Experts reveal the simple pre-holiday cleaning step that makes old Christmas decorations look brand new again

With our favourite retailers filling shelves with charming Christmas decorations, it's more tempting than ever to splurge on new festive additions. But to avoid your existing decorations looking dated and dusty alongside new buys, experts suggest cleaning your keepsake collection to ensure they look as good as new.

We're not saying to avoid trying new Christmas decorating ideas; we're certainly treating ourselves to a new bauble or two, but with the endless costs of the festive season, refreshing your heirloom decorations is an easy way to keep costs down.

Cleaning experts at Astonish have shared top tips for cleaning and refreshing Christmas decorations to restore your beloved favourites to their former glory.

Cleaning Christmas decorations

“Christmas decor tends to be some of the most cherished household items we own. But because they spend most of their time in storage, they can gather dust, grime and even mould if not packed away and cleaned properly," says Emma Mannion, cleaning expert and product development scientist at Astonish.

So, with that in mind, here's how to clean a variety of Christmas decorations, from wreaths to tablescaping favourites.

Cleaning Baubles

We've been eyeing up M&S's new novelty Christmas baubles, but that doesn't mean we're not excited to see our old favourites on the tree too. Here are some cleaning tips to make them sparkle just as brightly as the new ones.

"When it comes to glass baubles, they often collect dust fast," Emma explains. "The key to tackling this is to use a soft, dry microfibre cloth to carefully wipe away any dirt. If they’re particularly grubby, lightly dampen the cloth - but avoid excess moisture around paint or detailing."

"For plastic and shatterproof baubles, these can handle a bit more of a thorough clean. The best way to go about this is to mix a small amount of mild washing-up liquid in warm water and gently wipe the surface. You should then leave them to air-dry completely before hanging," she adds.

"Glitter-covered decorations are where things get a bit trickier," Emma says. "Glitter combined with water leaves a patchy, sticky mess, so avoid cleaning this way. Instead, use a clean, soft makeup brush to whisk away dust without disturbing the sparkle. For all baubles, make sure you clean them on a towel-lined surface - just in case any roll away."

Tree ornaments

No matter what Christmas tree theme you've gone with this year, you've probably got a mixture of sizes and shapes with ornaments. The non-bauble decorations may need a little more effort and attention when it comes to cleaning them.

"For fabric ornaments, grab a lint roller or low-suction vacuum (with the nozzle sock-wrapped) to remove any dust buildup. You can also clean any stains with mild soap and water," Emma says.

"If your wooden decorations need a spruce up, you should dust these with a dry cloth only. Water or any liquid can crack or warp the surface, so try to avoid any contact. Also steer clear of soaking any ornaments that contain glued-on embellishments; you might find it starts to loosen the bond, and the beads and buttons could fall off," she points out.

"Metal ornaments can be cleaned with a dry cloth or metal-appropriate polish if they are tarnished. Just make sure you avoid any detailed painted areas, as this could scratch away at the design," Emma explains.

Artificial trees

Got one of the best artificial Christmas trees money can buy? You'll definitely want to give it a clean this season, as they can get particularly dusty when stored during the off-season.

"Artificial trees attract dust while in storage, especially if they’ve not been stored correctly or in a concealed enough box. This often starts to show when the fairy lights go on, shining a spotlight on the dust, which probably isn’t the desired effect," Emma begins.

"Take the tree outdoors (or into a garage) before assembly so you’re not bringing the dust into your living room. Use a handheld vacuum on the lowest setting, or a feather duster, and work branch by branch from top to bottom to remove the dust," she continues.

"For PVC trees, a slightly damp cloth can then be used to refresh flattened branches. For a bonus glow-up, you can clean lights before you wind them round the tree with a dry cloth to help them twinkle brighter," Emma adds.

Wreaths and garlands

We always count down the days until we can put our favourite Christmas wreaths on our doors. And with the festive season around the corner, now's a great time to give them a little sprucing up.

"For artificial decorations, you should start by shaking them gently outdoors to remove dust, then carefully wipe the leaves, berries and any other decor with a microfibre cloth," Emma advises. "If something is particularly grimy, you can use a cotton bud with a small amount of a multipurpose cleaner for detail cleaning."

"For a real wreath, you can mist it with water to keep foliage fresh throughout the season and avoid placing it anywhere with excessive heat, such as radiators or stoves, as this can reduce its freshness much quicker. Keep an eye on any wilted foliage and remove it to extend longevity," she suggests.

Table accessories and ceramics

If you like to keep up to date with the yearly Christmas tablescaping trends, then you'll probably have collected a few charming accessories for your layouts.

"To get these looking fresh and ready for their décor moment, you can use a soft paintbrush to remove dust from delicate nooks. For ceramics, a slightly damp cloth will work well - but avoid the base if it touches batteries or electrics," warns Emma.

"If your candle holders are suffering from candle wax drips, you can easily remove these with a simple trick. Pop them in the freezer for around 20 minutes and gently lift the wax off once hardened – they’ll look brand new in no time," she finishes.

If you do have the budget to splurge a little this year, we recommend taking a look at Next's light-up decorations, Dunelm's Christmas wreath collection and our curated homes gift guide – there's something for everyone.