Cleaning Secrets from a Top Real Estate Broker

Everyone loves fresh flowers, but droopy blooms or a something's-not-right bouquet? Not so much. Sloane has a secret for getting arrangements to stay fresh: Start with a really clean, clear glass vase. The one you grabbed out of the cabinet and quickly rinsed out before filling with water might look fine in the morning, but once afternoon sunlight is streaming in, you may notice it's not sparkling—and that cloudiness (which often is a sign of bacteria) can accelerate the flowers' decay. So wash the container with a few drops of bleach and hot water first. Sloane's picks for longest-lasting blossoms are sunflowers in warm weather and mums in cooler seasons.