Garden Trees, Shrubs & Vines
Natalie Francisco
A real Christmas tree fills your home with a woody fragrance and holiday spirit. Although, once January begins, it fills your home with pine needles too. They fall off the branches because a tree can only live for so long after it’s been cut from its roots. Different types of Christmas trees drop their needles at different rates. Davey recommends never choosing spruces because they are known for leaving needles all over your floor. Instead, opt for a fir.
Trees drop their needles as they dry up and begin dying. The best way to prolong your Christmas tree is to ensure it has enough water. Check the stand daily and add more water if it looks low. If you let the stand get empty, the tree stump will seal with sap, making it harder to absorb moisture. Where you put your tree also affects how quickly the needles drop. Radiators, fireplaces, and air vents will make it dry out quicker. Once your tree’s foliage begins to brown, it is too far gone. Then it’s time to dispose of the tree and clean up the needles.
Pine needles
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How you clean up the fallen pine needles from your Christmas tree depends on where they are. Using a vacuum is the best way to pick them up. However, if you don’t have one and your tree is placed on hardwood floors, you can use a broom to sweep them up. The most efficient way to pick up pine needles is with your vacuum’s hose attachment. It will allow you to pick them up even when clumped together from sap without damaging your machine. Just be sure to remove the brush attachment, or the sticky needles will get stuck in the bristles.
Tru-Clean Surface Care recommends adding a layer of baking soda to the needles if they are on a carpet. The baking soda coats them, making it easier to suck them up without getting stuck in the rug’s fibers. You should also empty your vacuum’s canister before using it. Doing this will ensure it works efficiently and will be easier to dispose of the sticky needles without old dust and dirt getting stuck to them.
Sticky sap
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Cleaning the sticky sap can be tricky if you don’t have the right supplies. Service Master Clean explains that lubricating the dirty area is essential to removing sap. The best way to do this is with mineral oil or rubbing alcohol. How you apply it depends on what type of surface you’re cleaning. For carpets, apply mineral oil to the area and gently rub it until the sap is removed. Then you can use liquid dish soap and rinse that portion of the carpet to ensure the oil doesn’t stain. It’s also recommended to test this method on an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t damage the fibers.
For hardwood floors, you can use either rubbing alcohol or mineral oil. First, pour your choice of cleanser on a sponge and wipe down the sap stuck to your floors. Then Instant Erase by Sponge Outlet recommends letting it soak for about 15 minutes. Once the time is up, use the sponge to scrub the area. When the sap is gone, rinse the area and dry it with a clean cloth.
