These are great cleaning tips for all year-round
Spills and stains are inevitable when you have children.
During all of the fun and festivities, we’ll guess there was more than an accident or two – especially if there were little ones excitedly running throughout the house.
From cranberry sauce to red wine and gravy to glitter, different spills require different cleaning methods that are useful all year long.
The Irish Mirror reports that, in the lead-up to Christmas, upwards of 80,000 people have Googled questions related to cleaning up messes.
The experts at Mary’s Kitchen Flour Sack Towels have heard these calls and have revealed to the outlet their advice for restoring your home and furniture to its former glory.
Owner, Allen Civlak, tells the publication that red wine, cranberry sauce, gravy, wax, soot and tree sap are just some of the spills that frequently happen over the holidays.
“As Christmas festivities commence, the joyous atmosphere can be dampened by the inevitable spills and stains that come with the season.
“The key is to act quickly and use the right cleaning method for the type of stain. With a little effort, you can keep your home looking its best throughout the holiday season.”
Grease and Gravy Stains
Step 1: To remove excess grease, start by blotting the stain with a clean cloth
Step 2: Sprinkle some cornstarch or talcum powder over the stain to absorb additional grease
Step 3: Create a mixture of dish soap and water
Step 4: Clear off the powder and apply the mixture
Step 5: Launder as usual
Cranberry Sauce
Step 1: Remove any excess sauce with a spoon or knife
Step 2: Rinse the stain with cold water
Step 3: Apply a mixture of vinegar and dish soap
Step 4: Wash and dry as recommended for the fabric
Christmas Tree Sap
Step 1: Freeze the sap using an ice pack or by putting ice cubes in a plastic bag and placing it on top of the stain
Step 2: Once the sap is hardened, scrape it away with a dull knife
Step 3: Apply some rubbing alcohol to the remaining stain and wash the item as normal
Glitter
Step 1: Pick up loose glitter by using adhesive tape or lint roller
Step 2: To clean away any deeply embedded glitter, press a mixture of water and liquid dish soap onto the stain using a cloth
Step 3: Rinse and launder
Red Wine Stains
Step 1: Blot the stain with a clean cloth to absorb as much of the wine spill from the fabric as possible
Step 2: Sprinkle some salt or baking soda on top of the stain – this will help to absorb more of the spill
Step 3: Creature a mixture of equal parts dish soap and hydrogen peroxide
Step 4: Rinse the stain with cold water and apply the mixture
Step 5: Wash and dry as usual
Candle Wax
Step 1: Wait for the wax to harden before attempting to clean
Step 2: Once hardened, scrape off excess wax with a dull knife
Step 3: Put a brown paper bag or paper towel over the wax stain
Step 4: Iron over the paper, transferring the melting wax onto the paper
Step 5: Wash and dry the item as usual
Chocolate Stains
Step 1: Scrape off any excess chocolate with a butter knife or spoon
Step 2: Rinse out the stain with cold water, ensure to rinse from the back of the fabric
Step 3: Creature a mixture of dish soap and water
Step 4: Pre-treat with the mixture and launder according to fabric care instructions
Ink Stains
Step 1: Put a paper towel underneath the stained area
Step 2: Using a clean cloth, dab the stain with some rubbing alcohol
Step 3: Continue to blot the stain until the ink has been absorbed by the paper towel
Step 4: Wash and dry following care instructions
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