You’ve got guests. You’ve got parties. You’ve got food. You’ve got drinks. With all that going on, one thing is for sure: You’re gonna get stains. But that’s all right. Don’t be afraid to gather ‘round the fire, grab a warm beverage, and dare to stain. I’ve spent some serious time with Rug Doctor’s team both causing stains (fun!) and fighting stains (satisfying!), and I’ve written down some easy, practical tips for dealing with the worst the holiday season can dish out. Want to diminish or even entirely remove the season’s most notorious stains? Then read on our post on cleaning carpet stains.

FOOD STAINS

Nothing tastes like the holidays, and nothing stains like holiday food. If you want to treat butter, red wine, hot chocolate, gravy, pumpkin, cranberry sauce, cooking oil, and egg nog spills, follow these steps:

1. Using a spatula or knife, carefully shave off as much as possible taking care not to push it deeper into the carpet.

2. Using a clean, white cloth or paper towel, gently blot the stain to lift off any solid or liquid. Use multiple towels if necessary.

3. Spray Rug Doctor Spot and Stain or Platinum Spot and Stain to cover the soiled area using 5 to 6 trigger pulls. Follow the directions on the bottle.

4. With another clean, white cloth or paper towel gently rub the stain in a crisscross motion. A clean toothbrush can also help. 5. If the stain is still visible, repeat steps three and four.

CANDLE WAX

Spilled some candle wax? Try this lab-tested technique:

1. Cover the area with a disposable color-safe terry cloth towel or brown paper (such as a grocery bag or lunch sack).

2. With an iron on the “warm” setting, gently iron over the paper or towel. The wax will soften and transfer on to the paper or towel, allowing it to peel off the carpet.

3. Remove any remaining traces with Rug Doctor Spot and Stain or Rug Doctor Platinum Spot and Stain. Follow the directions on the bottle.

PET ACCIDENTS

It’s a good thing our pets are so cute, because they cause a lot of accidents that require special treatment. 1. Remove what you can with a paper towel.

2. Spray the area generously with Rug Doctor Urine Eliminator or Rug Doctor Platinum Urine Eliminator. There should be enough cleaning solution that it soaks through to the carpet backing and pad.

3. Let the stain soak according to the directions on the bottle. The cleaning enzymes need time to work.

4. Place a dampened white towel or paper towel over the treated area and allow it to dry naturally.

5. Once dry, if the area is still discolored, dampen with water and blot.

FIREPLACE ASHES & SOOT

Cleaning out the fireplace can be a messy job, so we tested the best way to remove ashes and soot from carpet.

1. Use the upholstery hose on a standard, upright vacuum to remove as much powder as possible. Take care not to push the ashes deeper into the carpet.

2. Remove any remaining traces with Rug Doctor Spot & Stain or Rug Doctor Platinum Spot and Stain. Follow the directions on the bottle.

Stay On Top of Cleaning Carpet Stains With Rug Doctor

Of course, there’s no guarantee every stain will disappear entirely. But if you keep a few things handy and stay on top of stains, you’ll be able to keep your carpet fresh and looking great no matter what the holidays throw at them – or drop on them.