Serve red wine without fear when you follow our easy clean-up tricks.
Photo credit: Danielle Occhiogrosso.

Erase any spills or splashes with the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab’s top-tested tips, favorite tools and best fabric-rescue tricks for common holiday culprits.

BUTTER  

Do this now

Fabric: Scrape up the excess butter with a spoon. Blot. Sprinkle on salt to absorb grease; let set 30 to 60 seconds, then brush away.

Carpet: Follow above directions, but skip brushing. Cover the salt and stain with a saucer or bowl.

Do this later

Fabric: Rub in heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent. Check the garment’s care label and wash in the hottest water safe for it.

Carpet: Vacuum up salt. Apply a degreaser, like Goo Gone. Blot. Sponge with a mix of 1/4 teaspoon dish liquid and 1 cup warm water, then with cool water to rinse. Blot dry.

CANDLE WAX 

Do this now:

Fabric and carpet: Let the wax cool and harden. Tackle it when you have the time.

Do this later:

Fabric: Gently scrape or pry off the hardened wax with a spoon or dull knife. Place fabric between paper towels and press with a warm, dry iron. Rub in liquid laundry detergent. Wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach.

Carpet: Same as above (put paper towels on top), but skip the detergent and wash. Fluff the fibers with your fingers.

CHOCOLATE 

Do this now:

Fabric and carpet: Scrape up the excess with a spoon. Blot any remaining chocolate with a dry cloth. Sponge with warm water. Blot dry.

Do this later:

Fabric: Apply prewash stain remover and work it into the stain. Wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach.

Carpet: Sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon dish liquid and 2 cups warm water. Blot and repeat. If stain remains, sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon ammonia (do not use if carpet is silk or wool) and 1/2 cup warm water. Blot. Sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

COFFEE 

Do this now:

Fabric: Spritz or sponge with cool water. Blot dry.

Carpet: Blot the spilled liquid with absorbent cloths, standing on them if necessary. Sponge or spritz with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

Do this later:

Fabric: Apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm water with fabric-safe bleach.

Carpet: Sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon each dish liquid and white vinegar and 2 cups warm water. Blot. Sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

RED WINE

Do this now:

Fabric: Spritz or sponge with cool water or apply Wine Away ($9, amazon.com) per directions. Blot dry.

Carpet: Blot spill with absorbent cloths, standing on them if necessary. Spritz or sponge the stain with cold water or apply Wine Away per directions. Blot dry.

Do this later:

Fabric: Soak 15 minutes in cold water; apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm water with fabric-safe bleach.

Carpet: Sponge with a mix of 1 tablespoon each dish liquid and white vinegar in 2 cups warm water. Blot dry. Spritz or sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

Lab note: These steps are for washable fabrics only. For silk and other delicates, blot with only a dry cloth and bring to the dry cleaner ASAP.

ON ANOTHER MATTER … 

Healthy Hints: Avoid a Hangover

1. Start with a hearty meal. Having food in your stomach will slow the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream, says Keri Peterson, M.D. a New York City internist who works with Zocdoc. Also, down a glass of water between drinks to help prevent the electrolyte imbalance responsible for the worst symptoms.
2. Try a portion-marked glass. This will help you keep track of how many ounces you’ve knocked back. We like Weight Watchers’ version (Portion Control Wine Glasses, $20 for two, weightwatchers.com).
3. Skip the Champagne. “The bubbles help you absorb the alcohol faster, causing higher blood alcohol levels,” said Dr. Peterson.

TABLE 

Lab Picks: Your Cleanup Tool Kit

Add these mess erasers to your stain-fighting arsenal.

Spray bottle of cold water

Spritz fresh wine, cranberry or tomato spills to keep them from setting.

Baby wipes

Makeup-remover wipes work, too. Use them either to dissolve lipstick or even food drips on clothes and linens. They clean fabric just like they do skin.

Spoon

The go-to tool for removing food splatters without pushing them deeper into fabric.

Clean white cloths

Great for sopping up carpet spills and blotting fabric. Lab trick: Cloth diapers are absorbent, bleachable, affordable and more disposable than microfiber cloths.

Dustpan and brush

Quickly sweep up bits of broken glass or cookie crumbs before they get ground into the floor.

Recalls Alert 

The following products and vehicles were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unless otherwise indicated, discontinue use of the products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information about the products, call the manufacturer or CPSC’s toll-free hotline, 800-638-2772. Only some cars or trucks recalled are affected. Contact a dealer for your model to see if it is included in the recall. The dealer will tell you what to do.

PRODUCT/VEHICLE 

PROBLEM 

Yankee Candle Luminous Candle Collection, sold exclusively at Yankee Candle stores nationwide and online at www.yankeecandle.com from September 2016 through November 2016 for about $35.

When the candle is lit, the glass jar can crack, posing a laceration hazard. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled candles and contact Yankee Candle to receive a full refund. Consumers can contact Yankee Candle toll-free at 877-803-6890 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday, or online at

www.yankeecandle.com. Click on “Luminous Candle Collection: Safety Notice” at the top of the page for more information.

2017 Subaru Legacy and Outback  

In the affected vehicles, the knee-guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering-beam assembly. If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver’s lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee-guard welding on each vehicle’s steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, for free. The recall began Nov. 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 800-782-2783. Subaru’s number for this recall is WTL-72.

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