Try These Helpful Tips for Removing Stains

Life is messy. From post-party wine disasters to grass stains after soccer, there are some messes that we’re used to dreading. Whether they’re on your clothes or your carpet, there is no way to work around it: we spill things, we stain things, and we certainly make messes! Have no fear; we’ve rounded up the stains that we all love to hate PLUS how to get rid of them.red wine stains

Before We Begin: Time is your ally.
No matter the stain, treat it as soon as possible. The sooner you address the problem, the better your chances are to remove it.

Grape Juice or Red Wine
Fruit stains are one of the biggest problems to tackle. From spilled sippy cups to that glass of red wine in the living room you never drink in, we’re all too familiar with this messy monster.

Red wine and grape juice seep into carpet fibers quickly, the deep hued colors causing long-term damage. It’s critical to treat the area while the stain is fresh. First, wet with hydrogen peroxide. After a few minutes, spray carpet cleaner on the area as well. Gently pat using a clean cloth or paper towel. If you don’t have these products, dilute the stain with white wine or vodka. Blot the area with a clean cloth or paper towel. Then sprinkle on salt to absorb more moisture and vacuum after 10 minutes. Presto – nightmare over.

Grease
From melted Chap Stick to motor oil to homemade fried cooking, odds are you know this stain well. Lucky for us, this household nemesis can be removed without much difficulty. Instead of using a synthetic product, a few drops of natural eucalyptus essential oil can do wonders; simply rub a small amount of the remedy onto the stain. Wash after 15 minutes. Check to make sure stain is gone before drying. Repeat if necessary. Note: This works well on cotton and other natural fibers but could cause fading of synthetics, such as polyester.

No eucalyptus oil? No worries. Simply pour baby powder or corn starch onto the fresh stain and leave it overnight. Carefully remove the powder and rub the area with colorless liquid soap or laundry detergent before washing.

Candle Wax
We know your first instinct: ‘Yikes!’

If you discover the remnants of spilled candle wax on your carpet, know that this mess has a much louder bark than it does bite!

First, let the wax cool before attempting to remove it. You can speed up the cooling with an ice pack or ice cubes in a plastic bag. Once the wax has hardened, grab your Scrigit Scraper and gently scrape away all the excess wax you can. Then, cover what remains with a paper bag and gently iron on medium heat, pressing against the bag. As if in an infomercial, the wax that remains after scraping will be transferred off of your carpet and on to the paper bag. Trust us!

Chocolate
Much like candle wax, you’ll need to first allow the chocolate to completely harden. Once it’s solidified, gently remove as much of the chocolate as you can with your Scrigit Scraper.

For any of the sweet treat that remains, attack it with colorless dishwashing liquid and water. Gently blot the stain using a light-colored cloth. For carpeting, repeat until all the color is gone. For clothing, wash as usual.

So, messes happen – but there’s no reason to fear the result! From stains on your clothing, furniture and carpet, there’s a solution to combat just about every unfortunate accident your family encounters. Before you throw away that blouse you accidentally stained or opt for tile over carpet, try our helpful tips.