Putting the Christmas tree up is always a good way to get into the festive spirit.
It really gets you in the mood for the celebrations, and makes the house look super pretty. The only drawback is – things can get pretty messy – and there can be a lot to clean up afterwards.
This year you don't have to worry about the dreaded needle drop as an expert has revealed how to prevent it. After all, nobody wants to make a mess of their tree.
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Cleaning expert Emily Barron atProperty Rescue said a real Christmas tree can look fantastic and make your home smell great, but it can also be the gift that keeps on giving in terms of spending weeks hoovering up pesky needles.
According to her, it's all in the preparation, as once you’ve got your tree home, and wrestled it out of the car, you shouldn't take it indoors.
Remove any packaging from your tree and then place it in a bucket of cool water before putting it in a cool spot in the shade in your garden or yard. This will help your tree’s branches to settle as well as rehydrate the tree to prevent needle drop.
Leave it for a couple of hours and then give it a good shake to dislodge any loose needles before bringing it indoors.
When it comes to how to clean up pine needles there are also some simple tricks you can use. Emily said Christmas tree needles can play havoc with your vacuum cleaner, but you can try the following instead:
Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda around the base of your tree, radiating out to cover the area which may be affected. This will coat the needles and make them easier to pick up.
Use a rubber broom or lint roller to pick up the pine needles, moving it back and forth and side to side and throw these in your garden bin.
Hoover up the baking soda.
If necessary, wipe over the carpet or flooring with a damp cloth to remove any excess powder.
To make sure that your tree continues to look great throughout the festive season, water sparingly and keep it away from heaters and radiators. Finally, try not to over-decorate your tree as this can damage the branches and prevent the tree from getting enough air.
To keep your tree spick and span between Christmas and New Year there are also some things you can do. Gene Fitzgerald, home water treatment expert at BOS, said it's vital to keep it watered.
Make sure you top up the water every other day, and be sure not to let the base dry as a seal can form and it might not take up further water. It's also important to be careful about the water you’re topping it up with.
According to Gene, having a water softener at home your water can be high in sodium, which is bad news for conifers and may cause your tree to drop needles faster. You could consider using another water source or bottled water to top up your tree – but check the label for sodium levels.
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