One of the main reasons homeowners enjoy fresh Christmas trees and wreaths is that distinctive scent of the coniferous forest wafting through the house, a fragrance that just proclaims that it’s the yuletide season. Unfortunately, fresh trees and wreaths can have an adverse impact on your indoor air quality, which is especially a problem for those who suffer from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. But you can take steps to counter these issues, and the good news is they’re not that difficult.
The Christmas Tree and Wreaths
That fresh Christmas tree you bring into your home most likely came from a tree farm. By the time it makes it into your home, it may have a number of substances on it that you don’t want to breathe. As it grows in the field, the tree can collect pollen from other trees (in the winter, the tree will be past the point of producing pollen itself). Also, during its growth period, it may have been sprayed with fungicides, pesticides, and other chemicals.
Once it’s cut, the tree may lie in a damp pile until it is loaded. During that time, mold and fungus can take hold and proliferate. After it’s loaded into a truck for delivery, the tree will likely be jammed into a dark, damp space for a matter of days, where even more mold and fungus may reproduce.
After selecting your tree, be sure to wash it off before you bring it into your home. You can even use vegetable and fruit wash when you spray it off.
It may be trickier to clean off fresh wreaths if they’re already decorated, but you might want to switch to a green wreath that you can clean first and then decorate once it’s inside your home.
Candles
Trees and wreaths aren’t the only polluting Christmas decorations. Watch out for those holiday-scented candles, especially those made of paraffin, a petroleum-based substance. These give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and produce soot, which can clog your air filter.
For more on holiday indoor air quality, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning of Lorain.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area