Table linens take a lot of beating. This is especially true during the holidays and just about any celebration. It's usually the red wine and candles that cause a lot of cleaning problems. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered.
How to Deal with Red Wine Stains
Red wine may be a gathering favorite, but it can be a headache when the spills and drips hit the table linens. Thankfully, we have two unique methods that are especially effective at dealing with red wine stains.
The first method is to use table salt. However, for this to be effective, you must do it as soon the spill or drip happens. Simply pour liberal amounts of salt on the fresh red wine stain that's on the table linen. Create a sort of anthill-type heap. As the salt sits on the red wine, it will soak it up and pull out the red wine from the table linen. Then, you just brush the salt away. Any residual stains can then be removed with liquid laundry detergent or diluted dish soap. You can also use a stain remover product if the stain persists.
If you are not able to do the method above and the red wine manages to sit for a while, there is still hope. You will need an oxygen-bleach type of stain removing solution. Powdered dishwasher detergent may also work.
The first thing you need to do is use a quarter cup of either an oxygen-bleach product or a powdered dishwasher detergent and mix it with lukewarm water. Make sure that the water is deep enough, so those table linens are completely submerged. Let them soak overnight. After that, you just wash the table linens as if you are doing the normal washing. The long soak will weaken the red wine stain.
How to Deal with Wax Drips
Wax drips on a table linen can be tough as they are made mostly of wax. Since wax is oil-based, it doesn't mix well with water, and that means washing is not effective at removing it. The first method to take out wax is to use a spoon or butter knife. Using the edge, just try to pop off the wax. This usually does the trick. It's also easy to do, so this should be your first method to try. Just be sure that you're using a butter knife that has a dull edge so it won't cut the fabric.
For the second method, you will need a brown paper and an iron. The first thing you need to do is to place the brown paper on top of the wax. With an iron, start heating the brown paper. Use the lowest setting. The idea here is to re-heat the wax. As it melts, the brown paper will absorb it. Increase the heat setting if the wax is not melting or if you notice that the brown paper is not absorbing anything.
There are a lot of other methods you can try, but the tips mentioned above are tested to work.
