Cleaning up after a real Christmas tree can be a nightmare - but experts have a 59p hack that can take the hassle out of gathering all those discarded pine needles. The Mirror reports that while you might be tempted to reach for your vacuum cleaner, this could damage the appliance by causing blockages - and there is a more effective way of doing the job.
Cleaning expert Emily Barron told The Mirror that one of the easiest ways to clean up fallen pine needles is with the help of a kitchen item that many of us may have at home already - especially if you've been doing any festive baking. She says all you need to do is sprinkle baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, on the floor to cover the pine needles and and then use a broom or a lint roller to pick up the pesky needles. The needles can get sticky when they drop, and sprinkling baking soda on them first to soak up the sap (wait 10 minutes) works wonders.
Once collected, the needles should then be thrown away in the garden bin, and the remaining baking soda can then be vacuumed up, leaving your floors clean. Bicarb is a common ingredient in cooking that Tesco stocks it for just 59p.
Emily, who is a cleaning expert at Rezigo, said it is essential to keep your Christmas tree watered to prevent excessive needle dropping, but the type of water you use on your tree could be doing even more damage. She said: "Make sure you top up the water every other day and be sure not to let the base dry or a seal can form and it might not take up further water.
"And be careful about the water you're topping it up with. According to Gene Fitzgerald, home water treatment expert at BOS, having a water softener at home your water can be high in sodium which is bad news for conifers and may cause your tree to drop needles faster. You could consider using another water source or bottled water to top up your tree - but check the label for sodium levels!"
The expert also suggested keeping your Christmas tree away from radiators, as the warm temperature can also speed up the needle-dropping process. She added: "Make sure your tree is in the coolest part of the room it's in and away from any fires or radiators. Heat will speed up the needle-dropping process."
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