Give beautiful bouquets of flowers an extra boost to help them last longer this summer using two very common kitchen staples11:08, 03 Jul 2026Updated 08:33, 05 Jul 2026A great way to bring a pop of colour and spruce up your home is with a stunning bouquet of flowers. However, the warm temperatures and excess sunshine can speed up flowers’ lifecycle and they could be wilting and dead before you get to fully enjoy them.‌To give your fresh bouquet an extra boost of energy and make them last longer, home hacks guru and TikTok creator Chantel Mila, better known as Mama Mila, revealed her go-to method. In a video from June, she shared her favourite hack that uses two kitchen cupboard staples for the job.‌All you’ll need is some white vinegar and sugar. This hack can be used for bouquets of flowers bought from the supermarket or one made from freshly cut garden flowers.‌Chantel wrote in the video’s caption: “All you need is two pantry staples to make your flowers last for double as long. I’ve tried many different methods, and this one is my go-to. It’s so easy and affordable but keeps your flowers fresh!”Firstly, you’ll want to prepare your vase halfway up with water. Then add two tablespoons of white vinegar, which will help prevent bacteria growth in the water.‌Then add two tablespoons of sugar, such as caster or granulated. Give the water a little stir to ensure the sugar has dissolved properly.If you haven’t trimmed the stems, Chantel advised to cut the ends at a 45° angle underwater and ensure they’re fully submerged. Follow by removing any excess foliage from the stems.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌Sugar is particularly important for keeping flowers alive. As soon as flowers are cut, they immediately begin to lose nutrients provided by photosynthesis, according to experts at Teleflora.By adding sugar in the vase’s water, it dissolves and helps to continuously feed the flowers the important nutrients they need, as it draws in the water over time. However, adding sugar to flowers can come at a cost.Teleflora explained sugar also encourages the growth of bacteria, which can cause your flowers to smell and ultimately lead to their swift decay. This is why it should be paired with vinegar to stop this growth.Article continues belowMorning Flowers explained that adding sugar to flower vases will help replace nutrients that flowers have lost after they’ve been cut. Its experts also pointed out that the water should be changed and refreshed often to ensure bacteria doesn’t build up in the flowers.Gardening Know How explained: “Those preserving cut flowers with vinegar are essentially lowering pH, which in turn, increases the acidity. This increase helps to create an environment that is less suitable for the growth of bacteria, which is often the culprit in the speed of decline in freshness of the flowers.”Vinegar should be used in conjunction with another ingredient, and never by itself. Gardening Know How explained that the ratios of vinegar will vary, but most agree that roughly two tablespoons each of vinegar and dissolved sugar should be used for each one-quart vase.