Getting ready to ring in the New Year with family and friends? In order to avoid starting 2016 with a less than sparkling home, here are our tips for cleaning the top 5 biggest New Year’s Eve party stains:
Red Wine on the Sofa
Upholstered furniture fibers absorb liquids quickly so you have to move fast when your best friend spills that glass of cabernet on your new cream-colored couch. Pour salt over the stain while it is still wet and let it sit until it begins to turn pinkish. Discard the excess salt and then, using a solution of equal parts detergent and peroxide, blot the stain until it has vanished.
Chocolate on the Chair
Who doesn’t love to indulge in chocolate during a party? If chocolate lands on your furniture or clothing, rub the stain in a circular motion with warm, soapy water or a borax solution. Rinse with cold water.
Glitter on the Floor
Although your party guests may have left the building after midnight, they’ve left a trail of glitter behind them. Once you vacuum up as much glitter as you can, try this tip from AllYou.com: Roll some Play-Doh over the mess to pick up the remaining sparkles.
Glass Rings on the Wood Table
Those guests who refuse to use coasters may literally be leaving their mark on your furniture. We love this idea from LifeHacker: Put a piece of wax paper over the stain and lay a towel on top. Next, iron the towel over the stain on medium heat (don’t steam!), making sure not to let the iron sit too long in one place. Lift the towel and wax paper every 30 seconds to check your progress. Keep working on it until the stain is gone.
Candle Wax on the Countertops
Nothing casts a New Year glow on your home better than some well-placed candles (and it saves on electricity), but don’t let candle wax sit on your table for long. Once the wax has cooled and hardened, use a dull knife or paint scraper to remove it from the surface. If the wax has unfortunately dripped onto the carpet, cover the spot with several layers of paper towels and press with a warm iron. Follow up by blotting with rubbing alcohol.
Talk to us: Where will you be ringing in the New Year?
image courtesy of flickr CC/Gunnar Grimnes