Clean up fallen Christmas tree needles with 65p trick that doesn’t damage vacuum

Cleaning up after your Christmas tree doesn't have to be a chore this year.

If you've opted to buy a real Christmas tree this year, then you'll probably have noticed a pile of needles has appeared underneath the tree in the few weeks that you've had it up. Christmas trees are primarily evergreen conifers like fir or pine trees and are known for their characteristic needles that cover the branches instead of large leaves.

However, much like leaves would fall off any other tree as it begins to die, Christmas trees are no different. Once it's been chopped down for transportation into your home, it begins the process of slowly dropping its needles, which will continue until the branches are bare. 

This means you're tasked with the arduous chore of cleaning up the needles that drop before they make a mess of your living room. You might be tempted to break out the vacuum to get rid of them quickly - but this is a mistake, as the sharp leaves can get stuck in the machine and cause damage.

Instead, there's a simple solution that you probably already have lurking in your kitchen cupboard. And if you don't, then it costs just 65p to buy from most supermarkets.

Emily Barron, a cleaning expert at Property Rescue, said you should never use a vacuum to clean up your fallen tree needles, as the sharp leaves can get stuck in various parts of the machine - including the hose, bag, and filters - and can cause a blockage when enough of them build up.

Fear not though, as that doesn't mean you have to try and pick the needles up by hand. Instead, you should reach for your nearest tub of baking soda - or bicarbonate of soda - which you may already have in your kitchen cupboards if you've been doing any festive baking over the past few weeks.

All you need to do is sprinkle the powder on the floor to cover the pine needles and make them easier to pick up, and then use a broom or a lint roller.

Once collected, the pesky needles should then be thrown away in the garden bin, and the remaining baking soda can then be vacuumed up, leaving your floors clean once again.

If you do need to head to a shop for some baking soda, it costs around 65p in most supermarkets, and can even be found at local convenience shops if you don't want to make a big trip. Most of us will have a broom or a dustpan and brush at home already, but if you want to try the lint roller method, you can find one in IKEA for just 75p.

Emily also said it's essential to keep your Christmas tree watered to prevent excessive needle dropping, but noted that according to another expert, 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, if you have a water softener at home then 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 could 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."