How to get rid of gravy, Guinness and 10 of the worst other Christmas stains without ruining your carpet and home
WITH Christmas over for another year, you might still be dealing with the hangover from friends and loved ones visiting.
Though we might not be able to make you feel better, we do have a simple way to clean up some of the toughest stains – including red wine.
It is unsurprising that many of us are needing to have a clear up after Christmas Day, with thrills and spills a plenty.
Most of us are forgoing the table all together with the majority of Brits eating Christmas dinner on the sofa instead.
According to the experts at ScS sofas, four out of five consumers have made the switch to more relaxed dinners in recent years.
Whilst you might more comfortable, there’s an increased risk of stains with gravy, Guinness and red wine all potentially leaving their mark behind.
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In fact, over a thousand people googled ‘red wine stain’ last month as the festive period got off to a flying start – literally!
Thankfully, ScS’s upholstery expert Paul O’Reilly and cleaning whizz Rosen Delchev from Fantastic Services have teamed up to help you clear up after Christmas.
RED WINE
When cleaning upholstery, whether its sofas, carpet or cushions, the key is to blot the stain according to Rosen.
This even includes the dreaded red wine stain with the cleaning whizz stating that you need to blot it with a clean cloth first, to get rid of any excess liquid.
Once this is done, you can add equal parts white vinegar and water as you clean the stain – continuing to dab it with a new cloth.
When the stain is gone, you can then rinse with water and blot dry.
GUINESS AND BAILEYS
Though the festive tipple is at the top of many Brits’ wishlist, it isn’t the only one causing chaos in our homes with Baileys, Guinness and other spirits also leaving their mark.
For these stains, you can clean them simply by blotting away the excess and then using a mix of water and a mild detergent (aka dish soap) to gently remove the stain.
You can then rinse away any residue with clean water before blotting dry again.
FRUIT JUICES
Even avoiding a tipple might not guarantee your sofa is stain free, with fruit juices also messing up upholstery.
If you do spill juice, just use equal parts water and white vinegar to remove any remnants using a clean cloth.
GRAVY AND APPLE SAUCE
Christmas dinner can also damage your upholstery, with gravy and apple sauce all being likely culprits.
Just like the other stains, you’ll need to clean these as soon as possible and scoop up the majority with a spoon.
You can then treat the area with a mix of dish soap and warm water, again dabbing it with a cloth until it is dry.
CRANBERRY SAUCE
With cranberry sauce, you can simply swap out the dish soap for ammonia which should easily remove any red stains.
Just remember to keep dabbing the stain with a clean cloth until it is dry.
MINT SAUCE
Unlike the other condiments, you’ll need a mix of white vinegar and warm water to leave your carpet looking fresh. As always, scoop up any excess before cleaning and then dab with a damp cloth until the stain disappears.
CUSTARD
Desserts are just as easy to clean as mains, with Rosen recommending that you remove the majority of the custard with a spoon.
You can then use equal parts warm water and dish soap to blot the stain away.
HAIR SPRAY
With New Year’s Eve just a few days away, many of us will be getting ready to go out with friends. If your upholstery is wearing more hairspray than you, don’t panic as you can blot it away with rubbing alcohol.
Makeup is much easier to clean, with dish soap and water being all you need to get rid of lingering mascara.
MUD
If you still have muddy footprints from your Boxing Day walk, you might have actually made it easier to clean.
Rather than cleaning immediately, it is best to let mud dry and remove it using a stiff brush. You can then use a mild detergent and warm water mix to remove any remaining marks, just blotting it with a clean cloth.
Hopefully, with these hacks you can banish any stains before the New Year.
