12 Christmas disasters to avoid
And how to fix them!
Accidents sometimes happen, so don't let a little spill ruin your Christmas. We've rounded up the 12 stains of Christmas - and the best ways to fix them.
1. Turkey fat
Pretreat with spot remover or detergent. Soak for 30 minutes, before washing in the hottest temperature allowed. Air dry.
2. Ham
Cover stain in detergent and wash normally. Hang dry.
3. Potatoes
Blot with wet cloth, then use spot remover and gently rub in. Wash in warm water then leave to dry.
4. Carrots
Soak for several minutes in one part vinegar to three parts water until stain begins to lighten. Rinse with warm water, then allow to dry.
5. Beetroot
Dab the stain with a dry cloth to remove excess liquid. Then hold a cold water sponge to the stain. Blot with a dry cloth and repeat. For stubborn stains, mix tablespoons of detergent with two cups of water and try the sponging and blotting technique.
6. Gravy
Quickly wipe and pretreat with spot remover. Soak overnight in washer with enzyme detergent and fabric-safe bleach. Wash in hottest water allowable. Dry normally.
7. Candy Canes
Soak for thirty minutes in cold water with a few drops of ammonia and rinse. Soak for another 30 minutes in water with one tablespoon of white vinegar and rinse. Hang to dry.
8. Champagne
Combine warm water and mild liquid detergent in a bowl. Then, dip a cloth into the mixure and dab the stain. Finally, rinse the spot with warm water.
9. White wine
Pour cold water on stain and blot. Air dry.
10. Red wine
Pour boiling water on stain. Blot with mixture of one tablespoon of detergent and two cups of cold water. Air dry.
11. Beer
Hand wash in one part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water until stain lifts. Air dry.
12. Candle wax
Scrape excess wax using dull knife. Iron on low setting with a paper bag between the iron and the fabric – wax should stick to back. Treat remaining stain with hydrogen peroxide and wash normally.
This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.
Rebecca Lowrey Boyd is a former magazine editor and the founder of Wee Birdy, one of The Sunday Times’ Top 50 Blogs in the World. A design nerd and bird enthusiast, she can usually be found poring over Pinterest, knee-deep in Bunnings or sticky-beaking at modernist homes in Sydney’s bushburbia.
