If it were new, I'd worry about off-gassing causing problems, But if it's not that new, that might not be the problem. Do you have a leaf blower? I've used it to dust off (non-delicate ) things (outside, of course). I would think a hairdryer could also blow dust off of it. I'd cover it in the garage with large trash bags to keep it clean.

Do you live anywhere that mold would grow in your garage? If so, I might try testing an inconspicuous place on the tree with something that kills mold - spray lysol maybe??

Do you have Poinsettia's or other plants this time of year? Those can cause problems, too, as can scented candles.

I like the leaf blower idea. Wonder if it might be coupled with the heating season and dust in the furnace filter. When I start coughing and sneezing when it kicks on, I am reminded to change the filter ...

The rash is what bothers me the most. He's so uncomfortable and he waited so long to tell me!

I have to ask since you did not mention a rash in your OP where on the body is the rash.

I bought 2 Ionic air cleaners from Sharper Image. They sure have helped my dust allergies. I’m allergic to real pine trees.

I didn't notice that you wrote about a rash. Any chance he has shingles?

He had the same exact rash one year ago and went to doc and it was not shingles. They gave him steroids and it cleared up. That's why I think it might be the trees. I put up several artificial trees and wreaths--all stored in garage. Same exact on sent--one week after I put up trees. The rash is on his back and chest/stomach and arms.

He wears the same stuff--white undershirt and sweatshirts with his favorite sports teams. His "uniform" so to speak. I haven't changed soap or detergent. It's driving me nuts. He said it began about 3 weeks ago. Both last year and this year, he developed rash about a week after the trees went up. So strange.

Get him started back on the steroids.

You are absolutely correct, it is the tree.

Had the same thing happen years ago when we lived in NY. We have a asthmatic daughter whose asthma was well controlled until we switched from a live tree to an artificial tree. The first year we put it up, she was fine. We stored the tree in our basement (which didn't have mold), and the second year we dragged it up (it was a tall tree), she had a sever asthma attack which required hospitalization. We suspected the tree because we all were sneezing a bit as we hooked up the lights. I could sense dry dust coming off the tree.

I always covered it with large drop cloths wrapped around it.

After that year and to this day, 25 yrs later, when i'm ready to put up the tree, I put it outside for 3 days before bringing it in. In NY, we had a large deck off the kitchen and it went out there. Now in Florida, it goes out on the patio. I hit it with a broom a few times to knock off any dust and let the air and sun take care of any more.

She never had another allergic reaction to artificial trees and now uses one for her family and follows the same procedure.

Try it next year.

Jane

Allergy rashes suck. Perhaps consider a topical treatment for the rash. Get on the horn to the doc, and see if dad needs steroids again or not.

When you take your trees and wreaths down, consider giving them an airing/dusting before you put them away, and also air/dust them when you pull them out of storage next time.

I've called doc 3 x and no answer/return call. We are going to do a CVS video call. He's resting at the moment and I've just paused "Operation Take Down Christmas" for a coffee break and to chat with you guys.

I have an irritating rash on my one forearm that if I think about it coincides with the decorations going up maybe. For sure when I bring out the Christmas decor the dust issues rise. Somethings are easier than other's to clean. I do not see how setting them outside helps what was already covered in cloths and out of the dust. Sounds like mold more likely. My things are soo old off gassing cannot still be going on. Let us know what the Doc says. Hopefully this time they will do allergy tests and really find out.

My last tree came with a very nice protective bag and now all my trees are stored bags made for them. I dust and wipe down all the containers before bringing them out of storage. Unless you have a serious dust problem I don't see how decorations could get that dusty in the short time they are out.

Whether you store things in the garage or basement, cloth covers do not keep out the dust. You're better off with some type of protective bag like Raye uses and I believe they can be found in all sizes online.

If you store stuff in the garage and use it to park the cars in, a huge amount of dust/debris comes in each time you drive in and out of the garage.

The doc gave us steroids. If rash is not gone in a week, we have to go into office. He seemed confident this would fix the problem. I have all my trees and fake greenery outside on the patio. It's a little windy. I'm gonna shake them all and then store in plastic bags. I have no great money tied up in these trees. One belonged to my mother and I've been storing in garage over 20 years. My sister says that is the first one I should toss.

I got mine from Balsam Hill, they are plastic coated canvas type material that is easy to wipe down and keeps contents clean.

Thank you Raye. I'm going to check out Balsam Hill. I just took down and put away all the decorations. I started last night with my Christmas dishes and then everything else. I just finished. Perhaps I should take a page from the minimalist handbook. I put up so much Christmas stuff but I love it so much! Tomorrow I will clean the house and put back my normal every day decoration. Anybody else take down the decorations?

I leave all decorations up until the day after New Years. Takes me a whole day to put it all away then clean the house.

I usually leave up till January 6th--Little Christmas but it actually feels good to have them all put away. Today I cleaned and organized and put out all our regular stuff again.

I had to have dh take our little tree outside by mid-Dec. because of all my sneezing. It helped a little, but I've had allergies that cause sneezing for a good month now. I have no idea what's causing it as I usually start using up the kleenex in Jan/Feb, due to the elms. Hmm, could it be that my house is too dusty? :)

Maybe it's not the tree at all. Somebody must be buying those stinky scented pine cones/candles and other artificially scented products. Those are much more likely to cause allergic reactions than a metal and plastic tree.