Your Merry Guide to Holiday Stain Removal
The holidays come with sparkle, good food, cozy gatherings, and more stains than anyone expects. Whether you are hosting a feast or attending back-to-back festive events, spills are practically part of the season. To help you protect your favorite outfits, here are the 12 Stains of Christmas and what to do when holiday chaos lands on your clothes, including letting Kona Cleaners be your ally this festive season.
1. Red Wine
Red wine has a special talent for finding the one shirt, dress, or tablecloth you were trying to keep clean. Because it is rich in tannins and strong pigments, it readily settles into fabric.
If it spills:
Use a clean cloth to blot gently. If the fabric allows, rinse the back of the stain with cool water so the liquid pushes outward instead of deeper into the fibers.
Skip these:
Rubbing, dumping salt on top, or pouring white wine over it. Those tricks rarely help and can actually damage delicate fabrics.
If you can bring it to us while the stain is still fresh, we can usually lift it completely.
2. Hot Chocolate
A hot chocolate spill feels especially tragic because it always happens when you’re cozy. Between the dairy, cocoa, and sugar, this stain can be surprisingly stubborn.
What to do first:
Rinse the spot with cold water. Then gently scrape away any thicker bits with the edge of a spoon.
Avoid:
Hot water. It cooks the milk proteins into the fabric, making the stain much more challenging to treat.
If whipped cream or marshmallows were part of the equation, the stain may need a little extra care, but we can handle it.
3. Gravy
Gravy is the tastiest part of the meal and the biggest threat to your holiday outfit. Because it contains both fat and protein, it grips fabric firmly.
Your best move:
Blot gently to lift the grease. If the fabric allows, a little cool water can help loosen what is left, but avoid oversaturating the area.
Avoid:
Hot water, rubbing, or scrubbing. All three push the stain deeper.
We use specialized cleaning agents that break down fats without harming the fibers.
4. Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is festive and bright… until it lands on your clothes. The deep red color acts like dye, which is why it shows up so boldly.
If it happens:
Lift any solid pieces carefully so they do not smear. Keep the area slightly damp with cool water to prevent the stain from drying.
Avoid:
Common DIY tricks like lemon juice or baking soda pastes. They often lead to discoloration or damage to the fabric.
Cranberry stains are best handled professionally, especially on lighter or delicate fabrics.
5. Candle Wax
Holiday candles set the mood, but wax can damage your clothes. Once the wax cools, it clings to the fabric and traps oil underneath.
Your first step:
Let the wax harden on its own, or use ice to speed up the process. Once it is firm, gently break off the top layer.
Avoid:
Trying to melt the wax out with an iron or hair dryer. That usually spreads the oily residue and makes the stain worse.
We can safely remove both the wax and the leftover oil, even from sweaters and delicate blends.
6. Eggnog
Eggnog is comforting in a mug and chaotic on clothing. The mix of dairy, eggs, sugar, fat, and spices makes this one of the trickier holiday stains.
If it spills:
Blot right away and rinse with cold water to keep the proteins from setting.
Avoid:
Heat of any kind. Hot water locks dairy stains into the fabric.
Bring it to us, and we will break down the combination gently so the garment comes back fresh and clean.
7. Peppermint
Peppermint seems innocent… until it melts onto your clothes and turns into a sugary glue. Candy canes, peppermint bark, and festive syrups all leave behind a sticky, stubborn residue that clings to fibers as if it has a holiday spirit of its own.
If it happens:
Pop the garment into the freezer for a bit. Once the sugar hardens, you can gently break off the bigger pieces without smearing it around.
What to avoid:
Anything warm. Heat melts the sugar deeper into the fabric, making the stain much harder to remove.
Kona can take care of whatever sticky residue remains so your clothes feel clean again, not candy-coated.
8. Chocolate
Chocolate is delicious, but on clothes it behaves like a little oil bomb. Between the cocoa butter and the dark pigments, it can penetrate quickly.
If you get chocolate on your outfit:
Lift off as much as you can with a spoon or dull knife. Then blot lightly to keep it from soaking deeper.
Skip these:
Hot water and dish soap. Both can spread the stain or affect the color.
Bring it to us, and we will break down the oils safely, without stressing the fabric.
9. Candle Soot or Fireplace Ash
Holiday ambiance is all fun and cozy until soot or ash decides to land on your clothes. These powdery particles smear instantly, so a gentle touch is key.
Your first move:
Take the garment outside and shake off any loose items. A few light taps can help remove more without grinding it into the fabric.
What not to do:
Do not add water. Water turns the soot into a gray paste that sinks in and spreads.
Once you bring it to us, we can carefully remove the particles so the fabric looks clean again.
10. Evergreen Sap
If you decorated a real Christmas tree, you already know sap is a villain. Sticky, shiny, and determined to stay with you long after the holidays are over.
If sap hits your clothes:
Let it harden first. Trying to wipe sticky sap usually makes things worse. Once it is solid, you can gently scrape off the top layer. Freezing the garment can also help.
Things to avoid:
Household solvents, like rubbing alcohol, should not be used on delicate fabrics. They often cause fading or leave rings.
We have safe products that break down sap without harming the material.
11. Mystery Red Stain
Every holiday event produces at least one “mystery stain.” Could be lipstick. Could be punch. Could be something that fell off someone’s plate. The world may never know.
What you can do:
Blot lightly, and if the garment allows, rinse from the back with cool water to prevent the stain from spreading.
What to avoid:
Trying multiple cleaners back-to-back. Layering products can actually set the stain.
Once we see it in person, we can determine what it probably came from and treat it accordingly.
12. Glitter
Glitter is not technically a stain, but it should probably have its own category. It sticks, it spreads, and it somehow multiplies when you are not looking.
A quick fix:
Take the garment outside and give it a few good shakes. A lint roller works well on sturdier fabrics.
But avoid:
Using tape on delicate materials. It can pull fibers or leave marks behind.
We can remove the leftover sparkle without damaging the fabric, even if the glitter seems determined to stay until Valentine’s Day.
Leave the Holiday Stains to Kona Cleaners
Whether you’re Santa Claus juggling mugs of hot cocoa or a holiday host dodging gravy catastrophes, some stains can be managed at home… but others really do need a professional touch. When you are dealing with wine, wax, cranberry, chocolate, or any of the holiday season’s messiest surprises, Kona Cleaners is here to help.
Bring your holiday garments to Kona Cleaners or schedule a pickup for expert holiday stain removal and fast, friendly service.
Let us handle the mess so you can enjoy the celebrations.
