How To Get Rid Of Period Stains

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Danielle Occhiogrosso

Don't let a spilled glass of Merlot ruin your holiday party. Erase any spills or splashes with the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab's top-tested tips, favorite tools and best fabric-rescue strategies.

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Butter

Scrape up the excess with a spoon, then blot. Sprinkle on salt to absorb grease; let set 30 to 60 seconds, then brush away. Rub in heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent. Check the garment's care label and wash in the hottest water safe for it. If you're treating a carpet stain, vacuum up the salt, then apply a degreaser like Goo Gone. Blot, then sponge a mix of 1/4 tsp. dish liquid and 1 cup warm water, then with cool water to rinse. Blot dry.

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Candle Wax

First, let the wax cool and harden; tackle it when you have the time. Gently scrape or pry off the hardened wax with a spoon or dull knife. Place fabric between paper towels and press with a warm, dry iron. Rub in liquid laundry detergent. Wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach. If some drips on the carpet, follow the same steps, but skip the detergent and wash. Fluff fibers with your fingers.

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Chocolate

Scrape up the excess with a spoon. Blot any remaining chocolate with a dry cloth. Sponge with warm water and blot dry. Apply prewash stain remover and work it into the stain. Wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach. Carpet stains should be sponged with a mix of 1 Tbsp. dish liquid and 2 cups warm water. Blot it until the stain comes out, but if it doesn't sponge a mix of 1Tbsp. ammonia (don't use it if your carpet is silk or wool) and 1/2 cup warm water. Blot, sponge with cold water to rise. Blot dry.

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Cranberry Sauce

Scrape up the excess with a spoon. Blot with a dry cloth. Sponge or spritz with cool water and blot dry. Soak fabric for 15 minutes in a mix of 1 Tbsp. white vinegar, 1/2 tsp. liquid laundry detergent and 1 quart cool water. Apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm water with fabric-safe bleach. Sponge carpets with a mix of 1 Tbsp. each dish liquid and white vinegar in 2 cups cold water. Sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

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Coffee

Spritz or sponge with cool water, then blot dry. Apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm water with fabric-safe bleach. Spill on carpet? Blot the spilled liquid with absorbent cloths, standing on them if necessary. Sponge or spritz with cold water to rinse, then blot dry. Sponge with a mix of 1 Tbsp. each dish liquid and white vinegar and 2 cups warm water. Blot, then sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

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Eggnog

Gently blot up the excess. Sponge with warm water, then blot dry. Treat with an enzyme stain remover, like Carbona Stain Wizard, or rub enzyme detergent into the stain. Wash in warm water with an enzyme detergent, like GH Seal holder Tide. For carpets, use a pet-stain-and-odor carpet cleaner formulated with enzymes, like GH Seal holder Bissell Professional Pet Stain and Odor Remover.

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Gravy

Scrape up excess with a spoon. Blot any remaining gravy with a dry cloth. Sponge with warm water and blot dry. Apply laundry stain remover, then wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach. On carpet, sponge with a mix of 1 Tbsp. each dish liquid and white vinegar and 2 cups warm water. Blot. Spritz or sponge with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

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Lipstick

Blot gently with a dry cloth. Sponge lightly with a makeup-remover wipe (avoid rubbing the stain in). Place fabric with the stain facedown on a paper towel; use a makeup-remover wipe on back of fabric to dissolve and push out stain. Apply a laundry stain remover and wash in warm or hot water with fabric-safe bleach. Carpets should be sponged with a makeup-remover wipe, then with warm water. Blot dry. Sponge again with a degreaser like Goo Gone; blot. Sponge with cold water to rinse, blot dry.

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Pine Tree Sap

Gently scrape off excess with a dull knife or spoon. Sponge with warm water. Blot dry. Sponge with or soak in an adhesive remover, like Goo Gone, working into the fibers with your fingers. Blot, then apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm or hot water. Do the same thing for carpets, but cover any sap with a bowl or saucer to prevent tracking and skip the detergent and wash. Sponge with a mix of 1/4 tsp. dish liquid and 1 cup warm water, then with cold water to rinse. Blot dry.

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Red Wine

Spritz or sponge with cool water or apply Wine Away per directions. Blot dry. Soak 15 minutes in cold water; apply laundry stain remover and wash in warm water with fabric-safe bleach. If you tossed some on the carpet, don't panic. First, blot the spill with absorbent cloths, standing on them if necessary. Spritz or sponge the stain with cold water or apply Wine Away per directions. Blot dry. Sponge with a mix of 1 Tbsp. each dish liquid and white vinegar in 2 cups warm water. Blot dry. Spritz or sponge with cold water to rise. Blot dry.

Amazon Echo

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In Case You Forget: Ask Alexa!

GH's new voice-activated stain-removal guide works with Amazon's personal assistant to walk you through tried-and-tested advice. If you have an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap, you can enable the Good Housekeeping skill. Then you ask her how to remove a stain (ink, mustard) from a material (carpet, upholstery or clothing), and Alexa will tell you how the GH Cleaning Lab would get it out. You can even ask her to repeat a step. It's the next best thing to calling mom!

This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue of Good Housekeeping.

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Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping Institute Director, Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab Carolyn Forte, a consumer products expert, is the director of the Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

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