1/4 a teaspoon of bleach per 1 liter of vase water will help perk up your beautiful bouquet. The news outlet recommends a similar concoction using 3 drops of bleach and 1 teaspoon of sugar per liter of water – this recipe will work to keep the vase water clear and cloud-free.
Spritz leaves with hair spray
Though you might have stopped using hair spray in the late ’80s, keeping a can around to boost the life of fresh flowers is a must. Giving the roses, lilies, lilacs or other flowers a quick spritz with the hair spray can help them stand taller, look healthier and bloom for longer than without the hair product. The trick is to spray the flowers on the undersides of the leaves and petals, rather than on top.
Build your own vase
With summer right around the corner, you might be interested in learning how to make a few unique vases to help house the stunning flowers from your garden. Country Living magazine suggests attempting a colored pencil vase to add life to any room.