What is the best gift you can give your partner for Valentine’s Day? A live-in MAID! If that’s not in the budget, let us come clean your house for you. Here are a few tips to share with family and friends when it comes to cleaning up after Valentine’s Day.

Candle Wax

Candles provide an ambiance unlike any other, and they will surely be appreciated on Valentine’s Day! I’m clumsy and have frequently had candle mishaps. If your candle dripped wax all over the furniture, don’t panic! First, wait until it cools before you touch it! You don’t want to ruin the mood with a 2nd-degree burn! Once it’s cooled, use a blunt knife or credit card to scrape the wax off of the surface. If it’s fabric, be careful not to tear it.

Next, use a blow dryer on  medium heat  to soften the wax. Wipe away the wax as it softens. Once the wax is removed, use soapy water to remove any remaining residue. All done!

To prevent this next time, put your candles in the freezer! They will burn much slower and drip less, making the clean up after your next romantic rendezvous much easier!

Rose petals are a perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day, and they are sure to make your night a little more special. Picture this: you’ve left a trail from the door to the bedroom, and then sprinkled them up onto the bed, but when it’s time to clean up, your fresh rose petals have stained the carpet and bedspread! Oh no!

Get the sheets and bedspread into the washer as soon as possible!  Use a heavy wash cycle with warm water and your favorite stain remover. The longer the stain sits, the more difficult it will be to remove.

As far as your carpets, mix one tablespoon of vinegar or dish soap with two cups of cold water. Use a sponge to blot the affected areas until the stain is lifted. Then, use a clean sponge or towel to blot the area dry! Viola! No more rose petal stains!

Chocolate

Unless you’re using M&Ms, chocolate does, in fact, melt in your hand… or on any other surface! If you find chocolate stains around your house after leaving Kisses everywhere for your significant other, use these tips to clean it up!

First, scrape away any hardened chocolate that you can. If the chocolate is on a small item, you may want to place the item in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, which will make the scraping much easier. If the chocolate stain is on furniture or upholstery, gently sponge the stain using 1 tablespoon of dish soap mixed with 2 cups of cold water.

Lastly, for clothing with chocolate stains, pre-treat your garment, use a heavy wash cycle, and get it in the washer as soon as possible!

Red Wine

Red Wine is certainly a crowd favorite for Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, it will always find a way to spill and stain your favorite items. Luckily, there are a few suggestions for removing red wine stains:

First, quickly soak up as much of the wine as you can with a towel or paper towel. If the stain is on an item you can wash (table cloth/clothing), sprinkle salt on the stain to slow the setting, and pour soda water on the stain. This will help lift the stain out of the item. Then place the item in the wash and launder as normal.

If the red wine got into your carpet, mix a tablespoon of dish soap or vinegar with 2 cups of cold water and sponge the area until the stain is lifted. Then, blot the area dry with a clean sponge or towel.

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