A woman has shared the results of her recent Christmas cleaning mission to clean her tree – and people have been left absolutely horrified
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, many of us retrieve our artificial Christmas trees from attics, lofts, garages, or other storage spaces – they’re often much easier to manage and set up than real ones. You might have purchased a faux beauty last year that you’re ready to erect again, or perhaps you’ve had the same tree in the family for years.
But, have you ever pondered how filthy your Christmas tree becomes each December? One woman, Tanja Bentley Ward, recently took to social media to share the revolting sight she discovered after bathing her artificial tree.
The results were “much worse than I thought,” Tanja admitted. This came after she noticed her tree was looking dusty last year and needed a spruce-up.
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 the branches up 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 chime in on the debate, with many confessing they’ve never even 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 another commenter.
One suggested: “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 confessed. 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 Christmas tree
When it comes to sprucing up your tree, the cleaning gurus at The Spruce advise giving artificial trees a good clean annually. An expert from the site advised: “Clean a pre-lit or unlit Christmas tree at the end of the holiday season and again when it is reassembled.”
The pro tip is to tackle one section at a time before putting it all together and decking it out with decorations. A microfiber cloth or duster can be used to gently wipe each branch.
Bargain hunters can snag a pack of 10 microfibre cleaning cloths from Amazon for just £4.99.
For those pesky, hard-to-reach spots, a blow dryer or vacuum can be employed to whisk away any lingering dust.
It’s 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.
Do you wash your Christmas tree? Comment below.
