A woman has left people stunned after she washed her Christmas tree and revealed the shocking amount of dirt that had accumulated on it.
As the festive season approaches each year, many of us venture into our attics, lofts, garages, or other storage spaces to retrieve our artificial Christmas trees – they can often be much easier to manage and set up than real ones.
You may have purchased an artificial beauty last year that you’re ready to set up again, or perhaps you’ve had the same tree in the family for years. But, have you ever wondered how dirty your Christmas tree gets each December?
One woman, Tanja Bentley Ward, recently took to social media to share the revolting sight she discovered after giving her artificial tree a bath. The results were “much worse than I thought,” said Tanja.
This came after she noticed that her tree was looking dusty last year – and it needed a makeover.
Tanja, who shared her experience on her Instagram page @tanjatalks, showed herself placing each section of the Christmas tree into her bathtub and rinsing the branches. The bath water turned a dark brown, and she hung up the branches to dry.
She said: “How dusty could it possibly be? ! Last year, I mentioned how dusty the Christmas tree appeared. This year, Johnny set up a system for me to rinse and dry the branches before we decorate the house.
“Have you ever cleaned your Christmas tree? Ours was much worse than I thought.”
People have been quick to share their thoughts, with many confessing they’ve never considered cleaning their tree. “My tree’s dust is none of my business,” one person quipped.
Another shared: “My mum’s tree is over 50 years old. I think if we washed it, it would crumble to dust.” “The dust is where memories live,” another chimed in humorously. “Oh, not another thing I have to add to my to do list,” said a different user.
Others pitched in with advice, with one suggesting: “Take it outside and spray it with the hose before it gets too cold out, dry it off with the leaf blower then take it in and decorate it.”
“I vacuum mine every year,” another revealed. Yet another said: “I take mine outside and use the leaf blower on it.”
“Real trees only please,” someone else recommended.
How to clean your tree
According to the renowned cleaning guru site The Spruce, it’s advisable to give our artificial trees a thorough clean annually. An expert advised: “Clean a pre-lit or unlit Christmas tree at the end of the holiday season and again when it is reassembled.”
The specialist recommended cleaning one section at a time before putting it together and adorning it. A microfiber cloth or duster can be used to gently wipe each branch. You can snag a pack of 10 microfibre cleaning cloths from Amazon for £4.99.
For those tricky spots, a blow dryer or vacuum can be employed to dislodge any stubborn dust.
It is also recommended that trees are stored in a sealed bag or bin to deter pests; mice are attracted to cardboard. Additionally, placing the bag or bin in a cool, dry place will prevent it from getting damaged.
Make sure you unplug your tree and remove all decorations before attempting to clean it.