What can your live Christmas tree do to you?
Living pine trees can cause problems for people with asthma. They can bring mold and pollen into your home. For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough or wheezing, burning in the eyes, or a skin rash. People with asthma or those who are allergic to mold can have severe reactions.
The heat in your home can make your allergies worse
The trees themselves most likely have mold spores and pollen on them that are imported into the home. Mold grows in a warm, humid environment, and sometimes the interior of your home provides the perfect environment to promote mold growth.
Christmas tree toys can also make you sick
Artificial Christmas trees and toys stored in a garage or basement may have mold and dust on them. Don’t forget to wipe the toys and wash the wood stand. Cardboard boxes and open bags allow dust to accumulate. Switch to storage containers that protect against dust mites.
Allergies can get worse around Christmas
Christmas trees are a possible source of mold exposure during the holidays. Mold allergies peak in the fall and have a second peak in many people who are susceptible to mold during the Christmas holidays.
How to protect the Christmas tree and yourself
If you bet on an artificial tree, wash it very well before decorating it. The same goes for the live Christmas tree – wash it with a hose and let it dry in the garage or on the terrace if it is warm enough. Keep the live Christmas tree in your home for up to 7 days, because after 7 days the mold starts to grow.
