Whether it’s an elaborate table presentation or intricate baubles, many of us enjoy decorating our homes during the holidays.
But a new study might make you reconsider your decorations.
Research has shown that your Christmas decorations can contain five times as many germs as the average toilet seat.
Experts from Initial Wahsroom Hygiene used cotton swabs to analyze the germs on 25 Christmas decorations in five homes.
This included everything from trees to baubles, as well as festive wreaths and tree lighting.
The results showed that Christmas tree boxes contained the most germs, while tree lights contained the least.
Jamie Woodhall, UK Technical & Innovations Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, said: ‘Because many of us enjoy putting up decorations with a mince pie or drink in hand and decorations are often passed from one person to another as they are unpacked and hung, cross-contamination risk is naturally present.
‘Since 80 percent of all infections are transmitted through the hands, this can lead to the transmission of disease.’
Whether it’s an elaborate table display or tree trinkets, many of us enjoy decorating our homes during the holidays. But a new study will make you rethink your decorations (stock image)
The samples were taken using sterile cotton swabs and analyzed using an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) bioluminescence reader.
This allows the detection of levels of biological life that are not visible to the human eye.
“The units in this method are expressed as relative light units, with a higher ATP value indicating a greater level of bacterial contamination,” the researchers explained.
‘This technique is widely used to assess the cleanliness of surfaces before and after cleaning in hospitals and other buildings.’
Analysis found that more than two-thirds (68 percent) of decorations generated a value of more than 500 units, indicating high levels of contamination.
Christmas tree boxes were the worst offenders, with an average value of 845 units.
The Christmas trees themselves were next, with an average value of 780 units.
Christmas baubles totaled 610 pieces, while Christmas wreaths had an average value of 430 pieces.
The samples were taken using sterile cotton swabs and analyzed using an ATP bioluminescence reader (adenosine triphosphate).
Based on the findings, the researchers are urging homeowners to give their Christmas decorations a much-needed cleaning.
Meanwhile, the least germ-filled decorations appeared to be Christmas lights, which had an average value of 286 units.
By comparison, toilet seat samples taken by Initial Washroom Hygiene in 2012 recorded an average of 220 units.
Based on the findings, the researchers are urging homeowners to give their Christmas decorations a much-needed cleaning.
“No one wants their Christmas celebrations to be ruined by a seasonal virus,” Mr Woodhall added.
“So it is advisable to take proper precautions, such as wiping down decorations with an antibacterial cloth and everyone washing and drying their hands before starting the decorating fun.”