For those of you that buy fresh Christmas trees every year, what do you do with them after Christmas?
I will share how to make the super eco-friendly cleaning spray with the Christmas tree in this blog!
So first, let’s dive into the benefits of using Christmas tree (Balsam Fir) as a natural cleaning agent.
Even before Balsam Fir was used for Christmas decorations, it has been used for medicinal purposes from treating cold and flu, sore muscles, promoting sleep, relieving respiratory issues, headaches, and more.
It naturally has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties. “Balsam fir functions as an antibiotic disinfectant to kill germs while refreshing the air. The oil offers even more benefits by detoxifying the body at the cellular level.”
It’s a perfect ingredient to add to the homemade cleaning spray!
Before I explain crafting the cleaning spray, let me share with you what I’ve been doing with my Christmas trees.
I’ve never bought Christmas trees until last year when my son started wanting one. The first year, I chopped off the branches and saved them from making a bonfire and creating up the fire stove. They light up so quickly, but they have a high oil content which causes a lot of smoke and can damage the fire stove.
So this year, we bought the tree in the pot so that we could keep it in our garden and then bring it back inside for next Christmas.
I picked up several Christmas trees from the dumpster, which looked healthy and had a fresh aroma. Then I snapped off the branches with my hands and cut them into smaller pieces. I washed it by soaking it in the water and rinsing it several times to remove the dirt and dust.
I experimented with distilling the branches and soaking them in the vinegar to craft the DIY cleaning agent.
First, I placed the Christmas branches in the water tank and the column for the distillation. Second, I started the fire and waited for 30 minutes for the water to start boiling, and the dripping of hydrosol to start. I continued for 45 minutes to extract the hydrosol out from the branches. My studio filled up with the strong aroma, and soon it became so intense that I had to open the window and the door.
DIY Cleaning Agent with Christmas Tree Hydrosol
Materials:
- A spray bottle
- One part Christmas tree hydrosol
- One part Organic Vinegar
- Peppermint Essential Oil (10 to 20 drops)
You can also substitute Peppermint Essential oil for other essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Mandarin, or Orange Essential oil.
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients and put them in the spray bottle. Shake well before use.
DIY Cleaning Agent with Christmas Tree Soaked in Vinegar
The second version soaks the Christmas branches after washing them in organic vinegar. After several weeks, filter out the liquid and use it as the cleaning agent.
Materials:
- A wide-mouth jar
- A spray bottle
- Christmas branches
- Organic Vinegar
- Water
- Peppermint Essential Oil (10 to 20 drops)
Instructions:
Place the Christmas tree branches after washing in the wide-mouth glass jar. Fill up the bottle with organic vinegar. Store it in a dark place for several weeks.
Filter out the branches and mix one part water, one part vinegar, and essential oil of your choice (Peppermint, Eucalyptus, or Orange/Mandarin).
Pour the mix into the spray bottle. Shake well before use.
Results:
Both methods worked perfectly in making the best cleaning spray that I have ever used! I love using the cleaning spray to clean the surfaces of our dining table, kitchen counter, computer table, windowsill, window, and mopping the floor. It cleans up the surfaces nicely, removes the odor, and leaves an amazing aroma. It also brings back that Christmas warm feeling!
