Thanksgiving feasts bring joy, laughter, and unfortunately, stubborn stains. From cranberry sauce stains to gravy blunders, tackling Thanksgiving's toughest stains can be a frustrating task.
Take a moment to review expert tips for navigating post-feast cleanup, and ensure that your holiday memories remain spotless and stress-free.
How to Clean Cranberry Sauce and Red Wine
“Accidents happen while sharing food across a table, and red wine easily drips can run down a bottle or decanter, but this doesn’t mean you’ll need to buy a whole new tablecloth or set of napkins,” shares Aaron Christensen, resident cleaning expert and VP of Growth at Homeaglow.
“When it comes to cranberry or red wine stains in tablecloths and other linens, speed and acting quickly are essential to prevent stains from settling in the fibers and permanently staining your linens.”
Fresh stains should always be rinsed with cold water first. This helps wash the stain from the fibers before it sets in. After that, if you need a tougher dose of action, try these two stain-busting solutions:
Baking Soda and White Vinegar
- Apply a liberal amount of baking soda to the stain. Sprinkle baking soda over the top of the stain and allow it to sit and soak up the moisture on the fabric.
- Scrape away and add fresh baking soda. Using a dull knife or the edge of a gift card, scrape the now paste-like baking soda away. Add a fresh layer of dry baking soda to the stain.
- Add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the baking soda on top of the stain. There will be some fizzing and foaming on contact, which helps to lift stains from the fabric.
- Blot and rinse. Use the dull knife or the card once again to remove the excess baking soda and vinegar. Then, rinse the fabric again using cold water.
- Launder the garment in cold water. Avoid using warm water until you’re sure you’ve removed the stain. After laundering, check for signs of the stain before putting any garments into the dryer. The heat of the dryer will set any remaining stain.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap (White Fabric Only)
- Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts liquid dish soap in a small bowl. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide on dyed fabrics, or delicate materials like silk and wool. It can have a bleach-like effect. If you're treating a stain on white cloth, this is your go-to.
- Gently blot the mixture onto the stain. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes.
- Rinse the stain with cold water.
- Repeat! Deep red stains can be stubborn. Repeat applications as needed until the stain is removed.
- Launder the garment in cold water. Again, avoid contact with hot water or dryer heat until you’re sure you’ve removed the stain.
How to Get Gravy Residue Off Your Linen Tablecloth and Napkins
“Whether by accident or from drips falling from a gravy boat, it’s not unusual for gravy to spill onto tablecloths and other linens during Thanksgiving dinners,” says Christensen. “Stains containing both grease and proteins must be treated quickly to prevent them from settling into the fabric.”
Liquid Laundry Detergent/Stain Remover
- Make a plan to do the laundry on Thanksgiving night. Treating stains quickly is the best solution.
- Remove the excess. Using a dull knife, scrape away any globs of excess gravy from the fabric.
- Apply a stain remover or liquid detergent directly to the stain while the fabric is still dry. A good stain remover can help to lift deeply embedded stains, but pet stain removers like products are formulated to tackle proteins (like those found in pet urine or blood). Rocco & Roxie Oxy Stain Remover is our household’s favorite, but follow the package directions and the care label to treat correctly based on the material you’re laundering.
- Rinse in cool water. Hot water can set protein-based stains like those caused by turkey gravy. You can rinse the linens in the sink, but plan to launder them completely after you’ve given it a good spot-cleaning.
- Treat the stain again and then launder as usual with cold water. Again, avoid contact with hot water or dryer heat. It’s best to air dry the fabric until you’re sure the stain is out.
How to Get Grease Stains Off Your Couch
Stains don’t stop at the dining table on Thanksgiving. As Christensen reminds us, “Many enjoy the tradition of eating snacks and other treats while lounging on the couch after dinner. It’s not uncommon for greasy food to fall and land on the couch or get rubbed into the armrests.”
Baking Soda and Dry-Cleaning Solvent
- Scrape away the excess. Using a blunt knife or card, remove any pieces of greasy food from the couch. If the grease stain is still wet, blot with a damp paper towel to pick up as much as possible.
- Sprinkle the area with baking soda. Leave the baking soda to sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Vacuum. Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to vacuum the baking soda from the fabric
- Add a agent. A to help cut through the grease and lift the stain. Make sure to use the correct detergent for your couch. For couches with an ‘S’ cleaning code, dampen a clean cloth with dry-cleaning solvent and blot onto the grease stain. Couches with a ‘W’ cleaning code should use a homemade solution of one cup of water and two teaspoons of liquid dishwashing detergent formulated to remove grease. (If your couch has an S/W cleaning code, use either of the techniques listed.)
- Alternate with a damp, white cotton cloth. The cloth will help lift the cleaning solution and the stain.
- Repeat as needed. Some stains may take several cycles to fully clean.
- Allow the fabric to air dry.
