Wait, Should You Really Wash Your Christmas Tree Before You Put It Up?
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There are plenty of unconventional things you can do with a Christmas tree—hanging it upside-down on your ceiling and flocking it yourself to add an extra-snowy look come to mind—but cleaning a Christmas tree? It’s an approach that was altogether unpopular last year when one TikTok user took to her bathtub to clean her artificial Christmas tree with soap and water, but this viral Instagram video actually kind of makes sense.
Earlier this month, Instagram user @carmenjohnstongardens showcased her unexpected method of prepping her live Christmas tree before bringing it into her house. She advises, “Wash your Christmas tree before you bring it inside,” adding that she rinses it off with a hose for about four to five minutes, and you “wouldn’t believe” the stuff that comes off of the tree during the rinsing process. Then she uses a leaf blower to get the tree nice and dry—this also prevents any mold that might crop up from the wetness.
Now, while this kind of does look funny, it’s a surprisingly effective way to get all that *gunk* off your tree before bringing it indoors, such as cobwebs and other natural debris. It’s also a good way to gently remove any critters, including insects and hiding animals. (But always be sure to also check the tree is unoccupied before choosing your Christmas tree and bringing it home from the lot—and check it again before washing.)
In response to this video, the comments are definitely a mixed bag. Some don’t understand why this would need to be done or how it could be accomplished—one Minnesotan said that because they “actually have winter” in her state, it might be tough to wash a tree, especially since many hoses are not hooked up and it could ice immediately. But if you live in a warmer climate or care to brave the cold temps, you might agree with some of the positive comments, in which people share that critters that have come into their homes as a result of not cleaning off their tree, like snakes, spiders, and ticks, oh my!
One commenter sums it up best by saying, “I don’t care what state you are from nor the temperatures. All of us have our personal preferences. Rinsing the fresh tree is a smart idea if you can.”
So, what do you think? To wash or not to wash? Either way, once you bring your tree indoors, the holiday season has officially arrived.
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