Plant washing

[DabberDog]

Got to noticing a Ficus I brought in from the balcony.
I am three stories above and a wide sidewalk away from a 6-lane highway and get ocean breezes. The Ficus leaves turned my fingers black from the soot in the air. The plant got a shower but still has residue.
I have two weed plants that have been on the same balcony for three weeks and don't know if they will be worth washing. I know there are different concoctions for washing plants and am wondering if there might be something 'soot' specific. It's not like I'm washing off backyard or household dust.

[crucialbunny]

I face much the same situation because of the proximity of a refinery a couple miles from me near LA harbor. During veg I use the garden hose to spray my plants down usually in the mornings to try and keep it from building up. During bud the plants are under a mosquito net and that does a good job of keeping whatever that black dust is. I have an avocado tree I grew from seed in a pot and the waxy leaves are very much like a ficus. I sometimes have to wipe the leaves down with a sponge.

[ductwizard]

not to be a downer but i hope you keep your windows shut and run some sort of air filter 'cause that shit don't sound healthy

[Bluey]

The black dust also contains rubber that mysteriously sinks in water. I think it is micro rubber from the tires. Not for consumption that is for sure.

[Rwise]

I read an article that called that nano plastic.

[Bluey]

Yes. Just read tire rubber has a density 10bto 20% more than water, but as those micro particles that contain contamination from the road they are much heavier

[Smallgrow]

Don’t forget brake dust , it can contain asbestos

[dirtymike]

Got to love those pacific coast winds. Run hwy 101 in the in early 1980, reckon a lot of factories have been built up since then. That's a shame. I still have great memories of that ride. So- Cal was hitting a lick then. Damn leprechaun brought my arse here and fukin left.

[Smallgrow]

My wife uses milk diluted with water to wipe down the house plant leaves occasionally.
Not sure the theory but I’ve head of others doing it too.
I also have a bottle of this I bought in case of pests, but haven’t tried yet. Can be used as a wash as well.

https://www.lostcoastplanttherapy.com/blogs/news/healthy-houseplants?_pos=1&_sid=8cf8029f8&_ss=r

[DabberDog]

Luckily the Tijuana River hasn't been too bad since they've been out there. I wonder which is worse: aerated effluence or automobile pollutants. Probably that first one. There is plenty of auto waste mixed in with the poop and medical detritus. Breathing all that crap in is a concern but there is zero I can do about it at the moment.
Washing is going to happen when I harvest. I just need to find the vinegar or lemon juice or H2O2 solution I've seen. Flowers are getting washed and am wary about residual.
Wiping leaves is not an option for a myriad of reasons. Probably the most significant is wiping off trichomes in the process. Might as well just trim the leaves off.
Meh. I might chalk this up to a loss and make up for it when the floors get taken care of.