Fake Christmas trees do the job at Christmas time, but they can’t possibly give that same magical feeling to Christmas that a real tree can! Decorating a real tree too is part of the fun and excitement in the build-up to Christmas morning when the kids wake up and sit around the tree opening the presents that Father Christmas brought while they were asleep.
That magical atmosphere hangs around for a few days after Christmas. Then reality kicks in when you see all those dead pine needles taking the place of all those colourful presents underneath the tree! Time to clean up the final reminders of yet another fantastic Christmas.
Getting rid of millions of brown, very dead pine needles doesn’t only take time and patience but can really test your patience if you don’t know how to do the job effectively, and in the shortest time possible. Following are a few great hints and tips about how to clean up Christmas Pine Tree Needles quickly and easily.
Vacuum cleaner – while this is the first thing that most people turn to, to clean up pine needles, it’s not such a great idea, because being sticky, the needles tend to build up in the tube, causing a blockage before even reaching the vacuum bag or canister. The vacuum cleaner will start to overheat soon after starting the clean-up and will either have to be fully serviced or repaired to work again.
So, if the vacuum cleaner isn’t an option, then what other ways are there to get rid of the dead needles?
Hand broom and dustpan – these are the best tools for cleaning up the needles from around the bottom of the tree. It will only take a few minutes of your time if you sit on the floor and whisk the needles up into the dustpan.
Rubber broom – if you have a set of rubber brooms at home, then these are ideal for removing needles from vinyl, tiles, and carpets. These sets usually include a small brush which is great for getting into all those tiny nooks and crannies, where the broom cannot reach.
If you use quick, short strokes when removing the needles from your carpets, the movement will work up a bit of static electricity, which will help to lift the needles off the carpet as if by magic! The same thing will happen if you use longer strokes to sweep up the needles from wooden floors.
Handheld sweepers – these are marvellous for cleaning small areas, steps, and furniture. The bristles on these little gadgets are just as good at picking up the dead pine needles in your home, as the larger cordless sweepers you would use to clean the carpets in your car.
Lint rollers – although designed to be used on coats and dress clothes, many people use them to get rid of pet hair too, as well as those terrible dead pine needles left over after Christmas! If you don’t own one of these and have pets, then you might want to consider investing in one to keep your home free of pet hair and dead pine needles.
If you don’t want to buy one, then some duct tape, sticky side out, wrapped around your hand, will do the trick nicely, by using a dabbing movement to pick up the needles.
Cordless sweeper – although these don’t do a good job of picking up deep dirt in a carpet, they are fantastic for cleaning up pine needles. Since they have long handles, you can do the job easily, without getting a sore back from having to bend over to collect dead pine needles off the floor!
How to avoid having too many needles to clean up
Even though there are effective ways to get rid of dead pine needles after Christmas, the best thing to do is to make sure that there aren’t too many to clean up.
You can, for instance:
Make a walkway – make a walkway in your home before you bring your tree inside, by rolling back carpets and moving furniture out of the way. This way, there is nothing for your tree to brush up against, and if a few needles do fall off, it will be easier to clean them off a floor instead of a carpet.
Keep your tree fresh – even though your tree is cut and will eventually start dropping its needles, you can prevent that from happening for a little longer, if you water the tree often. Start off by watering it a few times in the first few days, and then once a day afterward. Also, try to stand it in a spot away from the sun or a heating vent, as these will dry the needles out quickly.
Keep it away from the traffic flow – make sure that your tree is in a spot where it won’t be bumped by adults, children, or pets. If possible, keep it away from your furniture and carpets, as these are much harder to clean dead needles from, than wooden floors.
A final tip!
The key factor in cleaning dead pine needles is to do it soon after you bring your tree inside, and as often as possible. The more the pine needles are left to pile up, the harder they will be to get rid of.
