Whether your annual Thanksgiving dinner is smooth sailing or full of cringe-worthy questions from the family, such as when are you getting married? Have you thought about kids? We can all agree on one thing. We always enjoy the delicious food and quality time spent with family and friends! 

What we don't enjoy are any stains from accidental (or maybe not so accidental) spills that may occur while eating.

If this happens the best thing to do is to schedule a Rinse. Seriously! Turning over your stained items to garment care professionals is one of the best things you can do if you want to properly treat stains and have your items looking new again.

But much like you, we (and our vendors) enjoy a break once and awhile and we are not available for pickups on Thanksgiving. Don’t worry we have compiled a few helpful tips for dealing with stains this holiday!

• After you spill anything the best thing to do is to immediately wipe off the stain (gently), making sure to not use downward pressure as it may accelerate “setting” the stain.
• If it is an oil stain water only makes things worse so it is best to avoid using water when wiping oil stains.
• Food stains are complex. They are often are a mixture of water-soluble and non-water soluble stains and organic material, which is best taken care of via pre-spotting and then dry cleaning.
  • Butter Stains: Like most stains the key is to deal with butter stains fast. Salt is useful in absorbing the grease while the stain is still fresh and helps prevent the stain from soaking deeper into the fabric.
  • Gravy Stains: One suggestion we have is to carefully apply laundry prewash product and soak the soiled linen overnight in the washing machine using warm water with enzyme detergent and all-fabric bleach. The next day, be sure to drain the washer and start a new cycle using the hottest water setting and the type of bleach that is safe for the soiled fabric.
  • Cranberry Stains: First, try and scoop or scrape the excess cranberry with a utensil and sponge using a little cool water. You can then mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and ½ teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent into 1 quart of cool water. Soak the stained item in this for about 15 minutes. Rinse and dab the soiled fabric with rubbing alcohol if the stain still remains. Lastly, launder the soiled fabric as you normally would with a small amount of bleach added if you have it.

No matter what you’re eating this Thanksgiving take a moment to be grateful and enjoy the much needed break and time spent with loved ones! 

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Rinsing!