Each year, many of us choose to skip the routine of picking out a real tree, getting it cut down, and then dealing with insects and/or pine needles dropping on the living room floor. If you’ve gone down the artificial route, chances are you’ve decided to invest in a tree that will last you a good few years.
Have you ever thought, though, that the tree stands proudly in one place for a solid month, then gets packed away for the next 11 in a row? Dust accumulates quickly, and the festive green branches can start to look dull and tired, if you don’t keep the tree fresh and clean.
Pre-lit or not pre-lit?
Pre-lit trees save you the annual debacle of twisting a string of 400 fairy lights around a big prickly plant. Bliss.
However, the rule is: if your tree is pre-lit, keep it dry. Even if you think you’ve dried it out completely and cleaned it while unplugged, there’s no way to be absolutely sure that condensation hasn’t found its way into the electrics. For safety, and to avoid wrecking your tree, no liquids on a pre-lit tree.
Instead, start by ensuring all decorations are removed, and then use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery brush tool. Test on a small area, and then either go piece by piece if the tree is disassembled or start at the top if it’s upright. Gently work the dust off the branches, and ensuring no branches are sucked fully in, as any broken wire could damage the inside of your vacuum cleaner.
Once the tree is looking refreshed, a five-minute whip round with a microfibre cloth can help pick up any loose dirt you might have missed, as well as being a great option for dusting fragile glass baubles!
A Seasonal Shower
If your tree and your lights are two separate items, start by removing them, so you’re left with just the simple artificial tree. In the absence of electrics, try a washing up liquid and warm water mix in a spray bottle, with a microfibre cloth to pick up all the dust and leave the tree shiny and renewed. We’d recommend avoiding harsh detergents altogether or checking the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you won’t damage the plastic of the tree.
You can actually shower or steam clean artificial plants, so in even dustier cases, treat the tree the same as your faux aloe vera that you run under the tap when it’s dusty. Let it drip dry in the shower and then dry the sections with large towels, leaving for a few days before assembling to allow to fully dry. If you choose to steam clean, the bonus is you’ll be sanitising at the same time, perfect for helping to prevent winter sneezes and colds that get transmitted around the home.
If all else fails… Flock it!
Perhaps the tree you’re cleaning is too old, the branches have become too sparse or maybe the tree is second hand and you’re doing a fixer-upper job. If cleaning isn’t cutting it, turn to your festive last resort and buy some good old snow in a can. Half an hour of spritzing and you’ll have a new flocked winter wonderland in the front room (and likely on your hands, jeans and carpet too – be careful!)
If you’ve done your deep clean in late November before decorating the tree, cut yourself some slack and just give a quick once-over before you take the tree down. It will go back in the box fresh, clean and dust-free ready for next year, avoiding that musty smell and ensuring you have a sparkling Christmas, every year!
Happy cleaning!
If you have any top tips, share them in the comments below or Tweet us @EwbankLtd using the hashtag #MeandEwbank.
Read more of our how-to guides, for information on cleaning hints and tips and using your Ewbank products.
