Caring For Your Lauhala
I frequently get asked questions on how to properly care for lauhala. Because it is a natural fiber, an actual leaf (pandanus), properly caring for it prolongs the life of your lauhala pieces.
Here are some of the challenges you may face with lauhala:
Visual deterioration - This includes any loose fibers or flaking of the leaves.
Growing of mold - If you live in wet areas or get your pieces wet, mold may start to grow.
If you do in fact experience these issues, here are some tips to assist you:
Always having a trusty pair of clippers. You can very easily trip up your lauhala pieces with a sharp clippers to maintain the look and integrity of your lauhala. Unfortunately, as lauhala are actual leaves, the eventual “flakiness” of the leaf is bound to occur, but the right balance of temperature always helps.
Mold…Keep your pieces out of wet and cold places. If they get wet, allow them to dry out completely in indirect sunlight before storing them again. I would avoid fully submerging them under water, but a spritz of water now and again will keep them flexible and may assist with minimizing the amount of flakiness that occurs.
The main thing to remember to properly care for lauhala is to store it in a cool, clean, and dry space. Store it where it can receive indirect sunlight, do not drench it in water, and somewhere there is no dust collecting to foster dust mites.