30 December 2023 , 08:00
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As we approach the end of the holiday season, many Brits are finishing off their festive leftovers and turning their attention towards tidying the house - and one cleaning expert has shared a handy Christmas tree trick.
Once the festivities are out of the way, it’s common for households to arrange their trees to be shredded or used as compost, but Armen Adamjan suggests using the seasonal plant to create disinfectant because "pine needles are packed with antibacterial properties".
The content creator, who goes by @creative_explained online, regularly shares home hack videos to TikTok. In one festive clip, he said: "When Christmas is over, don’t just throw out your real tree." He then went on to explain how to keep your home smelling fresh in the new year, and it only requires pine needles and white vinegar.
Lifting the lid on the disinfectant method, Armen said to start by cutting off a few branches from your Christmas tree and chop them up into slightly smaller pieces. Then, place the pine needles in an airtight container and fill it to the top with white vinegar.
He said: "Close it and let it soak for about three weeks." After the cleaning contents have brewed for 21-days, the vinegar should have developed into a "nice and golden colour". The following step involves straining the liquid into a spray bottle.
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"Pine needles are packed with antibacterial properties and in combination with the vinegar, it makes a super awesome disinfectant," gushed Armen. He explained that disinfectant will leave a "pleasant scent" and can be used to clean anything in your house, including mirrors, toilets, counters, and even floors.
It seems Armen’s recommendation has been backed up by experts as the Loon Lake Lodge & Retreat Center in Canada has also described the antibacterial properties of pine needles on their website. What’s more, the David Suzuki Foundation notes that acetic acid - which is found in white vinegar - can act as a disinfectant which can destroy some bacteria and viruses.
The viral video has amassed more than 1.6million likes, and enthusiastic followers rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts on the unusual method. One user penned: "And I STILL have cleaner left over!! Smells amazing, works even better and it was FREEEEE." While another quipped: "That’s the power of pine tree baby."
Another shared: "Wow and just in time for the holidays! Love it!." As a third wrote: "I knew it! I TOLD my husband there has to be something I can do with the tree after." It’s important to note that this hack only works with real Christmas trees - and not plastic varieties - which Armen highlighted in the comments section too.