Filed under Entertaining, How To on December 12th, 2008:
Holiday Party Stain Removal Guide
Excited about hosing a holiday party this year or housing a bunch of guests for Christmas but not so enthusiastic about having to clean up after they’re gone? With all the traffic and possible drink spillage your Columbia apartment may experience, stains are bound to make an appearance. But, never fear, we’ll show you how to remove stains from your carpet and fabrics with ease.
Removing Wine Stains
Red wine stains may be the most intimidating stains to remove. There are a few stain removers you can use to get that red color out of your fabrics – club soda or salt.
Method #1: If you’re using club soda, pour it all over the stain and let it bubble. Keep pouring until it looks like the red color is lifting out of the carpet. Then dry it with a paper towel.
Method #2: If you’re using salt, pour table salt on the spot until you can barely see the red of the wine. Wait about an hour until the wine is absorbed into the salt and then brush it up. This works best when the wine just spilled on the carpet.
Removing Tea and Coffee Stains
Coffee and tea stains can be the hardest to completely remove. They always seem to leave behind a little yellow spot. But, if you know how to clean stains properly, you won’t be able to tell there was ever a stain.
- Use a cold wet, colorless cloth to wash away as much of the coffee as possible.
- Mix about a dime sized amount of dish detergent with some water and use a white cloth to blot the detergent on the stain.
- If the stain is being difficult, take a small amount of vinegar and mix with water to blot on the stain.
- Use a clean wet cloth to clean up the excess vinegar and detergent.
Removing Mud and Debris Stains
With so many people coming in and out of your apartment, some mud and outside debris is bound to make its way inside. So, what’s the best way to get rid of it?
Let the mud dry over night. Don’t try to clean it up when it’s still wet because you’ll just end up making a bigger, goopier mess. In the morning, vacuum your carpet to get up as much dried mud and dirt as you can. Then use a cloth with a little vinegar and water to clean up whatever is left behind.
Keeping a handy bottle of carpet cleaner will help as well to clean up those small stains that pop up every now and then. Some stains can be tricky, but you’ll be on the right track if you follow these stain removal guide tips.