Dreaming of a Cleaner Christmas?
Many articles or blogs we read focus on the clear up after Christmas. We love cleaning, but also love to share with how to minimise the mess in the first place, rather than create a mammoth amount of Christmas cleaning.
Most of us love a real Christmas tree, the iconic symbol of the festive season, covered in twinkly lights, tinsel and baubles and giving off a woodland scent. However, we’re less enthusiastic two weeks in, with the carpet of green needles spreading throughout our office or home. Even though we provide a cleaning service in Worcestershire, we loathe finding pine needles months later in our home.
We’ve learnt these top tips over the years and thought we’d share them, to spread the knowledge not the needles!
1. Purchase well
Buy the right tree, one known for needle retention, the grower or seller should advise which are the best, just ask!
2. Prepare the tree
We know it’s not like the turkey, but to ensure it stays at its best ask the seller to trim the stump, this helps it to soak up water, once it’s at your work or home put it into a container of water to rehydrate outside.
3. Clear an ideal space
Thoroughly clean the room the tree is going in, especially around where the tree will be placed, this reduces the need to get behind or move it for the next few weeks when you want to vacuum or dust. Choose to position your tree away from radiators, fires or sunny window spots if possible, as these will all contribute to your tree drying out. Using LED lights will also help, as they don’t give off heat.
4. Dress the tree
I’m not talking about adding baubles here, I actually mean dress it with a skirt! Yes, there is such a thing! Once the tree has been placed securely in a sturdy stand that holds water, wrap a tree skirt or apron around the tree, this not only hides the pot, but collects any needles that fall and can be easily shaken out into the bin or garden. We’ve found it is a good idea to put an old a sheet or bin liner under the stand to prevent sap dropping on you carpet.
5. Feed the tree
Freshly cut trees apparently have the capacity to take up to two pints of water a day, plus sugar. So water regularly to keep fresh and pop a couple of spoons of sugar in the water, this keeps it hydrated and fed, much like cut flowers in a vase.
6. The January clean up
Once you’re ready to take down your decorations, carefully remove all the decorations from the tree, then wrap a sheet around it and carry outside, minimising the needle drop. Brushing any remaining needles may work better than the vacuum cleaner. We have recently learnt that stubborn needles, stuck to carpet fibres, can be removed with highly adhesive tape, such as duct tape.
Should the worst happen, and you’re faced with a mouldy, needle infested, sap stained carpet when you remove the tree, ask us about our carpet and upholstery cleaning services to restore your living space to its former glory.
7. Recycle.
Local councils often have free of charge drop locations for old Christmas trees. It helps the environment in many ways to recycle your tree. But, even better, see what local charities are offering tree collection and recycling services in your local area. A lot of the local hospices, for example, offer a treecycling service. Not only can you care for your environment, but you can give money to a cause that it close to your heart and help people in need.
A cause close to our heart, being a cleaning company in Worcestershire, is the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust. It supports children and their families during the most difficult of times with all aspects of cancer care. Here’s a quote from the parents of a little boy called Oscar Saxelby-Lee who are currently being supported by this wonderful charity. These words really spoke to us this year:
“To sit and think back to where we were this time last year is too painful. It’s still too raw. But to be present and look at our little miracle, to hold his hand, to feel his warmth, to share his memories and to have him here is simply our reason to live every day… The world is your oyster, keep living your best life boyo.”
So this year, Sean and our son Josh will spend Friday 8th of January collecting used Christmas trees from our local area of Bromsgrove as part of the team representing the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust. The people we collect from make a donation and this raises vital funds for the charity. Josh is already aiming to get 15 trees on each load ready to be chipped!
The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust is collecting trees from the following postcodes: WR1, WR4, WR9 and B60. We will also be collecting from Barnt Green, Alvechurch and lots of villages local to the charity, such as Crowle, Upton, Snodsbury, Broughton Hacket, White Ladies, Aston and Drakes Broughton. If you live in these areas and would like to be involved, please go online to www.gkcct.org/treecycle or phone the office on 01905 885777.
Have a wonderful Christmas, from our family to yours.
