Whether it’s an elaborate table display or intricate tree baubles, many of us enjoy decorating our homes over the festive season.
But a new study might have you reconsidering your decorations.
Research has revealed that your Christmas decorations could be harbouring five times as many germs as the average toilet seat.
Experts from Initial Wahsroom Hygiene used swab tests to analyse the germs on 25 Christmas decorations in five homes.
This included everything from trees to baubles, as well as festive wreaths and tree lights.
The results revealed that Christmas tree boxes harboured the most germs, while tree lights contained the least.
Jamie Woodhall, UK Technical & Innovations Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, said: ‘With many of us enjoying putting up decorations with a mince pie or drink in hand and decorations often passed from one person to another as they are unpacked and hung up cross contamination risk is naturally present.
‘With 80 per cent of all infections transmitted through hands, this can lead to the passing on of illness.’
Whether it’s an elaborate table display or tree baubles, many of us enjoy decorating our homes over the festive season. But a new study will have you reconsidering your decorations (stock image)
The samples were taken using sterile surface swabs, and were analysed using an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) bioluminescence reader.
This is able to detect levels of biological life not visible to the human eye.
‘The units are expressed as Relative Light Units by this method, with a higher ATP reading suggesting a greater level of bacterial contamination,’ the researchers explained.
‘This technique is widely used to assess the cleanliness of surfaces before and after undertaking cleaning in hospitals and other premises.’
Analysis found that over two thirds (68 per cent) of the decorations gave a reading of over 500 units – indicating a high level of contamination.
Christmas tree boxes were the worst offenders, with an average reading of 845 units.
Christmas trees themselves were next, with an average reading of 780 units.
Baubles came in at 610 units, while Christmas wreaths had an average reading of 430 units.
The samples were taken using sterile surface swabs, and were analysed using an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) bioluminescence reader
Based on the findings, the researchers are urging homeowners to consider giving their Christmas decorations a much-needed clean
Meanwhile, the least germ-filled decorations were found to be Christmas lights, which had an average reading of 286 units.
For comparison, toilet seat samples taken by Initial Washroom Hygiene back in 2012 recorded an average of 220 units.
Based on the findings, the researchers are urging homeowners to consider giving their Christmas decorations a much-needed clean.
‘No one wants their Christmas celebrations ruined by a seasonal bug,’ Mr Woodhall added.
‘So it’s advisable to take the proper precautions such as wiping down decorations with an antibacterial cloth and for everyone to wash and dry their hands before joining the decorating fun.’
