Diane Gottsman | Leading Etiquette Expert | Modern Manners Authority

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How to Handle Holiday Mishaps

19 Nov 2020 By: Diane Gottsman

It’s so much fun to sit down to a Thanksgiving meal with family which consists of everyone’s favorite foods. It’s a time when we all can enjoy seconds without feeling guilty about the extra piece of pumpkin pie or sweet potato. During the festivities, it’s not uncommon to drop a dab of cranberry sauce on your silk blouse or accidentally spill a glass of red wine on the carpet. Knowing what to do and having the right supplies readily available to handle those little holiday mishaps will make the situation easier to tackle.

holiday mishaps

Cranberry Sauce

According to thespruce.com, getting a cranberry stain out of your carpet, table cloth, clothes or upholstery is as simple as a few steps to include using a dull knife or the end of a spoon to lift away the sauce if it is in solid form. Don’t rub or wipe it because you will cause the food to go deeper into the fabric fibers. If a splash of cranberry juice causes the stain, blot the area with a clean towel to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Or hold the fabric under cold water, inside out, to flush the stain out of the fabric. So many interesting things to think about when it comes to that little red fruit. Read more of their tips here.

Gravy

There is nothing more delicious than a huge serving of brown gravy over your Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. When they end up in your lap, however, the fun suddenly ends. Quickly tend to the stain, which is a combination of grease and flour by gently applying a small amount of liquid dish soap. Rub gently to release the oil from the material. If possible, remove the garment and let it soak in a stain remover. My favorite is OxyClean!

Red Wine

Yikes. We’ve all done it. A slight slip of the wrist and red wine is all over your clothes or the carpet. Immediately jump into action but don’t do it alone. If you are the guest, it’s okay. Holiday mishaps will happen. Let your host know immediately so they can treat the stay as soon as it happens. Rubbing the wine into the carpet or your favorite sport coat will only make things worse. Waiting until later will ensure the red wine is a long-lasting friend. Brothers Cleaning suggests you act fast, use water first, blot and if the stain doesn’t come out quickly, try club soda or vinegar. Carpet cleaner is another good option as it is made specifically for hard to treat stains. Whatever you do, don’t scrub because it will force the stain further into the fiber.

Grease

For a tried and true method to get grease out off of your clothing, try a stain remover and pretreat immediately. A shake of salt or a dusting of baby powder is what my grandmother always used and it worked miracles when it comes to blotting the stain and keeping it from spreading.

Goodhousekeeping.com offers these handy tips—perfect for when those holiday mishaps occur:

  • If you’re out and about, quickly sprinkle a little salt or artificial sweetener on the stain to keep it from setting.
  • Brush off the powder after a few minutes.
  • At home, immediately work a little grease-cutting dishwashing soap into the stain and rinse with warm water.
  • When it’s time to launder it, rub in liquid laundry detergent or apply a pre-treater, like Shout Advanced Grease-Busting Foam.
  • Wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric.
  • Air-dry the garment until you are sure the stain is completely gone.

Coffee

You finally have some time to take a break to enjoy your afternoon pick me up latte. Unfortunately, you find most of it on your new sweater. For whites, wash your item asap in the hottest water the care label allows. Use 1/3 cup of bleach in the washer. You can also try soaking the stain in warm water, 1/3 cup dishwashing liquid and one tablespoon vinegar for 10 minutes. Rinse the stained area with a soft cloth and wash the pretreated item of clothing. Put it in the washer with other clothes so the clothes will rub against it to help remove the stain.

Cherry Pie

Yum. Who doesn’t love a piece of cherry pie for dessert? If you make a mess, use some lemon juice and vinegar to lift the stain. Bleach and enzyme-based stain remover is also a good option. Don’t delay; much like red wine, the stain can set it very easily.

You may also like Thanksgiving in the Middle of the Pandemic. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest,  Instagram and Twitter.

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Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.