By: Darla Grant-Braid
If you are adamant about maintaining a spotless home … or at least paying a housekeeper to maintain it for you, there’s one thing that you should be aware of. Stains happen. It’s simply a fact of everyday life. Spills, smudges, dirt and even biological accidents can and probably will happen in your home at some point. The trick is figuring out how to remove those stains quickly and effectively.
Here are a few tried and true tactics for removing stains from different surfaces in your home.
Red Wine
Spilled wine is never a good thing, not only does it leave you with a potential stain, but it means there’s less wine to be enjoyed. And no one like that. Here’s how to take care of a fresh red wine spill:
- Apply salt – Cover the stain with a ¼ cup of salt (more if the stain is large) to quickly absorb the liquid. Let sit for a few minutes before brushing the salt from the upholstery.
- Blot –Blot up as much of the remining wine as possible
- Add equal parts Dawn dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide to a spray bottle. Mist the stain and blot (don’t rub) till the stain vanishes.
Mud
The muddy season is definitely here. Winter melt, rain and the endless parade of kids, pets, and gardening boots will inevitably lead to splatters and splotches of mud somewhere on your carpet or area rug. Here’s how to get rid of it:
- Allow the mud to dry, then vacuum up as much mud as possible.
- Combine 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish detergent with 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Spray onto mud and blot with a paper towel or cloth. Repeat as needed.
Blood
Accidents happen. Whether from a spontaneous bloody nose, careless fruit slicing, or unforeseen manicure mishap, should you happen to get a blood stain on your upholstery you’ll want to remedy the problem as quickly as possible. Let’s make it go away:
- Lightly sponge the spot with cold water, then blot with a dry paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible.
- Pour a capful of hydrogen peroxide directly onto the spot (be sure to test in an inconspicuous area first, since peroxide has a slight bleaching effect) blot and remove any remaining peroxide with cold water.
Pet Stains
Did you know that acid contained in a cat or dog’s urine can not only stain carpeting but hardwood as well? Pet urine can leave unsightly black marks and odour, which can be hard to remove with a simple floor washing. Thankfully there are several solutions to remove this type of stain. Although, please keep in mind that some solutions can result in mild discoloration, particularly in dark wood floors.
- Soak a washcloth or paper towel in hydrogen peroxide and lay it on top of the stain.
- Leave the cloth there, checking periodically for progress. As soon as the stain disappears, remove the cloth and wipe up any residue from the peroxide.
- Be aware that applying peroxide to your hardwood can damage the finish and may require to you sand and refinish the area.
*Article courtesy of EiEiHome