It’s that time of year again. The Christmas tree is up and the decorations are being put up. But what about that pre-lit Christmas tree? It’s beautiful, but how do you care for it?
Here are some tips to keep your pre-lit Christmas tree looking its best
- First, before you take your pre-lit tree out of its box, unpack it carefully and check for any missing or damaged parts. Make sure there aren’t any loose wires or broken lights that could short out once the tree is up.
- If you’re not using the tree right away, store it with its stand in an upright position so no water gets into the trunk or branches. Waterlogged trees can’t absorb water properly and may eventually rot. If you don’t have room to store the tree in an upright position, place it on its side with the roots facing down.
- When you do set up your pre-lit tree, make sure each branch is secure by pushing down on it gently to test for movement. If a branch feels loose, use wire cutters to trim off a few inches from the end of the branch and then use needle-nose pliers to tighten any loose connections between wires and bulbs.
- Keep it away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, heaters or sunny windows.
- Keep it out of drafts.
- Keep it away from direct sunlight as this can fade the lights and plastic needles.
- Make sure to unplug the lights when you’re not using them and when you’re putting away your tree after Christmas.
- Clean up any fallen needles with a vacuum cleaner before they dry out and stick onto carpeting or other surfaces. You can also pick them up with a broom or dustpan if they fell onto hard surfaces like wood floors or tiles.
- If you’re decorating with lights and ornaments, make sure that they match the color scheme of your home and don’t clash with anything else in your living area. Most pre-lit trees come with an assortment of colored lights that can be changed out easily enough so that you can change them from green to red or blue over time as well as during each season changeover from fall through winter into spring and summer again!
- Make sure there’s no water on the floor around your tree ornaments or lights.
- Turn off your lights before you go to bed at night and when you leave home in the morning.
- Don’t overload electrical outlets with too many extension cords or lights. If a cord feels hot, unplug it immediately and replace it with a new one if necessary.
- Clean up any fallen needles from your tree after the holiday season ends so they don’t get moldy and startle you when you bring out next year’s tree (and don’t forget to remove all the decorations!).
- Use water-based paints and glues when decorating it. Most artificial trees come with holes in them for hanging ornaments, but they’re often covered with a plastic coating that makes painting difficult. If you’re using acrylic paints on your decorations, try using water-based ones instead; they’re easier to remove later if necessary (although most acrylics are still water-soluble).
