Holiday Homewreckers: 5 Common Entertaining Mishaps – And What to Do About Them

Cynthia Ross Cravit | December 3rd, 2019
People toasting glasses of red wine

Photo: Kelsey Knight/Unsplash

A festive gathering of food and drink, a houseful of guests, excited children and — if it’s like my home — a very keyed up dog means that a few mishaps are bound to happen. The lovely glass of Bordeaux somehow ends up on the carpet (especially if said carpet happens to be white), and what to do about the candle wax that dripped on the heirloom tablecloth?

Here are some tips from Consumer Reports for dealing with the usual holiday household goofs.

1. Spilled wine. If you spill wine on carpet or fabric, the first thing you need to do is to blot (not scrub) the affected area with water. Then use a detergent solution made of one teaspoon of a mild clear or white dishwashing liquid — no bleach — mixed in one cup of warm water. For red wine, you can then finish by dabbing with 3 per cent strength hydrogen peroxide.

2. Spilled soda. Blot with the detergent solution. After this, blot with a vinegar cleaning solution made of one-third cup of white vinegar mixed with two-thirds cup of water. Rinse with warm water, and if the area is still not entirely clean, dab with 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide.

3. White ring marks on wood. The first step is to blot with an absorbent cloth. Then using a damp cloth, wipe the area to help dissolve the stain. If after drying with a soft cloth, the mark remains, apply a little non-gel toothpaste, or liquid or cream car polish, rubbing with the grain. Wipe again with a dry cloth and polish, if needed.

4. Lipstick on cloth napkin. Blot the stained area with acetone-based nail-polish remover. Then try a store-bought cleaning solvent (such as Goo Gone or Afta). If that doesn’t work, try the detergent solution, and then rinse.

5. Candle wax on the tablecloth. The trick for this stain is to pour boiling water through the fabric (make sure it’s washable first) from a height of 12 inches. The height increases the velocity of the water, which helps separate the wax from the fibers. If the fabric can’t be laundered, sandwich it between paper towels and apply a warm iron.

Basic steps for stain removal

– When it comes to removing stains, time is not your friend so be sure to act quickly. Blot — don’t scrub — the affected area with a white cloth or towel until dry.

– Be sure to follow all care labels for the garments, linens, or rugs you’re treating.

– Take a moment to test a cleaning solution by applying several drops to an inconspicuous area, and then hold a wet white cloth on the area for one minute. Check the cloth for color transfer and also the fabric or carpet for color change or damage. If there is none, it’s safe to proceed.

– Apply a small amount of the first recommended solution to a white cloth. Gently work it into the outer edges of the stain and then toward the center.

– Repeat with clean white cloths until you can’t transfer any more stain to the cloth. If the stain remains, try the next recommended solution.

-Flush with water once the stain is gone to remove the cleaning solution. Then blot to dry.

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