Top tips for dealing with tough Christmas stains

Christmas is coming, which means its time to break out the festive treats and get the food shopping done in time for the big day. It’s a wonderful time of year – though it can also mean dealing with a few different domestic challenges around the house. As if perfecting the decorations wasn’t enough, what do you do when someone fancies a mulled wine but spills some on the carpet? How do you deal with gravy splashes? What if someone drops the cranberry sauce?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for our tips on what to do, just in case!

How do I clean up gravy stains?

A bit of gravy can make a Christmas turkey that much nicer, but it’s easy to make mistakes. If you’ve spilled gravy on your carpet or got some on your expensive tablecloth, it’s important to act fast. Use a paper towel to wipe away the excess gravy. Once that’s done, apply a mix of water and baking soda to the stain, dabbing at it gently with a damp sponge before wiping the stain away.

How do I deal with mulled wine spills?

Just like gravy, the key to cleaning up mulled wine (and other wine spills!) is to move quickly to deal with the stain before it can become a bigger problem. Blot up as much of the wine as possible using a paper towel and make sure to dab carefully to stop the stain from spreading. Make sure you don’t rub at it, as this can make things much worse!

If you’re dealing with a carpet stain, sprinkle some talcum powder on the affected area and cover it with paper towels. Next, leave a heavy book wrapped in cling film on top of it and leave it there for 12 hours. Hopefully, the talcum powder should have absorbed the mulled wine stain.

What should I do about melted candle wax?

Candle wax probably isn’t the first thing you might consider when you think of Christmas stains, but it’s certainly one to keep in mind. Wax stains can be tricky to remove from carpets and upholstery, and just like gravy, wine and plenty more, the longer you leave it the harder it is to deal with.

Grab a bag of frozen peas or something similar, such as a bag of ice, and place it on the wax stain to make sure to set it to a solid state quickly. Once that’s done, scrape off as much of the wax stain as you can with a blunt knife. Be careful when doing this so that you don’t damage the fabrics!

Next, collect up the loose wax or hoover it up to quickly tidy up the mess. Afterwards, put some paper towels on the stain and carefully slide an iron over it using the lowest setting. This should melt whatever is left of the wax stain, which will be collected by the paper towels.

How do I clean up cranberry sauce stains?

Continuing our theme of fast action, cranberry sauce stains are another problem that need to be dealt with quickly. Start by using a blunt knife to gently scrape away the solid parts. Then, use a soapy solution of warm water and a teaspoon of washing powder, gently dabbing this onto the stain with a damp cloth. This should hopefully get rid of the stain, but if it doesn’t you can try again with the soapy solution and vinegar. When the stain is gone, rinse the affected area with cool water.

What do I do if the stains don’t go away?

If you’ve tried all our advice but the stains won’t go away, don’t let it ruin your Christmas! At Apple Clean, we have over 30 years’ experience with difficult stains in carpets, upholstery and much more. Give us a call on 0800 587 4571 for free advice and a no-obligation quote. Our friendly team can help get rid of any stain, leaving you to enjoy the festive season.