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Tricks help hosts get rid of common holiday stains

Saturday, December 25, 2004
The house is decked out in holiday splendor, the guests are cozy -- and suddenly someone spills wine on the carpet.

Hosts and hostesses should keep a few items on hand to take stains out of the carpet this holiday season. Here's how to get rid of some common stains:

  • Chocolate: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of clear dishwashing detergent in 1 cup of warm water. Dab the mixture on with a damp paper towel. Next, dab on undiluted white vinegar. Rinse by dabbing with a damp sponge. Apply a weighted pad of paper towels and let set overnight.

  • Coffee, mixed drinks and wine: Blot off the excess with paper towels. Apply dishwashing detergent solution with a damp paper towel. Leave on for three to five minutes. Apply white vinegar using a damp paper towel. Apply water with a damp sponge. Weight down area with paper towels and let set overnight.

  • Candle wax: Cover with brown paper and apply a warm iron until the wax is absorbed. Avoid touching the stained area with the iron, as the fiber might melt.

    Even if hosts are family, etiquette applies

    Staying over at someone's home for the holidays?

    Even if your hosts are family, guidelines for guest behavior still apply, etiquette expert Peggy Post says.

    "One thing that is really important is to make clear up front when you are arriving and leaving, so the host can plan accordingly," Post says.

    Also key, says Post, author of the latest edition of "Emily Post's Etiquette":

  • Make your bed.

  • Offer to help out during meal preparation and kitchen cleanup.

  • If you are staying there for more than a few days, ask whether you can take your host out for a meal or cook dinner.

  • Don't forget that host gift and thank-you note.

    Holiday treats, decorations could be deadly to pets

    Prudent pet people will resist the urge to share their holiday feasts with their pets. Bones, gravy, hors d'oeuvres and candy could mean a trip to the vet.

    A review of the basics: Treats containing chocolate are potentially poisonous. Greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause stomach upsets; bones, blockages; moldy food, tremors or seizures; yeast dough, blockages; and the sweetener Xylitol, seizures.

    Christmas tree water might contain fertilizers. Stagnant tree water becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Ribbons and tinsel can cause intestinal obstructions in cats.

    Keep the number of your emergency vet on hand just in case.

    Portable electric heaters are safest for indoors

    People who want to use a space heater indoors should keep in mind that portable electric heaters are the safest and most versatile, experts say.

    Kerosene, propane/natural gas and wood-burning heaters are designed for garages and outdoor spaces and require venting to prevent buildup of deadly carbon monoxide.

    The heater should have multiple settings, a thermostat that you can regulate, and an automatic shutoff in case it tips over, so it won't cause a fire.

    People also should take precautions to use the heaters safely. Don't use heaters to dry towels. Don't leave heaters on when you aren't home or are asleep. Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from flammable materials.

    Garden deserves attention, even in winter

    Don't neglect the garden this holiday season. Here are some important December garden chores:

  • Plant trees and shrubs during the winter, when they'll go through less shock. The roots will grow quickly in the warm spring soil, which will help the plants survive a long, hot summer.

  • Protect plants susceptible to freeze damage by adding 2 to 4 inches of mulch. Always water the landscape before a freeze if no rain has fallen in the past few days.

  • Study seed or rose catalogs when bad weather keeps you indoors. Order early for best selection. Ask for rose delivery in February.

    -- From staff and wire reports

    Send home and garden news to Homework in care of Living, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, D.L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212; fax (412) 320-7966; or e-mail tribliving@tribweb.com.


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