How to Remove Holiday Stains

RealSimple: Our Best Holiday Stain Removal Tips and Techniques

Don't let holiday spills mess with your spirit. Here are solutions (and soaps and sprays) for every seasonal stain.

'Tis the season for hosting, trimming, and decking the halls. But all of that rocking around the Christmas tree can lead to some unfortunate and unwanted arrivals like red wine spills on the carpet, coffee stains on the table linens, and more. Keep those "oops, I did it again" moments from bringing down your merry hosting mood with these stain-fighting tricks. For more helpful tips, see How to Remove Stains.

(Photo: Craig Cutler)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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How to Remove Ho...

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Ca...

On table linens: Scrape off what you can with a spoon. Using an ironing board, place several paper towels under the stain and a few on top and press with a warm iron. The paper towels will absorb the wax. Replace the paper towels a few times to avoid transferring stains back to the table linens. Sponge any remaining stain with Tide Boost Pre-Treat spray; blot, allow to air-dry, then wash, using bleach if the fabric allows.

On the rug: For wool, cover the wax with a brown grocery bag (one layer) and press with a warm iron. To remove any wax that remains, use WoolClean Dry Spot Remover No. 2. For a synthetic rug, follow the ironing advice for a wool rug, then apply Goof Off with a dry cloth; rinse with a damp cloth. Dry with paper towels.

(Photo: Mark Lund/Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Tr...

On fabric: With a cloth, dab Guardsman dry-cleaning fluid onto the stain; let dry. Then immerse the stain for 30 minutes in 1 cup bleach-free liquid laundry detergent with a dash of ammonia. Wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric.

On the rug: For a wool rug, scrape off what you can with a spoon, then use WoolClean Dry Spot Remover No. 2. For a synthetic rug, apply Goof Off; blot with diluted dish soap. Wait a few minutes, then rinse with hot water, using a spray bottle. Blot dry.

(Photo: Yunhee Kim)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Re...

On table linens: For red wine stains, first dab with white wine (you read that right) and let it sit for 1 minute. Then, for both red and white wine stains, immerse in cool water for 30 minutes. Spritz with Tide Boost Pre-Treat spray and wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric, using nonchlorine bleach if the fabric allows.

On the rug: For wool, blot with cold water. If that doesn't work, apply WoolClean Spot Remover No. 1 and sprinkle with WoolClean Absorb-It Powder. For a synthetic rug, use a damp cloth to blot on diluted dish soap; rinse with a fresh section of damp cloth. Dry with paper towels. Stain still there? Have some time on your hands? Blot on a solution of ½ cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon ammonia. Let stand for 2 to 3 hours, covered with a piece of plastic wrap and weighted with something heavy. Apply white vinegar where the stain had been. Dry with paper towels.

(Photo: Craig Cutler)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Gr...

On table linens: If the stain is still wet, swipe it with a Shout Wipe and Go instant-stain-remover wipe. If the stain has dried, spritz with Tide Boost Pre-Treat spray and (for wet stains, too) wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric.

On the rug: For wool, use a clean white cotton cloth to blot with WoolClean Dry Spot Remover No. 2, then dab with diluted dish soap. Follow with a fresh damp cloth. For a synthetic rug, apply Goof Off to a cloth and blot onto the stain. Then dab on diluted dish soap and use a damp cloth to rinse. Dry with paper towels.

(Photo: Craig Cutler)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Pu...

On table linens: Use a spoon to scrape off anything solid. Then use a cloth to dampen with cool water; follow by dabbing with a dry section of cloth. If that doesn't work, try Tide Boost Pre-Treat spray, and wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric, using bleach if the fabric allows.

On the rug: For wool, use a spoon to scrape off anything solid. Then blot with WoolClean Spot Remover No. 1 using a cloth; follow with WoolClean Spot Remover No. 1, applied with a fresh part of the cloth. For a synthetic rug, apply diluted dish soap directly onto the rug, then rinse with a fresh damp cloth. Dry with paper towels.

(Photo: James Baigrie/Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Cr...

On table linens: Remove anything solid with a spoon and run the fabric under cold water—do this as soon as you can. Spritz with Tide Boost Pre-Treat spray, then wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric, using bleach if the fabric allows.

On the rug: Use a spoon to scrape off anything solid. For wool, use a cloth to blot with cold water, then treat with WoolClean Spot Remover No. 1. For a synthetic rug, apply diluted dish soap; let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. If the stain is gone, rinse, then dry with paper towels. If the stain is not removed (and you're still dedicated to the cause), blot on a solution of ½ cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon ammonia. Let stand for 2 to 3 hours, covered with plastic wrap and weighted with something heavy. Rinse with water, then apply white vinegar to the place the stain had been and blot with a damp cloth; dry with paper towels.

(Photo: Jonathan Kantor/Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Co...

On table linens: Soak the stain in cool water for 30 minutes. Spray with Tide Boost Pre-Treat spray, then wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric, using bleach if the fabric allows.

On the rug: For wool, soak up liquids with paper towels, then use a cloth to blot with plain cold water. If that doesn't work, try WoolClean Spot Remover No. 1, followed by WoolClean Dry Spot Remover No. 2. For a synthetic rug, follow the advice for wine stains.

(Photo: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Mi...

On table linens: Using an enzyme detergent, like Arm and Hammer Plus OxiClean, and the warmest water safe for the fabric, soak for 30 minutes. Wash in warm water, using bleach if the fabric allows.

On the rug: For wool, soak up liquids with paper towels and use a cloth to dab the spot with cold water. Then blot with WoolClean Dry Spot Remover No. 2. For a synthetic rug, apply diluted dish soap with a damp cloth; rinse with a clean section of the cloth. Dry with paper towels. If the stain remains, fill a spray bottle with ½ cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon ammonia. Lightly spritz the solution onto the spot—the stain should disappear in about eight hours.

(Photo: Craig Cutler)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

How to Remove Ca...

On table linens: Hold the fabric taut and use the vacuum's hose attachment to remove as much soot as possible. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain to absorb it. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then vacuum again. Apply Tide Boost Pre-Treat spray and wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric.

On the rug: Vacuum with the hose attachment. Then, for a wool rug, blot with WoolClean Dry Spot Remover No. 2, using a clean cloth. For a synthetic rug, apply diluted dish soap. If that doesn't do the trick, blot with Goof Off, followed by diluted dish soap. Wait 3 minutes, then rinse by dabbing on hot water. Blot dry.

(Photo: Beatriz da Costa)