Should You Be Washing Your Artificial Christmas Tree? Here's What to Know

Every year, new trends and tricks pop up for holiday decorating. And this year, one holiday question that is perplexing us is: should you be washing your artificial Christmas tree?

Maybe this idea sounds like overkill for the holiday season, but you’d be surprised by the number of holiday decorators who swear by giving their artificial tree a good rinse each year. Even if you’re keeping your artificial tree in an airtight container each year, there’s always the possibility of dust and dirt (or even bugs) sneaking their way in—after all, they’ve got eleven months to get in.

Dust will naturally build up on your artificial tree as it sits out each year too. But you probably won’t want to wash it right before putting it back in its storage container, in case it doesn't dry out completely before being stored. So if you are taking a stance and washing your tree this year, you should do it at the start of the season. 

How to Wash an Artificial Christmas Tree

If you’ve decided to opt for a good wash, the question then becomes how you should be washing your tree. Those living in warm climates are able to simply hose off their artificial trees outside. But if there’s snow on the ground, your artificial tree won’t survive being washed in the elements. Here, many recommend simply cleaning your tree in the bath. Carefully wash the tree in sections before setting it up. Giving the branches a good swirl in a tub full of water will help to quickly remove any dust or debris. 

Most tree decorators that use the bath method will also add a little dish soap to the mix. It's not super necessary—the dust on your tree will come off with a little movement and water—but if you’re already dedicated enough to give your tree a bath, you’re probably going to opt for the full salon treatment.

If you can’t rinse your tree before putting it up, it can actually cause a few issues for those with allergies or sensitivities—it’s not just dust that’s building up on your tree’s branches, but allergens too.

To rectify this issue without washing your tree, you can take it outside and shake it vigorously. Some looking to speed up this process will even use a leaf blower to make sure all the debris is removed from their artificial trees. If you choose this method, just be careful to not stand too close to your tree while doing so. If it’s fragile, you could damage the branches if the leaf blower is too powerful.

If you still want to clean your tree, but can't give it a full rinse or have space outside to shake it off, there are two more solutions. The first is simply using a duster or rag to clean each branch individually inside; doing this weekly while your tree is up will also help prevent dust from building up overtime, keeping your tree cleaner for longer.

You can also use a wet cloth to clean the branches individually, which will be a gentler method than dunking the entire tree in water.

Should You Really Wash Your Artificial Tree?

Some artificial trees will actually have their warranty voided if you wash them. This is a good indicator that you could damage certain artificial trees by giving them a full wash. If you are concerned about this being an issue, dusting off the branches of your tree is probably the best way to go. 

If you're tired of holiday cleaning, the question still remains: do you really need to be cleaning your artificial tree? The answer might be no—after all, there are plenty of artificial tree owners that live in holiday bliss without ever having cleaned off their tree. It’s not exactly a requirement, especially if the container you’re storing your tree in is sealed.

The one scenario in which you might want to try giving your tree a quick rinse off would be if it’s white or another light color. Washing it can help restore some color and shine to the branches.

However, if your tree is pre-lit or flocked, you may not have many options for cleaning, as water can damage the lights and dusting can remove the artificial snow.

Should You Wash Other Holiday Decorations?

If you’d never thought about giving your real Christmas tree a good rinse before bringing it inside, maybe it’s time to consider adding tree-washing to your holiday checklist this year. This is mostly just a concern when removing bugs, however. Your Christmas tree has already been exposed to the elements and will probably be just fine if it’s left to rest on your porch for a few days before you move it inside.

And what about other leafy holiday decorations? For wreaths and garlands, which are usually more delicate, a little bit of careful dusting will go a long way. You can substitute a hairdryer for a leaf blower if you want to blast off any remaining dust on these decorations.

This is especially useful if your wreath lives outside and is exposed to more dirt than your indoor decorations. Again, anything with string lights or fake snow should be handled with extra care. 

Read Next: Here’s Why You Should Be Growing Your Snapdragons Outside This Winter

Read the original article on The Spruce.