(OT) Washing an artificial xmas tree ???

[Jerry.Tan]

We have a small 3 foot artificial tree with built in fiber optic needles. I guess we should have put it in a box or bag. It's been in the attic for several years, and its really dusty/dirty. The light bulb and electrical stuff is in the base. I'm wondering if anyone has cleaned one of these? Can I just hang it upside down, and blast it with a garden hose, being sure not to soak the base? I can wipe the base with a wet rag, but not the needles.

It's not a real costly tree, so if it falls apart, I wont be heartbroken, but before I toss it, I'd like to try to clean it, and use it in the spare room, for guests.

[nestork]

I'd either hold it upside down in the shower or take it to your local garage, hold it upside down and hit it with compressed air.

Your local garage should have a blow gun, but if they don't you can buy them for anywhere from $3 to $300. If you decide to buy a blow gun, find out what kind of quick connect your local garage uses and make sure you use the same kind on your blow gun. Otherwise it won't fit on your local garage's air line. I think there are only about 3 commonly used styles.

[rbowman]

Or you could get a couple of cans of air from BestBuy. They aren't inexpensive, considering what they are, but it's a one shot deal anyway.

[Jerry.Tan]

After posting this, I discovered that the tree comes out of the base. At that point, I didn't feel washing the tree (needle part) was going to be a problem. I took it outside, used a nozzle on the hose, and blasted it from the top, then the bottom, and rotated it many times. Then I removed the nozzle and just used the full force of water from the hose to rinse it.

I shook it dry, and placed it near a forced air heat register in the house. I also washed the base with a wet cloth. I also washed all the ornaments that were on it in the sink, and layed them on a towel to dry.

It's now dry and plugged in, and looks brand new. I just got to put the ornaments back on now.

The compressed air is a good idea - THANKS!. I have a compressor, but I think it really needed a "bath", to remove all the filth.

I wont hesitate to do it again, knowing now, that the base comes off.

Hopefully this will help others who have a dirty xmas tree.

Note: There was a string of LED lights that I had put on it. I know those are used outdoors, so I did not hesitate to wash them in the sink too. After they dried by the heat register, they work fine also!

[nestork]

If the tree comes out of it's base, you can just soak the tree part in a bathtub half full of water. Add soap and agitate occasionally.