How to Bleach Dried Hydrangea Flowers

Drying flowers allows you to enjoy their beauty indefinitely. Their jubilant, pom-pom blossoms, for example, make hydrangeas a popular addition to dried flower arrangements, wreaths, swags and other decorations. Hydrangeas already have soft, pastel coloration. Give them an even more ethereal quality by lightening hydrangeas even more. Do not bleach the pigment from dried hydrangeas using laundry bleach, which may dissolve the delicate petals. Instead, use a safe, white fabric dye, also known as whitener, which is specifically designed to whiten non-bleachable items.

Things You'll Need

• Pot
• Fabric whitener
• String or clips
• Newspaper or towel

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Combine fabric whitener and water in a pot, using the manufacturer-instructed ratio of whitener to water.

   • 2

     Bring the solution to a boil on a stove burner.

   • 3

     Hold the dried hydrangea by the stem and dip the flower head into the solution for several seconds.

   • 4

     Remove the flower from the water and inspect the color. If necessary, re-dip the flower for a few seconds to further whiten the color.

   • 5

     Hang the flower upside down over a surface covered with newspaper or a towel. Allow the flowers to drip dry. Petals that appear wilted after dipping will plump back up.