The Holiday Sneeze: Why Your Christmas Tree Might Be Making You Sick

It starts the same way every year. It’s early December. You haul the boxes up from the basement or strapping a fresh pine to the roof of your car. You spend the evening hanging lights, unwrapping ornaments, and turning up the Christmas music. The house looks magical.

But a day or two later, it hits you.

The runny nose. The itchy, watery eyes. The persistent cough that won’t go away. You feel that heavy, tight feeling in your chest.

You assume you’ve caught the "winter flu" or picked up a cold while holiday shopping in crowded malls. But pay attention to the pattern: Do your symptoms disappear when you leave the house for work, only to return the moment you sit down by the fire?

If the answer is yes, it’s likely not a virus. You might be suffering from "Christmas Tree Syndrome."

At Apex Restoration, we talk a lot about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) during the winter. This is the season when we seal our homes tight against the cold, trapping ourselves inside with our air. While festive decor brings joy, it can also bring a surprising amount of pollution into that sealed environment.

Here is the science behind why your tree might be making you sick—and how to breathe easier this season.

1. The Live Tree: A Sleeping Mold Factory

For many Utah families, there is simply no substitute for the smell and look of a real pine tree. But we have to remember what that tree is: an organism that has been living outside in the elements for years. It has been collecting dust, pollen, and most importantly, mold spores on its bark and needles.

The Science of the Sneeze: When that tree is outside in the freezing December air, those mold spores are dormant (asleep). They are inactive. But when you drag that tree into your 70-degree living room and put it in a stand filled with water, you are creating a biological trigger.

The sudden warm environment, combined with the moisture from the water in the stand and the sap in the tree, causes the mold to "wake up." It thinks it is springtime. The mold begins to reproduce rapidly, releasing millions of spores into the air.

• The Stat: Studies by allergy specialists have shown that the mold count in a room can increase by 500% within just two weeks of setting up a live tree. That is a massive respiratory load for anyone with asthma or allergies.

The Fix:

• Shake it Out: Most tree lots have a mechanical shaker. Use it! It’s not just for loose needles; it knocks off a significant amount of dust and dormant pollen.

• The Car Wash Trick: This is the pro move. Before you bring the tree inside, set it up in the driveway. Use a leaf blower to blast out the interior branches, or spray the tree down gently with a garden hose to physically wash away pollen and spores. Crucial Step: Let it dry completely in the garage for 24 hours before bringing it inside, or you’ll just be bringing in more moisture.

2. The Artificial Tree: The Dust Mite Hotel

Think you’re safe because you use a fake tree? Not necessarily. The danger with artificial trees isn't usually what’s growing on them, but where they have been sleeping for the last 11 months.

The Problem: Most people store their artificial trees and ornaments in the original cardboard boxes, tucked away in the basement, attic, or crawlspace. These are prime locations for dampness, dust mites, and spiders.

• The "Box" Trap: Cardboard is porous. It absorbs moisture from the air, creating the perfect food source for mold. When you drag that box upstairs and rip it open, you are releasing a year’s worth of concentrated basement dust, mite feces, and mold spores directly into your living room air.

The Fix:

• Ditch the Cardboard: If you are still using the original box, throw it out this year. Switch to plastic storage bins or heavy-duty, sealable tree bags. Plastic seals out moisture and dust, keeping your tree clean for next year.

• Clean Before You Fluff: Don't just set it up and breathe it in. Take the tree sections outside (or into the garage) and blast them with compressed air—like you use for a computer keyboard—or vacuum the branches with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter. This removes the "attic dust" before it becomes part of your holiday air.

3. The "Healthy Home" Holiday Checklist

You don’t have to be the Grinch and cancel Christmas to stay healthy. You just need to manage your air quality. A few small adjustments can make a huge difference in how you feel on Christmas morning.

• Run an Air Purifier: If you have one, place it in the same room as the tree. A purifier with a certified HEPA filter will capture the airborne mold spores and dust mites before they reach your lungs.

• Manage Humidity: As we discussed in our November mold series, humidity control is key. Aim to keep your indoor humidity between 30% and 40%.

  • Too High: Mold grows faster on the tree.

  • Too Low: Your nasal passages dry out, making you more susceptible to irritation and infection.

• Dust Your Decor: Ornaments and garlands that have been sitting in open bins are dust magnets. Don't just pull them out and hang them. Wipe them down with a microfiber cloth to remove the allergen layer first.

Breathe Easy This Season

Enjoy the lights, enjoy the traditions, and enjoy the tree. But remember that your home is a system. By taking a few extra minutes to clean your decor and manage your air, you can ensure that the only thing "catchy" this season is the holiday spirit.