How To Remove Christmas Stains: Our Helpful Guide

Christmas, for many, can be the most wonderful time of the year! The seasonal weather, however, can be described and experienced as dark, dreary, cold, and, at times, snowy. Yet despite this often unappealing and inclement weather, Christmas is a time when family and friends gather together to exchange gifts and good cheer, enjoy mountains of festive foods and delights, and take part in festive pursuits and activities.

With the festive season gathering pace, this has inspired the content of this blog. We’ve provided a Christmas Stain Guide that we hope you’ll find useful to help with any Christmas mishaps, spills and splutters! 

  1. CHRISTMAS TREE SAP STAINS 

Around the 1st of December a multitude of Christmas trees, either real or fake, start making their appearances in front windows, in shops, and generally everywhere. This signifies the Christmas period has started. If you are one of those that opt to put a real Christmas tree up then you’ll be all too aware of the hazard this can have on your clothes. We are, of course, talking about the dreaded Christmas tree sap stains. The culprit here is pine resin. This is a sticky to the touch substance that is characteristically ‘gummy’ in texture. This sap-like substance is what carries water, nutrients, and mineral elements throughout the tree that not only feeds the tree but keeps it alive. 

Should any Christmas tree sap find its way onto your clothing then apply a drop of dishwasher detergent to the affected area and rub in well. Allow this to sit on the clothing item for about 15 minutes or so then rinse off in tepid water before throwing the item into the washing machine for a regular wash. Once laundered, the tree sap should be removed. If not, then simply repeat the process.

  1. CANDLE WAX STAINS

Lit candles can be both romantic and atmospheric. However, if the wax from the candles either spills or splutters then there will be a mess to deal with. Wax that gets onto clothing, a tablecloth, or other fabrics can leave a waxy stain behind that can be tricky to remove. The wax left behind can leave an oil or dye stain that may require a specialist treatment. However, with the correct method and equipment, this type of stain can often be removed effectively.

Before you begin to remove candle wax be sure to have what you need at hand to remove the wax stain. We would advise you to have ice cubes, a dull knife or spoon, laundry detergent powder, and a soft-bristled brush. 

Firstly, allow the wax to harden. To assist in this process, use ice but avoid direct contact with this. Use a piece of fabric as a buffer between the clothing item and the ice. Next, mix some laundry detergent into a paste and then rub it into the affected or stained area. Work the paste into the area using your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Once rubbed in, leave the paste on the clothing item for approximately 15 minutes, and then rinse the stained area thoroughly with hot water. Checking the care label, place the item into the washing machine and place it on the hottest wash allowed to remove any residue wax and/or stain.

  1. RED WINE/ PUNCH STAINS 

As the festive season progresses pouring a glass or two of red wine or punch can be a great way to relax and unwind. However, the atmosphere can soon shift to despair if the festive drinks spill onto your favourite blouse, shirt, skirt, or tablecloth. Should this happen to you, remain calm as there are tried and tested methods to deal with this sort of headache occurring.

Before you attempt to remove a red wine or punch stain, we would recommend you consult the care label of the item affected. More delicate items may need to be taken to the dry cleaner.

i) Soak up any red wine or punch immediately after the spill. Resist the urge to start rubbing the stained area as this will push the red wine or punch further into the fabric

ii) Place a clean cloth underneath the stained area. This will prevent any further spread of the red wine or punch.

iii) Keep the stain damp, don’t allow it to dry out and set. Spray some water on it to keep it moist. Do not use hot water on the stain as this will encourage the stain to set further.

iv) Repeat the process of soaking and blotting the stain as necessary. The more excess liquid that is removed, the better the outcome.

v) Apply a stain remover to the stained area, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, use a paste of baking soda and water and rub into the affected area. Leave for approximately 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

vi) Launder the clothing item as usual in your washing machine, reading the care label as you go. If the stain is still visible to the eye, repeat the process until the desired result is achieved.

  1. CRANBERRY SAUCE STAIN

Cranberries are found in a variety of foods and drinks from mixed drinks to barbecue sauces. They are known for their rather distinctive tart and sweet flavour combination. But if they get onto your clothing or other items, they do leave a distinctive red stain behind, caused by tannins, that can be difficult to remove.

i) Lay the stained clothing item flat on a table, then proceed to blot away any excess moisture of the cranberry using a paper towel. Do not rub the area as this will cause the stain the spread onto the fabric.

ii) If you are dealing with a lump of cranberry sauce, then lift away the solids using a dull-edged knife or spoon. Next, take the clothing item over to the sink and flush away the excess under a water tap for around 5 minutes until water runs clear.

iii) Treat the area with an enzyme-based stain remover. This can be rubbed in using your fingers or a round bristled- brush for approximately 5-10 minutes. Rinse the product off the clothing item.

iv) Place the clothing item into the washing machine and wash as usual in accordance with the care label. Repeat the process, if necessary.

  1. COFFEE STAINS 

A cup of coffee is a popular beverage enjoyed by millions around the world. From time to time we end up with spillages that can play havoc with our clothing, table cloths etc. When this happens, the good news is that coffee stains are typically not permanent.

i) Blot the excess coffee liquid with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel. Repeat until the excess is soaked up.

ii) Spray the stained area with a commercial stain remover. This acts as a pre-stain treatment. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions as you go. 

iii) For dried coffee stains, rub the stain with some liquid laundry detergent. This works well using a round bristled- brush using circular hand motions. Rinse, then repeat the process until the coffee stain has lifted and you have achieved the desired result.

  1. GLITTER STAINS 

At Christmas time there is a high probability that glitter will feature a lot. While it surely looks lovely, making everything it touches look festive and sparkling, it is nevertheless no friend to our clothing or indeed, to our other fabrics. Before you try and tackle the task of removing glitter from your clothing or other fabric items, it’s good practice to go outside and rigorously shake as much of the glitter out as possible.

i) Lay the clothing items or other washable fabric items out on a towel. Using a can of regular hairspray, proceed to spray liberally over the glitter areas, making sure you cover all the glitter particles, and allow it to dry.

ii) Place the clothing items and/or other washable fabric items in your washing machine separately to avoid spreading the glitter to other items. Repeat the process as necessary.

iii) Once laundered, you’ll need to run your washing machine on an empty cycle or two to ensure that the glitter particles are rinsed away. If in doubt, use your vacuum cleaner, using the attachment, to suck up any remaining glitter particles.

We do hope you found this content helpful and useful. For expert knowledge and advice on stain removal, contact us and we will remove the toughest stains from your laundry for you. We use our tried and tested professional methods and techniques to leave your laundry washed, dried and ironed, and returned to your doorstep in a quick turnaround. We are based in Chester-le-Street and cover Birtley, Great Lumley and a range of other towns and villages in County Durham. Contact us now to see if we cover your area.