Entertain with Ease: Be Prepared for Holiday Stains

‘Tis the season for entertaining. And this year, more people are expected to stay close by for the holidays, celebrating with family and friends in their own homes. That means eggnog and red wine, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie – not just on your china but on your floors and furniture as well. If the thought of friends and family flocking to your home creates a sense of panic in your already hectic holiday season, don’t despair. Instead, prepare.

"When you have visitors, you want them to feel as comfortable as possible and that means you need to feel comfortable as well," says Franny Andahazy, Executive Designer of Party by Design, a creative event company out of Boston, Massachusetts. "The benefit of planning ahead and being prepared is that you can relax and enjoy your guests.  After all, if you aren't having fun, chances are- neither are they."

No Crying Over Spills

The holiday foods we love are all worthy adversaires when it comes to your floors and furniture. By taking some simple steps now, you can avoid damage when these foods hit the carpet or sofa.

Step one, check the care guide and warranty on your upholstered furniture and flooring. Follow the manufacturer’s advice or you may invalidate your warranty.

Next, put together a first aid kit that will enable you to tackle most spills. It should include clear dishwashing detergent, spot removal solvent, household vinegar, a white dishtowel or cloth, and white paper towels.

Always take care of a spill as quickly as possible- the longer the spill sets, the harder it will be to remove. Working from the outside of the stain inward and blotting instead of rubbing keeps the stain from spreading to a larger area.

Many common holiday spills- wine, coffee, cranberry sauce, juice, or chocolate – can be removed with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon clear dishwashing detergent and 1 cup warm water.  Taking a clean white cloth or unprinted paper towel, slowly blot the stain from the outside edges inward.  For stubborn stains, you may need to follow the detergent solution with white vinegar. Rinse the vinegar away by blotting again with warm water.

For greasy stains, apply a dry cleaning solvent made for clothes, using a damp towel. Blot, then repeat the application. Then apply a towel dampened with water.

After stains have been removed, finish by applying a weighted pad of paper towels or another clean cloth to the area until it has dried.

An Ounce of Prevention

Preparing for spills is only one way to take the stress out of holiday entertaining. A few planning tips will enable you to enjoy your party as much as your guests. 

·         Inspect holiday linens, serving dishes, and glassware well in advance to make sure no remains of last year’s festivities remain. Consider renting additional supplies.

·         Several weeks before entertaining, walk up to the front door and through your home as if you were a guest. Eliminate pitfalls that might cause spills, accidents or inconvenience.

·         Place a festive holiday throw rug in your entryway to catch snow and mud before it makes its way inside.

·         Increase lighting where people might trip and rearrange furniture to clear pathways for a crowd.  Be aware that moving furniture will inevitably expose some dust bunnies so plan to clean those areas in advance.

·         To eliminate carpet indentations created by moving furniture, spray the matted area with water and lift the crushed pile with a grooming brush available at any carpet store.

·         Remove knick-knacks from tabletops and shelves. This reduces the risk of breakage and makes it easy for guests to set down glasses and plates while socializing.

·         Think theme.  To add an element of fun to your gathering come up with a theme guests can get excited about- like a holiday color. If you choose silver, invite guests to dress in silver and decorate your home and dinner table in silver.  An inexpensive way to do this is by using wrapping paper or ribbon as table runners.

·         Stock up early on beverages –wine, mixers and nonalcoholic beverages or pick a festive holiday theme drink for the evening -like a cranberry martini and serve only that.

·         Utilize your resources.  Have a friend who is a florist or an artist?  Invite your guests to contribute their skills to the gathering- perhaps making the flower arrangement or the place settings.  Use what you have for decoration, such as branches off the evergreen tree in your front yard.

·         Short on refrigerator space? Put a cooler or storage tub on the back porch, fill it with ice, and place bottles and cans outside. In frosty weather, you won’t even need the ice.

·         Fill your home with spicy holiday scent by boiling a cinnamon stick and cloves on your stove, or buy an aromatic mixture made for this at your local kitchen or candle store.