The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tools to help beat the stains this holiday season
Erase any spills or splashes with the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab’s top-tested tips, favorite tools and best fabric-rescue tricks for common holiday culprits.
Butter Do this now
■ Fabric: Scrape up the excess butter with a spoon. Blot. Sprinkle on salt to absorb grease; let set 30 to 60 seconds, then brush away.
■ Carpet: Follow above directions, but skip brushing. Cover the salt and stain with a saucer or bowl.
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■ Fabric: Rub in heavyduty liquid laundry detergent. Check the garment’s care label and wash in the hottest water safe for it.
■ Carpet: Vacuum up salt. Apply a degreaser, like Goo Gone. Blot. Sponge with a mix of 1/4 teaspoon dish liquid and 1 cup warm water, then with cool water to rinse. Blot dry.
Candle wax Do this now
■ Fabric and carpet: Let the wax cool and harden. Tackle it when you have the time.
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■ Fabric: Gently scrape or pry off the hardened wax with a spoon or dull knife. Place fabric between paper towels and press with a warm, dry iron. Rub in liquid laundry detergent. Wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach.
■ Carpet: Same as above (put paper towels on top), but skip the detergent and wash. Fluff the fibers with your fingers.
Chocolate Do this now
■ Fabric and carpet: Scrape up the excess with a spoon. Blot any remaining chocolate with a dry cloth. Sponge with warm water. Blot dry.
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■ Fabric: Apply prewash stain remover and work it into the stain. Wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach.
■ Carpet: Sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon dish liquid and 2 cups warm water. Blot and repeat. If stain remains, sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon ammonia (do not use if carpet is silk or wool) and 1/2 cup warm water. Blot. Sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.
Coffee Do this now
■ Fabric: Spritz or sponge with cool water. Blot dry.
■ Carpet: Blot the spilled liquid with absorbent cloths, standing on them if necessary. Sponge or spritz with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.
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■ Fabric: Apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm water with fabric-safe bleach.
■ Carpet: Sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon each dish liquid and white vinegar and 2 cups warm water. Blot. Sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.
Red wine Do this now
■ Fabric: Spritz or sponge with cool water or apply Wine Away ($9, amazon. com) per directions. Blot dry.
■ Carpet: Blot spill with absorbent cloths, standing on them if necessary. Spritz or sponge the stain with cold water or apply Wine Away per directions. Blot dry.
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■ Fabric: Soak 15 minutes in cold water; apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm water with fabric-safe bleach.
■ Carpet: Sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon each dish liquid and white vinegar in 2 cups warm water. Blot dry. Spritz or sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.
Lab note: These steps are for washable fabrics only. For silk and other delicates, blot with only a dry cloth and bring to the dry cleaner ASAP.
TABLE
Lab Picks: Your Cleanup Tool Kit
Add these mess erasers to your stain-fighting arsenal.
■ Spray bottle of cold water
■ Spritz fresh wine, cranberry or tomato spills to keep them from setting. ■ Baby wipes ■ Makeup-remover wipes work, too. Use them either to dissolve lipstick or even food drips on clothes and linens. They clean fabric just like they do skin. ■ Spoon The go-to tool for removing food splatters without pushing them deeper into fabric. ■ Clean white cloths Great for sopping up carpet spills and blotting fabric. Lab trick: Cloth diapers are absorbent, bleachable, affordable and more disposable than microfiber cloths. ■ Dustpan and brush Quickly sweep up bits of broken glass or cookie crumbs before they get ground into the floor.