Here's How To Take All Those Spills And Stains Out Of Your Holidays

By Glenn Haege, America's Master Handyman


The Handyman's "Night Before Christmas"


'Twas the night before Christmas

and all was shining bright,

except for the windows,

and they looked a fright.

When Mom spied the windows

she screamed with alarm.

"The relatives are coming,

especially Aunt Marm!"

They'll "ooh" and they'll "ah!"

then she'll whisper like a cat:"

"Their windows are dirty,

can you imagine that?"

Now Dad was a loyal reader,

so he didn't flinch.

He knew cleaning frozen windows

was a handyman cinch.

Dad grabbed his sponge and his bucket,

his squeegee and towel,

Then raced out to the garage

for a keen-eyed prowl.

Auto window washer solvent

was the magic stuff,

If you wear rubber gloves,

it is more than enough.

He poured the solvent in a pail,

with not a drop of water.

Then he sponged and he squeegeed,

and wiped up like he ought'er.

The windows sparkled like diamonds

Mom bubbled with delight.

Aunt Marm wouldn't find any dirt

this Christmas night.

If your windows are dirty

you can do this, too.

It's my way of saying,

"Merry Christmas!" to you.


The Christmas and Hanukkah season is a fun, festive party time. That means it is a disaster waiting to happen. Somebody is going to spill something. The way to keep your cool when the inevitable happens is to be prepared in advance. Here are the ingredients to my Spill & Stain Emergency Removal Kit. Like most things, there is "some assembly required", so put the kit together now and stay calm later.


GLENN HAEGE'S SPILL & STAIN REMOVAL KIT

1 box inexpensive white facial tissue (not colored)

1 can foamy style men's shaving cream

1 bottle club soda

No substitutions. Paper toweling is not "just as good" as facial tissue. Facial tissue is far more gentle and absorbent.

Today I'll explain how to clean up the following "messes", using my Spill & Stain Removal Kit:


WET SPILLS (WINE, POP, SOUP, GRAVY)

Blot, not rub, with facial tissue. When the excess moisture has been absorbed, spray area with shaving cream. Blot the foamy shaving ream into the stain. Blot dry. Blotting is the secret to this operation. Rubbing spreads the stain. Blotting contains the stain. When you have completed blotting, lay a 1/2-inch thick pad of facial tissue, weighted down with a heavy book or brick, on top of the stain for at least 10 minutes. You will be amazed at how much extra moisture this will absorb.


DRY SPILLS

Carefully remove all the dry ingredients you can, then sprinkle with club soda. Blot up with facial tissue.


UPHOLSTERY SPILLS

Apply shaving cream. Do not rub. Take several tissues in your hand and blot with a pinching motion. Repeat as often as necessary. Remember, rubbing and wiping spreads stain. Blotting and pinching contains the stain to the affected area.


CANDLE WAX

Finally, a use for paper toweling! To remove candle drips from fabric or carpet, place a single sheet of paper toweling over the candle dripping. Iron the toweling with a very hot iron. Do not use a steam setting. As the toweling heats, the wax will melt and be absorbed. Remove the paper toweling and repeat the process with fresh piece of toweling until all the wax has been absorbed. Next time, buy dripless candles!


WHITE RINGS ON FURNITURE

Moisten baking soda with lemon oil and mush the mix into the stain with your bare fingers. Keep mushing. If the mix becomes too dry, add more lemon oil. Wipe up with facial tissue. Do not use paper toweling, it is not as absorbent and could scratch the surface. If the white ring has not been completely eliminated, repeat the process until the stain is gone. When the stain has been removed and all the debris has been cleared away, apply a thin coating of lemon oil to all exposed wood.


SCUFF MARKS

To remove heavy scuff marks, use a waterless, nonabrasive hand cleaner like Go Jo or Fast Orange. Rub the cleaner into the scuff mark with your hand until it softens the scuff. Let stand for two minutes, then take facial tissue and wipe up the hand cleaner. Repeat if necessary.


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