My neighbor had a house fire last week on Thursday from her wood stove. Thank goodness it happened during the day and nobody was injured or worse. However, they did have some damage from the fire itself, but more so from smoke. She called the other day and asked me to take her plants temporarily. There's a spider plant, aloe, and some other plants I can't name. She just brought them over tonnight and I am not sure how long I will have them, but they smell awful, like smoke. Is there something I should do with the plants? Or will they recover on their own? Has anyone here had this to deal with?

TIA, Kathy

 I never dealt with that, but if there was that much smoke, it's probably clinging to the plant leaves. Put them in the tub/shower and use a dish soap solution to loosen the smoke, then rinse with lukewarm water from the shower or a spray bottle. I've done that before when plants got too dirty (we used to heat with wood and later, with coal) and they love it. 

Thanks Pat. That's why I posted the question. I haven't kept house plants for many years now  (although I have wanted to lately, but just couldn't justify the cost of newer plants). I could most likely do the same thing in the kitchen sink. I guess I could rinsne out a spray bottle, no chemical have been in it, and mix up a mild solution of soapy water. Sounds good to me.

 I don't see why the kitchen sink wouldn't work, too. Just be sure to rinse them thoroughly to get the soap off of them as well as out of the soil. I always let my drain for a few hours in the tub, but I don't know if that's necessary. 

It seems to me, dear All, that if you skipped draining the cleaned plants in the tub for several hours, you'd have a mess of dirty (soiled) water seeping through on whatever countertop that you've placed the washed plants on ....  Yours in Him, Deb

I did use the kitchen sink. It's big enough for the plants. I used a very mild mix with the soap and water and just let the water shower over them for a while. I took them back upstairs and they seem to be ok. I just needed to knock off that smoke smell from the fire. It was pretty bad. I suspect they will need it again, but I will be careful about that.

I think you are right about the possible mess it would make Deb, but I was careful about it.

arianasilver:

Just a suggestion, spider plants grow like crazy.  Maybe you could ask for a cutting off of the one you're taking care of.  It should sprout in a glass of water and be ready for transplant in no time

That's what I was thinking about doing. When I did have house plants, years ago, the spider plants were my most successful plants. You're right, they do grow like crazy!!!