NOW that Christmas is officially over, many of us will be thinking about taking our decorations down before the New Year.
Some of us take the tree down right after the big day, but according to tradition, it should stay up until the Twelfth Night.
This is a Christian festival that marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and this year, it falls on Sunday, January 5.
But whether or not you wait two weeks to take it down, experts have said that it’s important that our Christmas trees are stored correctly.
They’ve warned that there are three storage mistakes you could be making that could be ruining your tree.
And it could even cause it to be covered in mould by the time you go to pull it back out next year.
Many don’t realise that mould can actually grow on trees and other festive decorations.
But new research from Ronseal has found that one in five people have found it growing on their trees – which not only looks awful but can also be dangerous to our health.
This issue can affect both live and artificial trees in different ways… up to 50 different types of mould can grow on fresh trees
Jimmy Englezos
As a result, Ronseal’s DIY expert Jimmy Englezos has revealed tips on how to correctly store a Christmas tree to prevent the issue.
He said: “This issue can affect both live and artificial trees in different ways.
“For fresh Christmas trees, up to 50 different types of mould can grow on them and it can continue to reproduce until the tree is removed from the home.
“All of this can also cause mould spores to be present in the air.
“Mould isn’t as much of a consistent issue for artificial trees if they are stored correctly.
“However, if an artificial tree is stored in damp conditions this can bring dust and mould back into the home which can affect not just the tree, but the surrounding areas such as the walls.
“Decorations can also be affected if stored in the same way as the mould can transfer”.
Mould isn’t as much of a consistent issue for artificial trees if they are stored correctly
Jimmy Englezos
For most of us, the shed, attic or basement is the most convenient place to store things that we only need or use once a year.
But experts have warned that these are not ideal places to put a Christmas tree for eleven months.
Jimmy explained: “While convenient, attics, sheds and basements aren’t preferred places to store a Christmas tree.
“They can be prone to dampness and extreme temperatures.
“It should be stored in a dry and temperature-controlled location like a closet for example.”
Another storage mistake that could be ruining your tree is putting it in a place where there is direct sunlight.
Warm temperatures can not only create a breeding ground for mould, but also damage the tree itself.
The experts say: “Direct sunlight can cause the colour to fade and the tree to become brittle.
“High heat and humidity can also damage the tree’s shape.”
RONSEAL'S DIY expert Jimmy Englezos has also shared his top pieces of advice for those who are affacted by mould due to Christmas trees.
And he warns that painting over mould as this doesn’t get to the root of the issue:
He says: “It can be tempting to chuck on another coat of paint over the mould to cover it, however, what seems like a quick fix doesn’t get to the root of the issue.
“Any underlying damp and mould issues should be treated first as these are driving factors for the growth and development of mould.
“After this is done, remove any visible mould by wiping down walls and surfaces with a fungicidal wash which can be left for 24 hours on the affected and surrounding areas.
“Once the time is up – thoroughly rinse the mould patch with clean water and use anti-mould paint as the topcoat – reapplying periodically to keep the mould away.
“Anti-mould paint is very effective in keeping mould away as it has an active biocide inside which kills mould on contact.
“However, you shouldn’t paint over it as this prevents the paint from making contact with the mould itself.
“A common mistake people make is to use anti-mould paint and then paint over it with a colourful paint when the anti-mould paint should be a topcoat.”
When we go to put our Christmas trees away after the festive period, for most of us the easiest way to do it is to put it back into the large cardboard box that it came in.
However, experts have said that doing this can quickly cause mould to grow.
Instead, they advise wrapping it up in an airtight plastic bag.
Jimmy said: “Airtight plastic bags and a Christmas tree bag are preferable.
“Cardboard boxes can absorb water and moisture which creates mould.
“So rather than using the same cardboard old boxes that could be carrying mould, use an airtight plastic bag or plastic box that can be sealed to prevent mould growth.”
