While the holidays can be a joyful time spent with family and friends, they can also be messy. From baking and wine stains to mud-soaked outdoor gear, your clothes may have taken a beating this holiday season. Thankfully, even tough stains can be removed with a little know-how. Before you head out to the dry cleaner, consider the following tips.

How to Remove Common Holiday Stains

1. Grease Stains

For many, a holiday meal is not complete without a juicy roast and gravy. Unfortunately, these delicious and decadent meals often come with unwelcome grease stains. Before you take it to the dry cleaner, try a few at-home tricks.

To remove oil stains from your clothing or table linens, massage a de-greasing dish soap or laundry stain remover into the soiled area, then wash the item in warm or hot water. For stains on your carpet, try one tablespoon each of dish soap and white vinegar diluted in two cups of warm water. Blot the area with the solution, rinse with cold water, and repeat as needed. 

2. Red Wine

While it's fun to share a good bottle of wine with friends and family over the holidays, it's easy for splatters and spills to make a mess of your clothing, carpet, and table linens.

If you're struggling with wine stains, try spritzing the area with cool water, then pour a small mound of salt on the stain and allow it to sit. The salt will act as a desiccant and absorb fresh wine stains. 

3. Candle Wax

Candles can add ambiance and elegance to any holiday centerpiece, but melted wax can drip onto table linens and textiles. To remove wax, first, allow it to cool and harden completely. Once hardened, try to gently scrape the hardened wax using a spoon or spreading knife.

For residual wax, press soiled fabric between paper towels or brown paper and press with an iron on the lowest heat setting. The paper will absorb the melted wax, removing it from your linens. For hard surfaces, a hairdryer will also work to soften the wax, making it easier to remove. 
 

For holiday stains that won’t come out, contact the professionals at Mayfield's Quality Cleaners in Anchorage, AK. This full-service dry cleaner provides same-day services, including standard dry cleaning and laundry services to specialty items. Their knowledgeable staff uses high-performance equipment and solvents to remove even the most stubborn stains. Call (907) 277-4620 or visit them online for more information about their services.