The gatherings and festivities may be over but those spills and splotches on your sofa, rug, and sweater can linger forever – unless you act swiftly and follow our stain removal tips to erase every last trace.
No need to cry over spilled red wine. Follow along as we share 9 of the most common stains that you may encounter and how to get rid of them in a jiffy.
Grease Stains
Save your shirt, apron, tea towels, and any linens by first soaking the grease-stained area immediately with a laundry stain pretreatment product. After a few minutes, vigorously rub in a heavy-duty laundry detergent, and throw the item into the wash immediately. Once the wash cycle is complete, check that the stain is completely gone before tossing the item in the dryer or hanging out to dry. If a stain remains, lay the item face down on an absorbent towel, pour dry-cleaning solvent through the back of the stain, and launder once more.
Red Wine
A guest accidentally spilled red wine on your tablecloth or sofa? Fear not – you likely have the remedy on hand. First, lightly blot the stain with a soft, clean towel then grab your salt shaker and sprinkle the stain with a layer of salt. Let it sit for 15 minutes and vacuum up the salt. Spot wash any remaining stain with warm water and mild dish soap.
Chocolate
If a stream of chocolate sauce finds its way onto an upholstered item, carefully remove the excess, then use a clean cloth to apply a dry cleaning solvent to the stain. Blot up the solvent and repeat the process until the stain is gone.
Gravy
For a fresh gravy spill, use a clean cloth to remove as much of the excess gravy as you can without rubbing it in. Then soak the stain with a laundry stain pretreatment and wash with the hottest water the fabric allows. If the stain remains, soak it in oxygen bleach and wash again.
Butter
Scrape the excess off with a clean butter knife and apply a grease-cuttin liquid dish soap directly to the stain. Rinse the detergent out and pretreat the item with a stain remover. Wash it in the hottest water the fabric will bear and check on the stain before drying. If it remains, try removing it with dry-cleaning solvent.
Coffee
Immediately blot up as much of the coffee spill as possible. Then combine 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a few cups of warm water. Using a sponge, alternately soak the stain with the mixture and blot it up with a clean absorbent towel until the stain is gone.
Wax Drippings
To clean up cooled candlestick drippings, scrape the chunks away with a butter knife. Then place a plain paper bag over the spot and run an iron set on high heat over the paper to pull out the oils. Throw the tablecloth in the wash, and make sure that no wax stains remain before tossing it into the dryer.
Soot Stains
Is your candle jar discolored with soot? Simply dampen a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and wipe the glass. One pass and you’ll have the candle shining bright once again.
Blood
Turn to your spice drawer for an effective blood stain treatment: meat tenderizer. Mix it with enough water to make a thick paste and apply liberally to the blood stain. Wait 30 minutes then rinse with cold water and wash as usual.
What do many of these remedies have in common? They rely on a steady supply of hot water to get the job done. If your water heater isn’t performing as it once did or you’re ready to make the switch to a tankless system, contact Anthony’s Plumbing today.
