The Easiest Ways to Clean the Juice and Needles of Your Christmas Tree
Now that Christmas is over and 2023 is almost here, many people are taking off their holiday decorations and putting them away for the whole year . But for those who choose to bring a live Christmas tree into their home, it’s not just a matter of removing it and figuring out how to repurpose , recycle , or dispose of it: they also have to deal with the mess it leaves behind.
Generally, the two biggest and most annoying parts of cleaning up a Christmas tree are the sap and the needles (assuming there are no bugs ). Here are the easiest ways to deal with those post-holiday turmoil.
How to remove Christmas tree juice from various surfaces
The sticky sap that oozes from evergreens can be difficult to remove from carpet and upholstery, as well as parquet and other types of floors. This is one of those things you should do right away – or better yet, as soon as you notice the sap anywhere other than directly on the tree – because the longer it stays, the harder it will be to remove. Here’s what to do:
Parquet floors
Use a clean sponge or cloth to apply undiluted oily soap (such as Murphys) directly to the juice stain. Leave on for 15 minutes and then scrub off with a soft bristled brush. Finally, rinse the area with clean water. If you don’t have oil-based soap, you can try some vegetable fat instead.
Carpet and upholstery
For large juice stains, it can help to first freeze the area with an ice cube and then carefully remove as much of the juice as possible with a plastic knife before trying to clean it up.
Otherwise, blot and then gently wipe some rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer off the tar that has stuck to the carpet or upholstery with a clean cloth or sponge. If that doesn’t work, apply some mild liquid dish soap to the stain, then use a clean cloth or sponge dampened with warm water to blot the stain.
How to clean Christmas tree needles
When you’re ready to say goodbye to your Christmas tree, start by putting some floor covering – like a tarp, old sheets, or a few trash bags – not only around the base of the tree, but also on the way to the doorway leading outside. . Do this before you start removing jewelry or lights to keep some of the needles that fall off in the process.
Even if you do this, there will still be needles that will end up on the ground. Here’s how to get rid of them:
Baking soda
Start by sprinkling the needles with baking soda and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. This will help soak up the sticky juice and make cleaning easier.
Broom and dustpan
Picking up a vacuum cleaner may seem easier (we’ll get to that in a minute), but simply sweeping the baking soda-covered needles with a broom and dustpan makes the job more efficient. If your floor is carpeted, you will need a broom with rubber bristles .
vacuum nozzle
Even baking soda-coated pine needles can seriously damage a vacuum cleaner , especially when they get stuck in the roller brushes or get stuck in other parts of the machine. This is why, in this case, using a broom may be easier than vacuuming.
But if you really want to use the vacuum cleaner, start by emptying the container (needles take up a lot of space). Don’t use a sweeper or upholstery tool (such as those with brushes): instead, choose a hose or crevice tool.