Cleaning Expert Shares How to Get out All Types of 4th of July Stains! See Creative at-Home Solutions

We all love going to our Fourth of July barbeques. From the delicious food to the incredible company, it truly is one of the best ways to celebrate the United States of America. But sometimes, all that fun cleans up to some unfortunate stains. Thankfully, though, Courtney Walsh, a cleaning expert from Homeaglow, revealed some of her best tips for removing all of those pesky Fourth of July stains using at-home products.

How to remove alcohol stains from cotton, linen and silk clothes

It’s not the Fourth of July without a beer or a cocktail, or even a glass of wine later in the evening, , but sometimes mistakes can happen causing them to stain your outfit. But, no matter the fabric, there is a quick and easy way to get it out!

How to remove 4th of July stains from cotton and/or linen

“Acting quickly is the best course of action with cotton and/or linen clothes, simply dabbing with a clean cloth can remove any excess alcohol on the fabric, followed up with a flush of cold water and another dab of a clean cloth can prevent the majority of the stain from settling,” says Walsh. To remove them, she recommends using the following course of action.

1. Soak: Sit the stained item(s) of clothing into a tub or sink of cold water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Soak with detergent: Drain the original cold water then refill the basin with water and work laundry detergent (or stain remover if you’ve got it) into the stain.
3. Rinse: Once the stain has been worked on with the detergent, drain the basin again and rinse the item one more time in cool water.
4. Machine wash: With the item rinse and stain “pre-treated” already, add the garment to the washing machine as soon as you can.

How to remove 4th of July stains from silk

“It might seem obvious but it’s best to be incredibly careful with silk items of clothing, as you don’t want to damage your silk clothing while dealing with stains and marks left over from a July 4th celebration” Walsh says. To remove the stain from silk, she does the following:

1. Blot and dab: Using a small amount of warm water, blot and dab the stain. Club soda can also be used to help lift and remove a dried-on stain, however, it is harsher on the fabric.
2. Leave to air dry: Hang the item and leave the garment to air dry.
3. Add glycerin: Used to make soap, glycine can be used if the rising method hasn’t worked. Get yourself some glycerin and let that sit on the stain for 30 minutes.
4. Rinse: Rise the item with cold water until all the glycerin has been removed and wash off the garment.

How to clean up confetti after a 4th of July party

“As with glitter, confetti has a habit of getting anywhere and everywhere,” says Walsh. “You can often end up finding bits of it days, weeks, and even months after a July Fourth party. However, just like glitter, it is possible to clean up confetti mess pretty quickly with several household supplies.”

Hard surfaces and floors

To clean confetti off of hard surfaces and floors, Walsh recommends:

1. Sweep up the majority: Use a broom to sweep it into a pile and use a dustpan to scoop it all up.
2. Use a vacuum: Pick up any remaining bits of confetti with a vacuum, using the nozzle attachment to prevent the brushes from getting clogged.
3. Check the crevices: While you have the vacuum nozzle attachment, check the corners and crevices and use a similar method of a small dustpan and brush and nozzle to collect any lingering bits of confetti.

Tables and countertops

If the confetti got onto your table or counter, Walsh says all you need is a damp cloth!

1. Dampen a cloth: Dampen a cloth or some paper towel.
2. Wipe over the counter: Wipe the damp cloth across the table or countertop, the moisture will help to capture the small pieces of confetti.
3. Wipe any remainder into your hand: Using the same wiping motion, wipe any remaining confetti into your hand at the edge of the table or countertop.

Furniture or fabrics

The way to get confetti out of your couch? A lint roller! Walsh simply rolls it over the confetti, letting the sticky side of the roller do all the work.

She also says, “If you don’t have a lint roller, sticky tape can also be used. Either by creating an impromptu ‘glove’ or using the tape across the fabric to help pick up the confetti.”

Outdoor confetti

If your outdoor celebration led to confetti getting everywhere, Walsh uses these simple steps to remove it.

1. Leaf blow the confetti into one spot: Use a leaf blower to help push the confetti into one spot.
2. Collect with a dustpan and brush: Use a dustpan and brush to collect all the confetti before disposing in the trash.

How to remove ketchup stains from clothing

If the ketchup from your hotdog slid off the dog and onto you, Walsh uses these seven easy steps to remove it.

1. Scrape off the excess – Use a spoon or a blunt knife to gently scrape off excess ketchup from the article of clothing. Act quickly and be careful not to spread the stain further. The faster you treat the stain, the better the chances of complete removal.
2. Rinse with cold water – Hold the strained area under cold water to flush out as much ketchup as possible and help to dislodge any excess that wasn’t already removed. The flushing also helps to prevent the stain from settling.
3. Pre-treat the stain – Apply a small amount of mild laundry detergent directly onto the stain. Then, gently rub the detergent into the fabric using your fingers or a soft brush, ensuring it covers the entire stained area.
4. Let it sit – Allow the pre-treatment to sit on the stain for 10 to 15 minutes. This allows the detergent to penetrate the fabric and break down the stain.
5. Wash as usual – After pre-treating the stain, launder the clothing as you normally would, following the instructions on the care label.
6. Repeat as necessary -. If the stain remains after washing, repeat pre-treating it with either laundry detergent as before or white vinegar and water.
7. Allow to dry – Once the stain is completely gone, you can air dry the clothing or tumble dry it according to the care instructions.

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