Don't Let Holiday Stains Ruin the Spirit of the Season!

Northbrook, IL, November 28, 2017: There's nothing quite like having the family together for your Thanksgiving celebration … and this year, it was your turn to host. It was great fun for one and all … right up until the first messy stain ruined your favorite carpet, sweater, blouse or shirt!

Let's face it: anytime you bring good times, good cheer and good company together, there's a good chance it will end up with accidents or spills. On the other hand, what fun would the holiday be without something delicious and messy for family gatherings, special dinners, office parties and seasonal religious celebrations?

"Apple cider, cranberry sauce, gravy and eggnog stains are the most common culprits this time of year," said Tom Zengeler, President of Zengeler Cleaners. "Other challenging stains come from beverages such as wine, tea, coffee and soft drinks."

Not to worry: Zengeler Cleaners has some practical stain removal tips you can try right at home. For example …

Tips for liquid stains (wine, tea, coffee, soda, cranberry sauce and apple cider)

• Rinse the stain with cold water.

• "Blot" it with mild dishwashing liquid or a mild detergent and rinse.

• If the stain is still present, blot with white vinegar, then rinse thoroughly.

• When all else fails, try 3% hydrogen peroxide (available at most stores) - but first test it in an unexposed area such as a seam or shoulder pad to be sure it's safe for the fabric and color.

Eggnog and gravy stains

• Blot the stain with cold water and mild detergent, then rinse.

• If the stain persists, take a small amount of powdered detergent and mix with one ounce of "non-sudsing" household ammonia to form a paste. Apply to the stained area for 5 to 10 minutes, then launder as usual.

• Caution: DO NOT USE this procedure on silk or wool garments. For these fabrics, use a mild detergent and rinse thoroughly.

Tips for other types of stains

• Always test the color-fastness of the fabric before attempting any type of stain removal.

• Treat stains as soon as possible to avoid having them "set."

• If the garment is dry-cleanable, it should be handled professionally.

"If none of these tips remove the stains, bring your soiled garments to Zengeler Cleaners because we have a few additional stain removal tricks you can't really try at home," continued Zengeler. "When you bring your stained items in, be sure to let us know where the stain is and what you've already tried at home. That will help us find the best solution to remove the stain without damaging the fabric."

For more cleaning tips, visit Zengeler Cleaners' website at www.zengelercleaners.com. Zengeler Cleaners has eight locations, with stores in Deerfield, Hubbard Woods, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka, Long Grove and two stores in Libertyville. Zengeler Cleaners - America's first family of dry cleaningTM!