With Christmas just around the corner, I am officially is panic mode. Forget that I still have presents to buy and wrap, but I am hosting Christmas dinner at my home for my entire family. From now until Christmas Day, I will be cleaning, washing and baking until the wee hours of the morning.
My guests include 16 adults plus seven kids ranging in ages from 2 to 10. It is sure to be a ton of fun, but when you combine kids, dessert and a huge pile of presents, you are bound to get crazy excitement. And with the excitement comes accidents of all varieties. Drinks will spill, cranberry sauce will fall and someone’s clothes are sure to be soiled.
If this sounds like your home this holiday season, follow these simple stain finding tips! First rule of thumb, read the care label of your garment. After that, follow the instructions below:
- Cranberry sauce slip off the spoon? Remove any excess fruit from the cotton and run the fabric under cold water to prevent oxidation. Wash the garment in the warmest water safe for it. Use your bleach dispenser or add liquid chlorine bleach or color-safe bleach during the rinse cycle, after your detergent has done its job.
- Turkey a bit too juicy? Apply a pretreat to the oily stain, or rub liquid detergent directly into it. Wash the garment in the hottest water safe for the fabric, then air dry and check it for any remaining stain. If necessary, repeat the procedure before placing the clothing in the dryer.
- Overflow from the gravy boat? Scrape off any remaining gravy with a spoon or back of a butter knife. If it has already dried, brush off the residue. Rub in liquid detergent and then soak the fabric in a mixture of detergent and water for up to 30 minutes. Finish by washing the garment in the warmest water safe for it.
My personal stain fighting secret the special combination of Tide detergent and my Whirlpool Duet! Despite all of the work, enjoying the day with my family is completely worth it all. Do you have any special stain fighting stories to share?