The holiday season is a time for joy, family, and celebration, but festive gatherings often lead to accidental spills and stains. From a tipped glass of red wine to a drop of gravy, these mishaps can put a damper on your holiday spirit. But don’t worry, with a few simple household items and some quick know-how, you can tackle any holiday stain and keep your home looking its best throughout the celebrations.
How to Get Red Wine Out of a Tablecloth
A splash of red wine is one of the most common and feared holiday stains. That deep red color can seem permanent, but acting quickly is the key to complete removal. The moment the spill happens, grab a clean cloth or paper towel and get to work.
Gently blot the stain to absorb as much of the wine as possible. Avoid rubbing the stain, as this will only push it deeper into the fabric fibers and make it larger. Once you’ve blotted up the excess, generously sprinkle table salt or baking soda directly onto the spot. These powerful absorbers will pull the remaining wine out of the fabric.
Let the salt or baking soda sit for at least 15-20 minutes. You’ll see it start to absorb the color. After it has done its job, rinse the area with cold water from the back of the stain to flush it out. For a final treatment, apply a mixture of equal parts dish soap and hydrogen peroxide before washing as usual.
Tackling Grease and Gravy Spills on Fabrics
Holiday feasts are delicious, but greasy foods and rich gravies can leave stubborn stains on your clothes and linens. These oily marks require a specific approach to break them down effectively.
First, use a dull knife to gently scrape off any excess food. Then, blot the area with a clean cloth. The next step is to apply an absorbent powder. Sprinkle a thick layer of cornstarch or talcum powder over the entire grease stain and let it sit for at least 30 minutes to an hour. This will draw the oil out of the fabric.
Here are the simple steps to follow for grease removal:
- Gently blot the excess grease away with a clean cloth.
- Cover the stain completely with cornstarch or talcum powder.
- After about an hour, carefully brush off the powder.
- Apply a small amount of dish soap mixed with water and work it into the stain.
- Launder the item in the hottest water the fabric’s care label allows.
Dish soap is a fantastic degreaser and is often all you need to break down the final remnants of the stain before washing.
Removing Sticky Stains like Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce adds a sweet and tart flavor to any holiday meal, but its bright color can leave a scary-looking stain. Luckily, it’s easier to remove than you might think.
Start by removing any solid bits of sauce with a spoon. Next, turn the fabric over and rinse the stain from the back with cold running water. This helps to push the stain out of the fibers rather than through them. Continue this for several minutes until the water runs clear.
For a powerful pre-treatment, mix a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water. You can also add a drop of dish soap for extra cleaning power. Apply this mixture to the stain and let it soak for about 15 minutes before laundering the item according to its care instructions.
The Best Way to Handle Tree Sap and Candle Wax
Decorating with a real Christmas tree and festive candles adds a wonderful ambiance, but it can also lead to sticky situations with sap and wax. Both require a similar approach: hardening before removal.
For tree sap, the goal is to make it brittle. Place an ice cube or an ice pack on the sap until it is completely frozen solid. Once hardened, you can gently scrape most of it off with a dull knife or the edge of a credit card. If any residue remains, dab it with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol until it dissolves.
Candle wax is handled in almost the opposite way. After scraping off the excess hardened wax, you’ll use heat to remove the rest. Place a brown paper bag or a few paper towels over the wax stain. Press a warm iron over the paper, which will melt the wax and cause it to be absorbed into the paper. Keep moving to a clean section of the paper until the wax is gone, then launder.
| Step | Action for Tree Sap Removal |
| 1 | Freeze the sap stain with an ice pack. |
| 2 | Scrape off the hardened sap with a dull edge. |
| 3 | Blot any remaining residue with rubbing alcohol. |
| 4 | Wash the fabric as usual. |
Dealing with Festive Messes like Glitter and Chocolate
Glitter and chocolate are signs of a good holiday party, but they can be a nightmare to clean up. For glitter that has found its way onto fabric, a lint roller or some strong adhesive tape is your best friend. Simply roll or press the tape over the area to lift the tiny particles away.
Chocolate stains should be addressed quickly before they set. Scrape off any excess chocolate with a spoon. Then, rinse the stain from the back of the fabric with cold water. Pre-treat the spot with a dab of dish soap or laundry detergent, gently working it in before washing the garment in cold water.
Quick Fixes for Accidental Ink Stains
Whether from a leaky pen while writing holiday cards or a child’s art project gone wrong, ink stains can be intimidating. However, with the right solvent, you can often lift the ink right out of the fabric.
The most effective tool for many ink stains is rubbing alcohol. Before you start, place a clean paper towel under the stain to prevent it from spreading. This is a crucial step that many people miss.
To remove the ink, you will need:
- Rubbing alcohol
- A clean white cloth or cotton ball
- Paper towels
Dampen your cloth with the rubbing alcohol and gently dab at the stain. Don’t rub. The ink should begin to transfer from the fabric to the cloth and the paper towel underneath. Keep dabbing with a clean section of the cloth until the ink is gone, then launder the item to remove any remaining alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holiday Stains
What is the first thing I should do for any spill?
For almost any spill, the first step is to remove any excess solid material and then gently blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth. This absorbs as much of the spill as possible and prevents it from spreading further into the fabric.
Can I use hot water to clean stains like red wine or chocolate?
No, you should avoid using hot water on many stains, especially protein or tannin-based ones like wine, blood, or chocolate. Hot water can “cook” the stain, setting it permanently into the fabric fibers. Always start with cold water.
Is rubbing alcohol safe for all fabrics?
Rubbing alcohol is generally safe for durable fabrics like cotton and polyester, but it can damage delicate materials like silk, wool, or rayon. Always test it on a small, hidden area of the garment first to ensure it doesn’t cause discoloration or damage.
How can I remove old, set-in holiday stains?
Older stains are tougher but not impossible to remove. You can try soaking the item in a solution of cool water and an enzyme-based stain remover or oxygen bleach for several hours or overnight. Afterward, pre-treat the stain directly and launder as usual.
What if a stain doesn’t come out after the first wash?
If a stain remains after washing, do not put the item in the dryer. The heat from the dryer will set the stain, making it nearly impossible to remove. Instead, repeat the pre-treatment process and wash the item again.
