Flowers will stay fresh for longer with genius 54p hack

It's no secret that bring colour, joy and warmth into a room - but keeping them looking fresh can be a challenge. Whether it's a romantic bouquet, a thoughtful gift or a table centrepiece, can start to droop far too quickly. Thankfully, experts say one found in most homes could help extend their lifespan.

According to advice from , adding a crushed aspirin to your may prevent early wilting and help blooms last longer. Aspirin is thought to lower the water's pH level, allowing it to travel through the stems more easily. This could boost hydration and slow down the decay process. While not the most effective method tested by the , it showed some promise in delaying the inevitable droop - and it won't break the bank, with a packet of 16 tablets of aspirin costing as little as 54p at Boots.

The team at tested several unusual methods to prolong the life of .

Alongside aspirin, the list included bleach, vodka, vinegar, soda, hairspray, and even refrigerating flowers overnight, but results varied.

When it comes to aspirin, the experts said: "Mix one crushed aspirin into your vase of fresh flowers.

"Aspirin is said to lower the pH level of the water allowing it to travel through the flower faster, preventing wilting."

Aside from this lesser-known trick, there are several tried-and-tested steps everyone should follow to give their flowers the best chance.

First, trim the stems at an angle - this helps improve water uptake. Then remove any leaves below the waterline to reduce bacteria build-up.

Keeping flowers away from direct sunlight, heaters and fruit bowls can also help, as ripening fruit releases gases that can age petals faster.

Clean water is crucial. Experts recommend changing the water every two to three days and cleaning the vase thoroughly to remove any bacteria.

Using a flower food packet is ideal, but home remedies like a small amount of sugar and vinegar can also work.

Here's how the top home methods for extending flower freshness performed

• Fridge (Winner): Placing the bouquet in the fridge overnight helped flowers look fresh even after 10 days.
• Soda: Adding quarter of a cup of soda helped blooms stay healthy and sweet-smelling - this came in as the runner-up.
• Vodka: Helped slow wilting by reducing ethylene gas production.
• Aspirin: Slight improvement in freshness by lowering water pH.
• Bleach: Kept the water clear but didn't greatly improve bloom longevity.
• Apple cider vinegar and sugar: Mixed results - flowers faded quickly.
• Copper penny: Caused flowers to open fast, but many wilted early.
• Hair spray (Last Place): Provided no benefit - in fact, it damaged the petals.
• Flower food: A reliable, effective method used alongside all tests.
  

The full results can be found .