Well, the holidays are here and you know what that means…holiday parties! ‘Tis the season for entertaining, from family functions to social soirees. As fun as these gatherings can be, even the most well-behaved house guest can accidentally wreak havoc on your home. It seems that many party staples have great stain-producing potential and, combined with holiday high heels, you’re just asking for trouble. That is, unless you’ve invested in a never-ending supply of Saturn wine glasses.
Well, the holidays are here and you know what that means…holiday parties! ‘Tis the season for entertaining, from family functions to social soirees. As fun as these gatherings can be, even the most well-behaved house guest can accidentally wreak havoc on your home. It seems that many party staples have great stain-producing potential and, combined with holiday high heels, you’re just asking for trouble. That is, unless you’ve invested in a never-ending supply of Saturn wine glasses.
Cranberry sauce, red wine, hot chocolate, and more… it’s just a matter of time ‘til they end up on your floor! In a perfect world, your clumsy companion spills their drink right on this multi-colored rug’s wine-colored squares, but most of us aren’t so lucky and something like this rug usually catches the Cabernet instead.
So, how can you prevent a spill from ruining your night? Luckily, many stains can be removed with a combination of common household items. The faster you tackle a stain, the better your chances of removing it, so being able to utilize nearby materials definitely sets you up for success.
Check out these stain-specific treatments:
The Stain: Cranberry Sauce
The Solution: White Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
After scooping up any solids left behind, mix together vinegar with rubbing alcohol and pour it over the stain. Blot until all liquid is absorbed, then repeat as needed.
The Stain: Red Wine
The Solution: Detergent and White Vinegar or Club Soda, Dish Soap, and Hydrogen Peroxide
Recipe #2 is especially efficient! Immediately pouring club soda on the stain will prevent it from setting, then you can quickly mix a batch of soap and hydrogen peroxide. It’s important that you soak up as much of the wine as possible before applying the cleaning solution. Use paper towels to press (not rub) and repeat until the carpet is nearly dry. Then, soak the stain with the solution and repeat the paper towel process.
The Stain: Hot Chocolate
The Solution: Ammonia, Detergent, and Hydrogen Peroxide
Again, it is important to soak up the stain prior to treating the carpet. Hot chocolate is a little trickier to tackle, but following the directions above should get the job done! If not, you can soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide, let stand for 1 hour, then try again.
The Stain: Coffee
The Solution: White Vinegar, Detergent, and Hydrogen Peroxide
You know the drill by now: blot, soak, blot some more! This time, you’ll want to add white vinegar to your combination of soap and hydrogen peroxide.
The Stain: Soft Drinks
The Solution: Detergent and White Vinegar
Since soft drinks have their own bubbles, you’ll just need soap and white vinegar to treat this stain. Soak up the excess liquid then sponge the carpet with a small amount of cleaning solution, making sure to blot dry each time. Repeat until the soda says sayonara!
The Stain: Candle Wax
The Solution: Ice, Iron, Shampoo, and Rubbing Alcohol
If your candlelight dinner turns to a candle wax disaster, you’ll have a little more work to do in order to get rid of this stain. First, use an ice cube to harden the wax, then scrape it up with a dull knife. Cover the area with a thin towel and apply a hot iron to absorb the remaining wax. Shampoo the carpet, let it dry, then vacuum to remove any remaining pieces.
Here’s hoping that your holiday parties remain spill-free and, should accidents occur, that these home treatments act quickly. If nothing works, at least you’re on your way to a DIY version of this artsy rug!
