8 DIY Leaf Shiner Recipes for Lush and Glossy Houseplants

Do you want to make your houseplants shine as they have almost new leaves? Follow our guide on DIY Leaf Shiner Recipes for Lush & Glossy Houseplants!

Give your houseplant a lustrous makeover to boost your lively home decor with these excellent DIY Leaf Shiner Recipes for Lush & Glossy Houseplants that’ll leave your plant foliage with a shine like never before!

Read a beginner’s tip to keep your houseplants happy and thriving here!

DIY Leaf Shiner Recipes for Lush & Glossy Houseplants

 1. Vinegar Leaf Shiner

The acetic acid content in vinegar will dissolve the dust, dirt, and grease from the leaf surface besides killing harmful bacteria and fungi. It will also leave a healthy shine on your houseplants for the upcoming weeks.

How to Use:

• Mix 4 cups of clean filtered water, 1/4 teaspoon vinegar, 1-2 drops of dish soap, 2 drops of coconut oil together, and soak a soft microfiber cloth in the mixture to wipe off the dust.
• Alternatively, you can pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spread it thoroughly on the leaves. Then, use a clean cotton cloth to wipe off the dusty layer that’ll leave a lustrous appeal on your leaves.

2. Milk & Water Leaf Shiner

Milk contains a lactic acid compound, an age-old plant cleaning recipe, and works wonders on the foliage! This DIY plant shine is also effective against powdery mildew and other fungal infections on your houseplants and therefore is a super recipe for any plant parent.

How to Use:

• Combine 30% skimmed milk and 70% water in a bowl or spray bottle.
• Dip a clean cloth in the mixture and wipe the foliage. Make sure to wipe beneath the leaves where mildew accumulates.
• If you’re using it as a foliar spray, wipe the leaves thoroughly to improve the shine and luster.
• It is one of the best DIY Leaf Shiner Recipes for Lush & Glossy Houseplants!

3. Homemade Mineral Oil Leaf Shine

Mineral oil can be used as an excellent leaf shine. It will clear off the dust particles leaving behind a healthy glossy texture.

 How to Use:

• Add 2-3 drops of mineral oil on a soft piece of damp cloth to wipe off the dust from leaf tops.
• It works best for large and flat foliage plants such as pothos and ficus.

4. Neem Oil Leaf Shine

Neem oil is a scientifically proven natural remedy to kill several plant pests such as spider mites, mildew, aphids, fungus gnats, and many more. 

How to Use:

• Mix 1 teaspoon of concentrated neem oil, 1/2 tablespoon of dish soap, and a gallon of water in a spray bottle.
• Shake well and spritz it on a microfiber cloth; it is now ready to be used as a natural mix for leaf shine and pest infestation.

5. Epsom Salt Leaf Shine

The magnesium and sulfate combined in Epsom salt is an excellent natural fertilizer that boosts lush and vivid leaves and promotes photosynthesis. Also, this magic salt can be used as a DIY plant shine recipe for your houseplants.

How to Use:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in 2-liter water in a spray bottle.
• Shake well and spray on the foliage. Don’t rub immediately; let the nutrient soak in for a minute or two.
• Now wipe the excess solution from the leaf surface with a microfiber cloth.

6. Homemade Rubbing Alcohol Leaf Shine

This is another leaf shine that you can use on your houseplants to keep them looking as shiny as newly bought from the garden stores. Rubbing alcohol will leave a long-lasting silky texture on the foliage.

How to Use:

• Add 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and 500 ml water in a spray bottle.
• Shake well before spraying the solution on the foliage and wipe off the dusty layer with a soft cloth.

7. Banana Peels Leaf Shine

This unique method will leave a healthy shine on the foliage besides eliminating the dusty layer. Using banana peels as a leaf shine will also not add any extra cost while leaving a shine like never before.

How to Use:

• Rub the inner sides of a freshly removed banana peel on your houseplant foliage.
• Change the peels once they get smudged with dirt and dust. Banana peels have some natural oil that can help you keep the leaves shining and lush.  
• It is the safest method; hence can be repeated every often you see a dusty layer on your houseplants.

8. Mayonnaise Leaf Shine

You can use mayonnaise to add some shine to your leaves. The vinegar and lime juice content will clean off the dust while adding a healthy luster to the foliage. Mayo is also efficient in breaking down and eliminating any built-up gluey gunk-like sap to ensure that the foliage is completely clean. 

How to Use:

• Take a tablespoon of mayonnaise in a bowl and add a little lukewarm water to make a runny consistency.
• Dip a soft cloth and rub off the filthy layer from your houseplant foliage. This method will leave a radiant shine for the next few weeks. Read our detailed article on using mayonnaise as a leaf shine here!

A Quick Tip

You can also use just lukewarm water and a cotton cloth to give a quick clean to the foliage for an instant shine. It will take away the dirt, rendering an instant clean look.

Also, after using any of the above recipes, it is essential that you wipe off the leaves properly to ensure there won’t be any coating that hinders photosynthesis in plants.

Note: Do NOT expose your houseplants to direct sunlight right after applying any of these methods to prevent sunburn.