Housekeeping Laundry & Linens Stain Removal How to Remove Common Thanksgiving Day Stains Gobble up your Thanksgiving dinner without worrying about removing accidental stains later. This helpful guide gives you the tips and tricks you need for removing common Thanksgiving Day stains. By Danielle Smith Parker Danielle Smith Parker Instagram Website Danielle Smith Parker is a skilled entrepreneur, publicist, and business developer based in Detroit, Michigan.She's the founder of Detroit Maid, an online marketplace for on-demand home cleaning, often considered the "Uber for Cleaning." Her services are available in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Chicago.As a cleaning expert and business mogul, Danielle has been featured in national publications and TV shows, including Good Morning America, Fortune Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Martha Stewart, and Better Homes & Gardens. She also serves as a board member of the Michigan League Public Policy.Danielle attended Central Michigan University, graduating with a B.A. in Public Relations. She was also part of the Organization for Black Unity, Leader Advancement Scholar, and Minority Media Professionals Association. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Kaylei Fear Kaylei Fear Kaylei Fear is a digital editorial apprentice for Better Homes & Gardens. Interested in all aspects of home design, she is eager to learn from skilled experts while diversifying her experiences. Kaylei is currently attending Iowa State University while pursuing a B.A. in public relations with minors in environmental studies and fashion, culture, history, and social justice. She is a Forever True Scholar and a Deans Advisory Council Student Panelist. At her university, she is involved with The Fashion Show as a special events team member and was previously a writer for TREND magazine. Kaylei is also the social media manager for Good Makers Market. She manages their Facebook and Instagram platforms. Previously, she was a public relations intern for EightSixtySouth, a strategic communications agency, managing social platforms, creating press kits and clips, updating media lists, and researching and monitoring influencers. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on November 8, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article 1. Food Grease 2. Pumpkin & Sweet Potato 3. Cranberry Sauce 4. Red Wine 5. Candle Wax 6. Chocolate 7. Gravy 8. Lipstick Pie, eaten. Plates, cleared. Thanks, given. It's time to survey the damage to your table linens. "They can get a workout on holidays," says cleaning pro and founder of Detroit Maid Danielle Smith Parker. Whether you're in the kitchen preparing a feast, or you're lounging on the couch watching football enjoying a plate of appetizers, stains are inevitable on Thanksgiving. A holiday full of good times with friends and family and delicious food shouldn't lead to clothes or a favorite table cloth being ruined by a small stain. Red wine, chocolate, candle wax, and gravy are all common holiday culprits. But don't fret just yet if one of them takes a tumble. The following Thanksgiving stains can be fixed with a little effort and on-hand ingredients. So feel free to gobble down all your favorite Thanksgiving foods—sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and more. This easy stain guide will keep you and your home stain-free. Marty Baldwin; Stylist: Lauren McAnelly 1. Food Grease Put dish soap on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before laundering with cold water. Repeat if there are still traces of the stain. Remember: You should always confirm a stain is completely gone before using the dryer. How to Get Grease and Oil Stains Out of Clothes (Without Ruining Them!) 2. Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Scrape off any excess with a dull knife and run the fabric inside out under cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible. Pretreat with a laundry stain remover, then wash the fabric on hot. 3. Cranberry Sauce Rinse the stain with cool water. Add 1 Tbsp. white vinegar and 1/2 tsp. liquid laundry detergent to 1-quart cool water. Blot the mixture on the stain with a clean cloth until the spot has disappeared. 10 Powerful Stain Removal Products You Should Always Have On Hand 4. Red Wine Red wine stains can be tricky to get out. Saturate the area in white vinegar, then rub in liquid detergent. Next, run under hot water to lift the stain. Remember to have your water very hot, not just warm, for the optimal stain-removing power. 5. Candle Wax Scrape off what you can with a dull knife, then use a hairdryer to melt the remaining wax. This will leave an oily residue you can dab away with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. Launder the item as usual. 6. Chocolate Remove any crumbs or hardened chocolate with a dry, clean toothbrush. Add 1 tablespoon dish soap to 2 cups warm water and apply the mixture using a microfiber cloth, gently dabbing the stain. Do not rub, which can work the stain deeper into the fabric. Repeat a few times before soaking up the solution with a clean towel. 7. Gravy Add 1/4 tsp. dishwashing liquid and 3 drops ammonia to 1/2 cup warm water. Using a clean cloth, press the solution into the stain; do not rub. If the spill is on wool or silk, use club soda instead of ammonia. 8. Lipstick Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent, working it in with a toothbrush. Allow the detergent to sit for at least 15 minutes, then wash the fabric on hot. If necessary, repeat before drying. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit