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It's the time of year when we decorate the house, invite friends and family in for parties and celebrations and bake and serve lots of foods. Candles, wine, chocolate and eggnog make their appearance.
So what's the downside of all this frivolity? Stains, of course!
Let's look at some ideas for preventing the stains in the first place. The old saying goes "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Some of these suggestions are obvious and simple -- and often ignored.
Wear an apron while cooking. Grease splatters from cooking are common, so why not avoid them? Bib-style aprons provide the best coverage. Keep an apron handy and get in the habit of slipping it on when cooking and even when cleaning. The pockets are handy for dust rags and towels.
Dress for the mess. If you're cleaning the house, wear clothing that can get dirty and not be ruined.
Water stains on wood furniture can be very difficult and time-consuming to repair. Keep lots of coasters available on end tables, coffee tables and other furniture. Pick up glasses and pop cans promptly after the party. If you serve coffee or tea, serve them with a saucer beneath the cup.
Those beautiful holiday plants add splashes of color, but they need plastic or glass liners to prevent the moisture from seeping through and ruining carpets, floors and furniture.
Use trays to carry food into other rooms and for cleanup. This is especially true if you are carrying a hot container. Any spills will land on the tray, not on the tablecloth or floor. Don't forget to use potholders.
If your table cover is especially valuable, consider a clear plastic cover over it. What you give up in elegance, may be made up in saving a valuable treasure. And, by the time your holiday dishes and food are on the table, the plastic will hardly show anyway.
Pouring food from one container to another is another source of splatters. Food that contains lumps or pieces in liquid will splatter when poured. Instead of pouring, use a ladle. It will take a little longer but it will be worth it.
Save yourself some headaches by lining your oven with foil or by using lined cookie sheets to catch the spills. The result: No cleanup after baking.
When filling glasses and cups, don't overdo it. Less is better when it comes to getting the beverage to your mouth. Fill glasses to the brim and you are asking for someone to spill on the table, carpet or clothes.
When choosing a beverage, give some thought to its color. Red is especially difficult to remove from fibers. Save the red punch for summer time when guests are eating outside and spills will be on the lawn. White pasta is always popular and won't stain your white blouse. And, carry these precautions over to choosing pet food. Red-colored pet foods can make for impossible vomit stains. Your dog won't care if the dog food is tan.
A good rule for every day is to limit eating to certain areas, such as the table. If food is carried into the living room for eating in front of the TV or to the computer room or bedroom, you'll have that many potential spills to clean. Eating in one place also gives more chance for family visiting.
Use area rugs. They make a great cover for stains already there and protect areas that might be especially vulnerable. They come in various sizes and colors and, in addition to providing protection, they can add to your color scheme. An area rug is especially useful near the door where wet shoes and boots can be left. You can even pick up an inexpensive carpet sample and use it by the door.
So you get some stains anyway. It's bound to happen. Treat them promptly. A fresh stain has a 98 percent chance of being removed. Wait ten hours and your odds drop to 44 percent. Wait until next month and you only have a 20 percent chance of removal. The grocery and fabric stores stock an abundance of stain removal products. Keep them on hand and use them.
For more information about stain prevention and removal, contact Gale Loeffler, Colorado State University Extension director in Arapahoe County, Colorado, at (303) 730-1920 or e-mail: gloeffler@co.arapahoe.co.us
or contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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