Don’t Let Holiday Stains Ruin the Spirit of the Season!

Northbrook, IL, December 17, 2020: 2020 has been a very strange year, with COVID-19 dominating many of our holiday routines. The result: smaller (even remote) gatherings and limited celebrations. BUT, some things haven’t changed: stains that threaten to ruin your holiday tablecloth, new carpet or your favorite blouse or shirt.

Let’s face it … anytime you bring good times and good cheer together, there’s a bigger risk it will end up with accidents or spills. And we wouldn’t have it any other way: what fun would the holidays be without something delicious and messy at this special time of year? The problem is, you don’t have to deal with cleanup from pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, eggnog, gravy and stains from other seasonal dishes every day of the week.

“This is truly the season when we’re trying to cleanup messages that are a little bit different than we’re accustomed to deal with,” said Tom Zengeler, President of Zengeler Cleaners. “In addition to the items listed above, beverages such as wine, tea, specialty coffees and soft drinks are especially challenging.”

Great news: here are some practical stain removal tips you can try right at home, courtesy of Zengeler Cleaners!

• 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 most stores) – but first test it in an unexposed area such as a seam or shoulder pad to be sure it’s safe for the fabric and color.
• Eggnog and 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. 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.
• Tips for other types of stains
  • Always test the color-fastness of fabrics 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.

“If none of these suggestions remove the stains, bring your soiled garments to Zengeler Cleaners because we have a few additional stain removal tricks you can’t really try at home,” continued Zengeler. “When you bring your stained items in, be sure to let us know where the stain is and what you’ve already tried at home. That will help us find the best solution to remove the stain without damaging the fabric.”

For more cleaning tips, visit Zengeler Cleaners’ website at www.zengelercleaners.com, with stores in Deerfield, Hubbard Woods, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka, Long Grove and two stores in Libertyville. Zengeler Cleaners – America’s first family of drycleaners!