In fact, it may be less about what kind of tree you’re bringing home and more about what’s ON it.
A 2011 study by SUNY Upstate Medical University found that some Christmas trees carry mold – roughly 50 different types – and roughly 66 percent of these can cause hay fever-like symptoms and significantly increase the percentage of mold spores in your apartment until it’s time to haul it out to the trash compactor.
Do you suffer from allergy symptoms when tree time comes around? Read on for some helpful tips and alternative Christmas décor ideas to enjoy a happier, healthier holiday.
Shake it off
And sure, go ahead and play the Taylor Swift hit while doing so! (Or perhaps Peter Gabriel’s “Shaking the Tree?”) Turns out you can significantly reduce mold allergy symptoms simply by shaking as much debris off the tree as possible before you bring it in.
Have access to a leaf blower? That can help, too. And if you live in a climate that would allow, consider hosing your tree off and allowing it to dry outside for a day or two (or use that aforementioned blower to speed the process).
Faux sho’
If you aren’t married to the idea of a real tree, consider investing in an artificial version. Benefits include much lower maintenance. A real tree won’t need water to stay springy and won’t drop needles everywhere.
Conversely, you’ll need to have space in which to store it, so consider how it breaks down before you purchase it. Also, important – how you store it can affect your allergies, too. Improperly stored trees (yes, even artificial ones) can be magnets for dust, pollen and mold spores, as well, so take care to seal yours up tight before putting it away.
Keep it real
If anything less than real is a deal-breaker, try to look for an allergy-friendly tree species. Pine allergies are rare, but real. If pine is a trigger for your allergy woes, consider a spruce or cypress tree instead.
Good news! Leyland cypress trees are sterile, meaning they’re not pollen producers! Less good news – you’ll likely have to do some research and may have to find a Christmas tree farm to get one, although local big-box home improvement stores do sometimes carry them!
Other tips
Dust everything! Even those who don’t typically suffer from allergies can get stuffy when dust gets kicked up. When the time comes to unbox the decorations – from garland to ornaments – take it out to the balcony or the breezeway straightaway and get to dusting to make sure anything lurking amid the needles, leaves and ornaments becomes airborne outside your apartment.
If you have a balcony or patio, perhaps that’s the best place for your tree! Not only will you get to enjoy the ritual of putting up and decorating your tree, you can share the bright lights of the season with your neighbors and enjoy it from your living room without worry for what’s floating in the air inside your home.
