Tips for Fighting Common Holiday Stains

Holiday Stain Busters

• Holiday Stain Busters

  RED WINE: Fabric: 1. Sponge the spot with cool water or soak for about 30 minutes in a basin of cool water. 2. Pretreat with a prewash stain removert. 3. Launder. If it's safe for the fabric, add chlorine bleach to the wash. Upholstery: 1. Blot up as much of the spilled wine as possible. 2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears. 6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry OR 1. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Blot until the solvent is absorbed. 3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until the stain disappears. Carpet: 1. Blot up as much of the spilled wine as possible. 2. Use plain water or mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with plain water or the detergent/vinegar solution. Apply a little bit at a time, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears. 4. If using a detergent/vinegar solution, sponge with cold water and blot dry. Worth a Try: If all else fails to remove the red wine stain (especially on a white carpet), mix one part hand dishwashing detergent with two parts hydrogen peroxide. Sponge on; blot off. Rinse well. Be sure to test first in an inconspicuous spot to make sure the solution doesn't harm the color of thecarpet. Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/toolarticles/stains-wine-red-may07

• Holiday Stain Busters

  CANDLE WAX: Fabric 1. If the wax is still soft, freeze the item to harden the wax, and then scrape off the excess wax. 2. Sponge with a dry-cleaning solvent. 3. Place the stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron to transfer the wax to the paper towels. Replace the paper towels frequently to absorb more wax and prevent transferring the stain to other places on the fabric. 4. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. 5. Launder, using chlorine bleach, if safe for the fabric, or oxygen bleach. 6. If any color remains, rewash. Upholstery 1. If the wax is still soft, freeze it by applying an ice cube wrapped in a small plastic bag, and then scrape off the excess wax. 2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent. 3. Blot until the solvent is absorbed. 4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears. Carpet 1. If the wax is still soft, freeze it by applying an ice cube wrapped in a small plastic bag, and then scrape off the excess wax. 2. Sponge with a dry-cleaning solvent. 3. Cover the stain with a clean white cloth and press, using the tip of a warm iron to transfer the wax to the cloth. Repeat, using a clean portion of the cloth until all the wax is transferred from the carpet to the cloth. 4. If a color stain remains, sponge the stain again with a dry-cleaning solvent. 5. Blot dry. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/toolarticles/stains-candle-wax-may07. Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

• Holiday Stain Busters

  FRUIT: Fabric: 1. Flush the stain with cool water. 2. Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent with one quart of cool water. Soak in this solution for 15 minutes. 3. Rinse with water. 4. If the stain remains, sponge with alcohol and rinse thoroughly. 5. Launder, using chlorine bleach, if safe for the fabric. Upholstery: 1. Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol. 2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the vinegar/alcohol solution. 3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears. 5. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. Carpet: 1. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. 2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth. 5. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia - the resulting fumes are hazardous) with two cups of cold water. 6. Sponge the stain with the ammonia solution. 7. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 8. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/toolarticles/stains-strawberry-may07

• Holiday Stain Busters

  GRAVY: Fabric: 1. Scrape off excess gravy. 2. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. 3. Launder, using the hottest water safe for the fabric. Upholstery: 1. Scrape off excess gravy. 2. Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or other absorbent on the stain. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes, and then vacuum. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent. 4. Blot until the solvent is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears. Carpet: 1. Scrape off excess gravy. 2. Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or other absorbent on the stain. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes, and then vacuum. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent. 4. Blot until the solvent is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth. 6. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 7. Sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the detergent/vinegar solution. Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/toolarticles/stains-gravy-may07

• Holiday Stain Busters

  CHOCOLATE: Fabric: 1. Scrape off excess chocolate. 2. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. 3. Launder. 4. If the stain remains, launder again, using the type of bleach that's safe for the fabric Upholstery: 1. Scrape off excess chocolate. 2. Mix onetablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears. 6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. OR 1. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Blot until the solvent is absorbed. 3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until the stain disappears. Carpet: 1. Scrape off excess chocolate. 2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears or is no longerabsorbed into the cloth. 6. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia - the resulting fumes are hazardous) with two cups of warm water. 7. Sponge the stain with the ammonia solution. 8. Blot untilthe liquid is absorbed. 9. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/toolarticles/stains-chocolate-may07

• Holiday Stain Busters

  MASHED POTATOES: Fabric: 1. Scrape off excess potato. 2. Flush under cold running water to loosen the stain. 3. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. 4. Launder, using the hottest water and the type of bleach that are safe for the fabric. Upholstery: 1. Scrape off excess potato. 2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4until the stain disappears. 6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. Carpet: 1. Scrape off excess potato. 2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears. 6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/toolarticles/stains-mashed-potato-may07

• Holiday Stain Busters

  SWEET POTATOES: Fabric: 1. Scrape off excess sweet potato. 2. Flush under cold running water to loosen the stain. 3. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. 4. Launder, using the hottest water and the type of bleach that are safe for the fabric. Upholstery: 1. Scrape off excess sweet potato. 2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps3 and 4 until the stain disappears. 6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. Carpet: 1. Scrape off excess sweet potato. 2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water. 3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution. 4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth. 6. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia - the resulting fumes are hazardous) with two cups of warm water. 7. Sponge the stain with the ammonia solution. 8. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. 9. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/toolarticles/stains-sweet-potato-may07