A resurfaced clip of a woman giving her Christmas tree a bath was eye-opening for those of us that shove it back in it’s box and into the loft every January.
The festive season is well and truly upon us and for those who haven’t dug out their artificial Christmas trees from yesteryear already, chances are you will this weekend.
It should come as no surprise that just like any other object in your home, artificial Christmas trees also get dirty, but it seems not many people know how to clean them.
A short clip that was originally shared on TikTok in 2022 has resurfaced again this Christmas season, which shows TikToker Mari washing her tree.
In an unusual move, @marismith619 filled up her bath with soapy water before soaking the individual branches in the tub. As the suds cleared and gave way to spotless fake branches, the water was well, pretty gross.
Now, other users have been following suit. ‘Cleantok is getting outta hand,’ one person in the comments declared. ‘Is this before or after you power wash the tinsel,’ someone else quipped.
So what’s the deal? Is bathing our Christmas trees at thing now?
Well, before you run to the bathroom for some scrub-a-dub-dub time with your tree, cleaning experts say you should actually avoid doing, especially if you want your tree to have a long life.
Cleaning expert Emily Barron at Property Rescue says that although giving your tree a bath might seem appealing, it could lead to more harm than good and no one wants more hassle at this time of year.
More Trending
‘Artificial trees are often made with materials like metal, wire, and fabric, which aren’t always suitable for submersion in water and could pose several risks,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
Why you shouldn’t wash artificial Christmas trees in the bath:
Cleaning expert Emily Barron explains:
- Submerging trees with metal frames in water can lead to rusting and a weakened structure and breakages
- Artificial trees often have built-in lights, and exposing these to water could be a serious electrical hazard. The combination of electricity and water could lead to electric shock or damage to the lights, creating a fire risk
- The fabric used in artificial trees may not be designed to withstand prolonged exposure to water. Putting the tree in the bath could weaken the fabric and the adhesive properties of the glue, causing a loss of shape and stability
So, what should you do instead? The expert recommends recommend regular dusting with a feather duster or a soft cloth to help remove surface dust. While for hard-to-reach areas, you could use a can of compressed air to blow away dust without compromising the structural integrity of the tree.
Meanwhile, interior designer Francesca Harris told Metro.co.uk she cleans her artificial tree using a microfibre cloth or duster, or a dust magnet.
DIY dreams come true
She also fluffs her tree to get the dust off the leaves and onto the floor for her to hoover up after assembling the tree, you can also use this trick on wreaths and garlands as well.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: ‘Anti-social working’ is yet more proof people have stopped caring about the 9 to 5
MORE: ‘Destination dupe’ is the new hack that swaps your holiday for a hidden gem
