We’ve seen some peculiar hacks on CleanTok, but this festive one stands out—this year, people are giving their artificial Christmas trees bubble baths ahead of the holiday season. Going as far as tossing the entire tree into the bathtub, creators are demonstrating how they keep their faux firs clean. Here’s the inside scoop on whether this cleaning routine is necessary, and what you might want to try instead.
In a TikTok posted this week—which has already racked up 2 million views and nearly 100,000 likes—creator @rhema.br places one piece of her artificial tree in her bathtub and sprays it with disinfectant. She then runs the tap with some dish soap, and shows the bath water run. After repeating this routine with each section of her tree, she lets it dry and sets it up in her living room.
KELSEY HANSEN
“Unpopular opinion—you need to clean your Christmas tree,” the video caption reads. But as several commenters noticed, the water running off the “dirty” tree is completely clear—there’s no dirt or dust to be seen, and only a couple of faux pine leaves are left in the tub.
“Imma buy another tree before anyone sees me cleaning my tree in the tub,” one commenter wrote. Another joked that the video reminded her of “doing anything at work to make it look like [she’s] busy.” The term “performative cleanliness” dominated the comments section. Overall, the TikTok community doesn’t seem to support this trend.
Other users raised concerns that if the tree didn’t get properly dried after cleaning, it could develop mold or mildew. More wondered what they were supposed to do with an artificial tree that has lights attached, or one that’s flocked—a valid concern, as you should avoid putting an electricity-powered tree in water.
One creator, @allisonmumey, went so far as to stitch the video with their own, questioning why you’d wash a tree that doesn’t get particularly dirty to begin with.
“If this is what you need to do to feel comfortable in your own home during the holiday season, more power to you,” the creator said. “But I'm speaking from the heart here ... I'm not cooking eggs on it. It sits in my living room. I don't even have to touch it. From the time I put it up to the time I take it down, I don't have to touch it at all. What does it need to be clean for?”
While cleaning your tree in a bathtub probably isn’t harmful, people seem to think the bath time routine is a bit over the top. But cleaning an artificial Christmas tree in general isn’t a bad idea. In fact, it’ll keep your tree in top shape for longer.
Balsam Hill, a company that sells artificial Christmas trees and other holiday decorations, says it’s “important to clean your artificial Christmas tree regularly to remove layers of dust that may accumulate during the holiday season.”
A faux tree’s branches can become quite the dust magnets, so the experts at Balsam Hill recommend cleaning your tree before decorating. To follow their regimen, simply wipe the branches, trunk, and base with a soft, dry cloth or fiber duster to remove anything that might have built up over the last 11 months.
If your tree doesn’t come with built-in lights, you can even use the upholstery bristle brush of a vacuum to give it an extra clean. Before you put your tree to rest in January (or later, if you like to savor the holidays), Balsam Hill recommends cleaning it in the exact same way once more.
This process isn’t necessary, but your tree’s lifespan depends on how well you maintain it—and keeping it dust-free is part of that process. So don’t run to the bathtub when you’re prepping for Christmastime, but it doesn't hurt to take a second look at the leaves.