Caring for a Lei

To keep your lei as fresh as possible, it needs special care. With the right care, your lei can last longer and stay looking fresh for several days or more. To keep it looking its best, unpack it as soon as you get it. Then, place it in the refrigerator. The idea temperature is between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are unable to put it into a refrigerator, spray it with a fine mist of cool water and wrap it up in a moist paper towel or keep it in a plastic bag. If you have a fragrant lei, you should wear it soon after unpacking it. If you have an orchid lei, it will last for as long as three days when kept in cool and misted each day.

How to Dispose of a Lei

When you are finished with your Hawaiian lei, it should never be thrown into the trash to dispose of it. That is considered a sign of disrespect to everything the lei represents. To dispose of it properly, the lei should be returned to nature. You can dry out your lei and keep the dried flowers, you can burn the lei or you can take the flowers from the string and scatter the flowers in nature. Scattering the flowers in the ocean is a fun way to return the flowers to the Earth. You can also hang the lei on a tree and allow it to adorn the tree with its beautiful materials.