It’s the most flammable time of the year.
Once you’ve hauled your Christmas decorations in from the garage, even the most fastidious neat freak would be hard-pressed to clean and repair every dusty bauble. Apart from taking up some extra space over winter, remember that those storage boxes will have gathered dust since January.
There will be a few extra fire hazards.
You can take common-sense precautions, such as keeping Christmas cards away from naked flames, switching off your lights and electrical gadgets at night, and not overloading sockets. And by using a fire retardant spray, you can further reduce the risk of materials igniting.
How Does Fire Retardant Spray Work?
Fire retardant spray will effectively fireproof a variety of natural and synthetic materials. Once applied, the liquid will react to heat by forming a carbonised shield, deflecting heat away.
It is colourless, odourless, will not cause shrinkage and won’t be affected by natural wear or sunlight.
How Do You Use Fire Retardant Spray?
Ensure the area you are treating is clean and dry (remember last year’s dust) then spray a fine mist of the fire retardant spray onto all surfaces. Leave to air dry.
The spray will keep its efficacy for as long as the material stays dry. If the material becomes wet in any way, apply the spray again.
Which Materials Can You Treat With Fire Retardant Spray?
Fire retardant spray will only work with materials that can absorb the liquid. Here’s a ‘will and won’t’ list, for ease of reference:
Can be treated with spray
- Cardboard
- Untreated wood
- Polystyrene
- Hessian
- Foam Rubber
- Cotton
- Wool
- Synthetic materials & fabrics (e.g. nylon, fixed fibres etc.)
- Curtains, upholstery & cushions
- Wallcoverings
- Camping equipment
- Marquees & tents
- Bunting
Cannot be treated with spray
- Metal*
- Waxed cardboard
- Plastics
- Waterproof fabrics
- Rip-stop nylon
- Painted or varnished surfaces
* You should also note that if the spray comes into contact with any metal surface, you should wipe it clean immediately, to prevent it tarnishing.
A Word On Festive Clutter
The festive season provides the most ridiculously wide scope for elaborate rooftop ornaments and budget novelty items. A croaky Santa dancing the Macarena may be the perfect addition to your holiday décor, but you won’t be laughing when it knocks the candle bridge over and singes your reindeer rug. Please note the list above is not exhaustive and is intended as a guide only.
Take care to place every ornament somewhere secure and away from heat and naked flames.
So whether your Christmas is minimalist chic or taking a turn for the tacky, protect your home, and have a safe and Merry Christmas.
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