How to fix spills, stains and domestic disasters

With so much going on come the big day – hosting family and friends, the entertaining, not to mention little ones and the whirlwind of excitement, chances are there will be a few accidents along the way.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the messiest!” exclaims Olivia Young, cleaning expert and product development scientist at Astonish.

“Think cooking Christmas dinner for the whole family, that pre-guest arrival panic clean and the aftermath of opening presents – the cleaning never stops, even at Christmas time.”

It’s also the season of joy, so if you don’t want to be spending more time than needed cleaning up after everyone, here are some tips and tricks to sort those spills and stains along the way…

Dab, don’t scrub

“If you remember anything when it comes to removing stains, make sure it’s the golden rule – dab, don’t scrub,” says Young. “It’s sometimes a natural reaction to give a stain a really good scrub in a bit of a panic, but this is probably the worst thing you can do.”

“Instead, dab the stained area gently. This will help to draw it out of the fabric. Scrubbing it just pushes the stain deeper into the material, making it really tricky to get rid of.”

Christmas dinner

Sitting down for Christmas dinner, everyone tucking in… cue the stains to your placemats, runner and tablecloth, notes Young.

“Gravy dripping as the boat is passed along the table, cranberry sauce left in blobs… there’s no need to panic, though,” she says reassuringly. “Those stains can easily be dealt with.

“Firstly, use a spoon to gently scrape off any remaining solid pieces of gravy or sauce. Then, combine a tablespoon of white vinegar and a little cold water, dab onto the stain using a cloth, and leave to soak in for around 15 minutes.”

If necessary, Young says to put the tablecloth in the washing machine on a low heat to ensure all remnants of the stain are removed… when it comes to spillages, a wet stain is easier to remove than a dried one.

Tabletop Christmas trees and poinsettias

With all the running around and less elbow space available, you might find some plants or small decorative Christmas trees get knocked over, causing soil to spill on the floor, highlights Young.

“If this does happen, your gut instinct will be to reach for the vacuum. But this might actually not be the best choice,” she warns. “The only thing you should be using your vacuum for is to get rid of dust and debris.

“Anything bigger could actually damage it, so grab the dustpan and brush to remove any soil spills.”

Mulled and red wine

Sparing the sofa needn’t be as stressful as you think…

“Red wine often causes the biggest panic, but all is not lost if a spillage occurs,” says Gisela Lancaster, head of buying, at Sofology.

“The main thing is to act fast – starting with a clean, dry cloth and gently dab the stain, moving the liquid towards the centre of the spill.”

For those without a cleaning kit suited to their sofa, she says to simply use warm, soapy water on the affected area. “Make sure you blot the stain instead of rubbing, as this could spread your stain further.”

Boxing Day sofa supper

As Lancaster points out: “Eating on the sofa is more common at Christmas, as platters, canapés and sweet treats are passed around – turkey sandwiches are a sofa-snacking staple… and the accompanying cranberry sauce, a bit of a risk.

“If some does drop onto your seat and start to soak in, start by scraping off any excess sauce with a spoon or butter knife, then quickly blot the stain with a solution of soapy water.

“Sponging the area with cold water once the mixture has worked its magic will leave your sofa in good condition, once dried,” she adds.

Candlewax on the carpet

Lifting candle wax out of a carpet doesn’t have to be stressful – and in most cases can be done using items you’ll already have in your home, says Punam Chada, buying manager at Carpetright.

“The longer it sits on the carpet, the harder the stain will be to remove as the melted wax will seep into the carpet fibres before it hardens,” she warns.

“Start with filling a plastic bag with ice and lay directly onto the stain. Once the wax starts to freeze slightly, start to gently scrape the wax off the carpet.”

Chadder says the best way to do this is using a blunt knife, something like a butter knife works well, and be careful not to damage the carpet fibres.

“Next, find a brown paper bag, or failing that a thin tea towel will do, and lay it over the affected area,” she continues. “Finally use a warm iron, and run over the paper bag or tea towel. Press gently and evenly until the wax starts to be absorbed and lift off the carpet.”