Many households choose to buy an artificial Christmas tree instead of a real one.

The reasons are numerous, to save money, to protect the environment, or just because they hate cleaning fallen needles.

Artificial trees are used for years and they easily get dirty and dusty during storage so they need a bit of cleaning occasionally to remain fresh and beautiful.

Cleaning methods vary depending on the type of tree; white ones often turn yellow at some point and need to be reversed to white again.

Here are the most useful tips and tricks to cleaning your artificial Christmas tree:

1) Make sure the tree is unassembled

A unassembled tree is easier to clean; so do not assemble it until you’re finished. An added bonus is that you don’t need to stand on tiptoes or climb a ladder to reach the highest parts. You also have the option to clean it in a seated position, not bothering about dislodging or unplugging different parts of the tree.

2) Put down a drop sheet to catch dirt

Nobody wants to add extra work to the holiday preparation. To avoid vacuuming dust or cobwebs afterwards, lay down a cloth beneath the tree to catch dirt falling during the cleaning process.

Long sleeved gloves are recommended since needles can hurt a bit or be itchy.

3) Check manufacturer instructions

When buying a tree, manufacturers often attach a cleaning guide to the box in which it is packaged.

If lost, you can always go to the website or store where you bought it from, and ask for tips on cleaning that specific model.

4) Use a handheld vacuum

Handheld vacuums are easy to operate and make it simple to get to all the hard to reach places. I suggest setting it on the lowest power to prevent damages, for a gentle clean use the upholstery brush attachment.

5) Cleaning a white Christmas tree

Turning a yellowed artificial Christmas tree white again is a difficult task. The cleaning lady from Sydney, which used to visit my place weekly, told me her proven method of repairing this damage.

First, place the tree in the bathtub and spray it with a mixture of bleach and water. Leave it there for about 30 minutes and repeat the procedure again. Next, rinse it very well and finally take it outside to dry. You should have a perfectly white Christmas tree now.

Have you ever cleaned your Christmas tree? Would love for you to share your ideas in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com