The Christmas mistake that can destroy your hoover, create mould and even damage your home without you thinking about it
DECORATING the Christmas tree is a much-loved tradition for millions across the country, and many of us will have spent the last week adorning our branches with twinkly ornaments.
But those with a real pine Christmas tree may already have noticed a sprinkling of pine needles gathering around the base.
As tempting as it can be to grab the hoover and get to work (after all, there are presents to wrap, food to plan and festivities to attend), a BLACK + DECKER expert has warned homeowners to avoid doing this at all costs.
The home expert revealed that using a hoover to gather up those pesky pine needles could damage - or worse, destroy - your hoover and even bring mould problems to your house.
Of course, it's widely acknowledged that a real Christmas tree needs a little more care and attention than their artificial counterparts.
For a start, there's no lugging it down from the attic each year.
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Although many embrace the task of collecting a new tree each year, accepting it as another wholesome and nostalgic Christmas tradition.
If you're part of the latter, and once your tree is safely home, you'll want to remove it from it's netting and give it a big shake (ricocheting needles everywhere in the process!)
According to , you'll then need to give it some water to avoid dehydration - and continue to water it everyday to avoid droopiness.
You'll also want to keep an eye out for any 'pine cone-like' growths...
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But after providing it with so much love and affection, could it really turn around and destroy your hoover?
Product and training manager at BLACK + DECKER, Nick Ee, explains: "Using a vacuum to clean up Christmas tree needles can lead to clogging from their small, dense nature, damage from their sharp edges acting like splinters, and blockages.
"It can even result in mould growth if the needles are damp, all of which can reduce the vacuum's effectiveness and longevity, or cause overheating."
With the financial burden of Christmas enough on it's own, most of us don't want to be forking out for a new hoover in the January sales.
Luckily, Nick has a cheap suggestion to avoid future stress - and you may even have one laying around the house already: "To use a lint roller to pick up Christmas tree needles, start by ensuring the roller has a fresh, sticky sheet.
"Roll it gently but firmly over the carpet, pressing down slightly to ensure the adhesive picks up even deeply embedded needles.
"For areas with a higher concentration of needles, roll over them repeatedly, replacing the adhesive sheet once it becomes full or loses its stickiness.
“This method works particularly well in corners, along skirting boards, and in tight spaces where other cleaning tools might struggle to reach.
"Dispose of the used sheets and repeat as needed until the area is clean.”
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Other safer options for needle removal include sticky tape (you'll probably have enough laying around already), a dustpan and brush or a rubber broom.
And you can thank yourself for saving the cost of a new hoover in the process!
How to look after your real Christmas tree
HERE'S what you need to know if you're buying a real Christmas tree:
First thing's first: buy a pot (if it doesn't come in one already).
You'll need to treat your tree just like a houseplant and give it water and attention.
Make sure the container has good drainage - and it's a good idea to put something underneath to catch the excess water.
Check the soil everyday to make sure it's not drying out.
If it feels dry, give it some water. If it still feels moist, leave it alone as too much water can also kill a tree.
Also check the LED bulbs on your tree lights aren't too hot as they could burn it, and keep your tree away from radiators.
When Christmas is over, try planting it in the garden so you can dig it up and use it again next year.
It's a good idea to take it out of its pot when you do re-plant it though, as large trees don't survive well in pots as their roots need space to grow.