The Important Step To Take With A Live Christmas Tree That Keeps Allergies At Bay

Nothing beats a real Christmas tree this time of year. It looks great, it smells great, and it instantly makes your whole space feel festive. But in a not-so-festive twist, it may also be bringing a surprising amount of things you didn't ask for into your home, which is why many people suffer from an onset of allergies. Because they come to your home from farms, trucks, and storage lots, living Christmas trees are often covered in pollen, mold spores, and general outdoor grime. Once a tree is brought into the warm indoor environment of your home, those particles won't just stay on the branches. They end up circulating through the air and impacting your home's air quality.

This is why washing your Christmas tree before bringing it inside your house is an important (and very overlooked) step to getting in the festive mood. And it's really not as complicated as it sounds. Before bringing it in, simply use a garden hose to gently rinse the entire tree from top to bottom to remove surface pollen, mold, dust, and any other pollutants. The key is not to harm the needles, so rinse gently. Then allow it to dry properly, maybe in your garage, shed, or covered outdoor area. This part is really important, as a wet tree can actually encourage more mold growth.

If you were struggling with allergies or irritants and thought an artificial Christmas tree was the safer choice, well, think again, because they're not automatically allergen-free themselves. The artificial version can still collect dust, pet hair, and other irritants as it sits in storage in your attic or garage for the majority of the year. And when you take it out to unpack it and fluff it up, you're sending all those particulates straight into your living space.

So, in addition to cleaning live trees, you should also be cleaning your artificial tree. In a similar fashion, you can take it outside once it's been taken from storage (or simply pop it in the bathtub) and then use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to gently remove dust from the branches, working carefully from section to section. If your tree is plastic or PVC, then you can just wipe the branches with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth. Or, you could simply rinse it using a gentle shower head or a spray bottle filled with water and a small amount of mild dish soap to help lift stubborn residue.

And it isn't just the tree. The ornaments, tree skirt, and anything else you've kept in a storage box can also hold onto allergens, so it's wise to wipe these down too before decorating with them. And finally, let everything dry completely before bringing it into your living room. Yes, it takes a little more time to prepare for the holidays this way, but it's worth it when you get to enjoy the festive season with no irritation.