Thanksgiving Stain Guide: How to Fix the Most Common Holiday Messes

Thanksgiving brings great food and quality time with people you care about. It also brings spills. You can save your clothes, table linens, and upholstery if you act fast and use the right method. Here are simple steps for the most common Thanksgiving stains.

Grease

Apply dish soap to the spot. Wait ten minutes. Rinse with cold water. Wash the item. Do not place it in the dryer until the stain is gone.

Pumpkin or Sweet Potato

Scrape off any excess. Rinse the fabric inside out with cold water. Pretreat with stain remover. Wash with hot water.

Cranberry Sauce

Rinse with cool water. Mix one tablespoon white vinegar, one half teaspoon liquid laundry detergent, and one quart cool water. Blot the mixture onto the stain until it fades.

Red Wine

Cover the stain with white vinegar. Add a small amount of liquid detergent. Rinse under very hot water.

Candle Wax

Scrape off the hardened wax with a dull knife. Heat the remaining wax with a hair dryer. Remove the oily residue with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. Wash as usual.

Gravy

Mix one quarter teaspoon dish soap, three drops ammonia, and one half cup warm water. Press the mixture onto the stain with a clean cloth. If the item is wool or silk, use club soda instead of ammonia.

Chocolate

Brush away crumbs with a dry toothbrush. Mix one tablespoon dish soap with two cups warm water. Dab the stain with the mixture using a microfiber cloth. Blot dry. Repeat if needed.

Butter or Oils

Apply dish soap directly to the stain. Let it sit a few minutes. Rinse with a wet cloth. Wash on cold. Check the stain before drying.

Mashed Potatoes

Remove leftover food. Treat with dish soap. Rinse with cold water. Wash once the stain is gone.

Coffee

Mix one part white vinegar with two parts cold water. Rinse the stain with the mixture. Repeat until it clears. Wash on cold.

Lipstick

Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain with a toothbrush. Wait fifteen minutes. Wash on hot. Repeat if needed.

Quick Tips for Holiday Cleanup

Keep dish soap, white vinegar, stain remover, club soda, and rubbing alcohol in one spot. Treat stains as soon as possible. Avoid hot water or a dryer until you know the stain is fully removed. A fast response saves your fabrics and lowers stress during a busy holiday week.