Everyone loves the holidays . . . that is, until the first messy stain
ruins your favorite blouse or shirt or worse yet, the carpet! But what
would holiday fun be without something delicious (and messy!) for
special dinners, office parties and religious celebrations? Anytime you
bring good times, good cheer and good company together, it often
results in stains from food and drinks that end up on clothes and holiday
tablecloths.
Dont let those inevitable holiday stains put a damper on your holiday
spirit! There are simple things YOU can do, right at home, to remove
stains and save the day. Zengeler Cleaners has assembled some
easy-to-use tips and tricks to ensure that this year, stains don't spoil your
joyous occasion.
"Apple cider, cranberry sauce, gravy and eggnog stains are the most
common culprits this time of year," said Tom Zengeler, President of
Zengeler Cleaners. "Combine those with stains from common beverages
such as wine, tea, coffee and soft drinks and you have quite the
challenge. Here are some easy and practical ideas that may help you
remove the stains and enjoy the gathering!"
TIPS FOR STAINS OF ANY KIND
Always test the color-fastness of the fabric before attempting any
type of stain removal.
Treat stains as soon as possible to avoid having them set.
If the garment is dry-cleanable, it should be handled
professionally.
TIPS FOR LIQUID STAINS (wine, tea, coffee, soda, cranberry
sauce and apple cider)
Rinse the stain with cold water.
Blot it with mild dishwashing liquid or a mild detergent and
rinse.
If the stain is still present, blot with white vinegar, then rinse
thoroughly.
When all else fails, try 3% hydrogen peroxide (available at any drug
or grocery store) but first test it in an unexposed area such as a seam or
shoulder pad to be sure its safe for the fabric and color.
EGGNOG & GRAVY STAINS
Blot the stain with cold water and mild detergent, then rinse.
If the stain persists, take a small amount of powdered detergent and
mix with one ounce of non-sudsing household ammonia to form a paste
and apply to the stained area for 5 to 10 minutes, then launder as
usual.
Caution: DO NOT USE this procedure on silk or wool garments. For
these fabrics, use a mild detergent and rinse thoroughly.
If none of these tips remove the stains, bring your soiled garments to
Zengeler Cleaners, said Joe Maricich, Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer for Illinois largest dry cleaner. We have a few stain
removal tricks that you cant really try at home. There is one more thing
you can do to help: let us know what youve already tried at home so we
can find the best solution to your problem!
Enjoy the holidays!
