Christmas Trees Are A Hotspot For Mold

by Resto Pros

December 16, 2020

Christmas Trees Are A Hotspot For Mold

Holiday cheer isn’t the only thing your Christmas tree can bring – unfortunately, Christmas trees are a hotspot for mold! They are are bound, stacked, and then stored for weeks, trapping moisture and mold spores. Mold can hide in the needles and on the trunks of your Christmas tree, making them a hotspot for mold. Bah humbug…

Before you put your Christmas tree up for the holiday, there are important things to watch out for when it comes to possible mold.

How To Tell If Your Tree Has Mold

Real trees have the potential to cause allergies because, like many plants, they release tiny pollen grains. But it may not be the tree itself causing allergy-related symptoms. Some symptoms of moldy Christmas trees could include:

  • Sneezing
  • Runny Nose and/or Nasal Congestion
  • Wheezing and/or Difficulty Breathing
  • Headaches
  • Nosebleeds
  • moldEye, Nose and/or Throat Irritation

Since these are often the same symptoms you experience with allergies, it can be difficult to tell if your seasonal allergies have returned or if you’ve been exposed to a moldy Christmas tree.

How To Prevent Your Real Tree From Getting Moldy

While you can’t control the climate in which your Christmas tree has been kept, you can take preventative measures to ensure you don’t bring mold home with you.  

1.      Before Bringing It Inside: First, rinse your tree with vinegar and water solution. Then, shake your tree or blow it off with a leaf blower. By doing this, you are releasing the tree from all the pollen build-up and mold spores that could be hanging out. And finally, let your Christmas tree dry outside for a bit. Remember, mold flourishes in moist conditions.

2.      Clean The Tree (And The Air): Wipe down the trunk with vinegar and water solution or diluted bleach. If you have an air purifier, use it in the same room as your tree. This can not only reduce mold exposure, but it can help with common tree allergies too.

3.      Limit Their Stay: Mold is an unwanted house guest. One sure way to make sure they don’t overstay their welcome (or enter your home at all), is by leaving your tree up for only a week. This can reduce mold growth on the branches.

How To Prevent Your Artificial Tree From Getting Moldy

Real trees aren’t the only ones that can be a hotspot for mold. If your artificial tree isn’t stored properly, it too can experience mold growth. To prevent your artificial tree from getting moldy, make sure to store your tree in a temperature and humidity-controlled area. This makes it so there are no moldy surprises when you take out your tree for the season.

Call The Pros At RestoPros

If you’ve taken all these preventative measures with your Christmas tree and still feel like you may have been exposed to a moldy situation, our team at RestoPros is here to help! Not only can you trust that our expertise and experience will allow us to contain the mold and remove it entirely, you can trust that we’ll do everything in our power to make sure it doesn’t return later.