Christmas is just around the corner, and if you're planning on celebrating with friends and family, it's likely you've started buying some festive treats already.
Red wine, gravy and chocolate are just some of the delicacies that are best enjoyed this time of year, but they can wreak havoc if they're spilled anywhere in your house or on your clothes.
But instead of letting these accidents ruin your Christmas, you should be aware of how to get rid of them. Thankfully, a laundry expert has shared his knowledge on banishing stubborn stains that are common at this time of year.
Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, has revealed how to tackle some of the typical Christmas spillages that you may face this festive season.
Here, he's shared his top tips on removing them quickly so you can get back to enjoying the celebrations.
Red wine
When dealing with red wine stains, time is of the essence. Make sure to apply white vinegar to the stain, using a clean cloth and protective gloves - this will work to neutralise any red and purple pigments ingrained in the fabric.
Then, rub a small amount of liquid detergent into the stained area, before laundering as usual. The stain should disappear after a quick washing cycle.
Gravy
If you spill gravy over any items of clothing during the festive period, simply take some talcum powder and sprinkle it onto the area. Leave this to sit on the fabric for 15 - 20 minutes, to let it absorb any excess grease.
With gloves, a clean damp cloth, and some hot soapy water, work into the stain using a circular motion. Then, place the item in your washing machine on a normal cycle, and your clothing should be as good as new.
Cranberry sauce
Begin by using a spoon to remove any excess sauce, before applying white vinegar to the area to break down the stain. Next, apply some baking soda with a warm, damp cloth, before washing as usual.
Chocolate
Use a spoon to scrape off any residue, before squeezing a small amount of washing up liquid onto the stain. Lift out the stain by working the soap suds into the fabric with a cloth, and then rinse it under warm water as you go. Repeat this step as necessary until the stain has considerably faded - you can then put the item in your washing machine.
Grease/oil
Grease and oil splodges are common stains that occur when preparing a roast. Fortunately, all you need is some water, washing-up liquid and elbow grease. Rub a small amount of washing-up liquid into the stain and leave it to soak in hot water for about 10 minutes. If the stain persists, repeat as necessary.
Candle wax
Before dealing with candle wax, let it cool and set. Hot wax is incredibly dangerous and should be handled carefully.
Once cool, place the affected fabric on an ironing board, and place two pieces of kitchen towel on top of the stained area. Run an iron lightly over the fabric, on a low setting. This will lightly heat the wax, causing it to melt; as this happens, the kitchen towel will absorb the liquid wax. Make sure to change the kitchen towel as required, and repeat the process until the wax is gone.
Hot chocolate
Surprisingly, everyone’s favourite festive drink can do permanent damage to clothes if left untreated. To avoid such a calamity, time is of the essence when treating this type of stain.
Take one tablespoon of washing-up liquid and mix it with two cups of lukewarm water. Mix the solution thoroughly before dipping a sponge or cloth into the mixture, and blotting the stain. Keep repeating this process until the stain has lifted out, then put your clothing on a normal washing cycle.
Soup
When handling a soup stain, there are two key factors to consider: the colour of the stain and ingredients. Always begin by gently scraping off as much soup as possible from the garment, before you start treating it.
For colourful stains, like tomato or butternut squash soups, mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1-2 teaspoons of cold water. Once a paste has formed, apply this to the stain using a bristle brush. Make sure to leave the stain to sit for half an hour before rinsing it thoroughly with cold water. To remove any residual grease stains, apply some washing-up liquid to the area and then launder as normal. Repeat the above steps as necessary if the stain is still visible.
Given the staining properties of cream-based soups, make sure to apply heavy-duty liquid detergents to lift these stains, before washing as usual. Vegetable-based soups are far less potent, so they won’t require such strong detergents.
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