Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert, advice columnist and author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag ... And Other Things You Can?t Ask Martha. Her flagship column, ?Ask a Clean Person,? debuted in 2011. Here on Offspring, we?ve launched a new iteration of it, focusing on parenting and all the messes it brings.
Someone in my household managed to get the sticky, sugary residue of Halloween candy (chocolate and fruity/hard candy) onto our wooden coffee table. NBD in that it wasn?t an expensive item, by any means, but I?d still prefer to clean it than to replace it. How can I get the patch of sticky stuff off without ruining the finish? I?ve tried a coarse sponge and detergent, with no luck.
This should, I think, be a pretty easy fix! Before we get into what to do about candy residue on hard surfaces like tables, countertops and floors, a quick word on planning: Because Halloween is coming up, this week?s and next week?s columns will be devoted to cleaning up after the best holiday of the year. This week, we?ll tackle common candy messes, then next week we?ll take on costume messes, from face paint and colored hairspray to glitter and wigs.
So! If you have questions for next week, or are just anticipating that your kid is going to make a mess of the bathroom with a tube of fake blood, please email me or drop a note in the comments. I?ll try to address as many possible Halloween costume disasters as I can.
But first, let?s talk candy.
Removing Chocolate and Other Sticky Candies From Hard Surfaces
There?s a super easy way to address sticky residue on hard surfaces that basically involves making a hot compress; all you need is a rag or sponge and very hot water. What you?ll do is this:
Soak the rag or sponge in hot water (if your hands are sensitive, you may want to don a pair of household gloves) and, moving quickly, wring it out so that it?s damp but not dripping. Then, apply it to the sticky spot, bearing down firmly. Keep the compress on the sticky spot until it begins to lose its heat, then re-wet it, wring it out, and repeat as needed. The combination of the heat and the moisture will loosen the sticky substance, allowing you to then wipe it away. When you?ve removed the stickiness, dry the area so that the moisture doesn?t linger on the wood.
Another route you can choose is to use a product like Goo Gone, Goof Off, or even good old WD-40. With any of these products, take the time to do a spot test to ensure they won?t cause damage to the surface in need of cleaning.
Chocolate Stains on Clothing, Upholstery and Carpet
Shout is excellent for getting chocolate stains out of fabric. (One of our commenters also mentioned that it?s great on poop stains, so maybe Shout is just The Stuff for brown stains?!?)
The most effective way to use Shout to remove chocolate stains from clothing (or bedding?I?ll level and say I?m not above eating the occasional piece of chocolate in bed while watching Vanderpump Rules) is to spray a small amount on the stain, then rub the stained fabric against itself until the chocolate comes out.
To use Shout on upholstery or carpeting, spray it onto the stain, then use a damp rag or sponge to gently scrub at the stain. Once the stain is gone, wipe away any remaining Shout with a clean, damp sponge or rag.
Ground-In Candy
If candy gets stuck between floorboards, a scraper tool or butter knife can be used to dislodge it. Then, use your vacuum to suck up the loosened candy.
Do you have a candy mess on your hands that I didn?t address here? Let me know in the comments and I?ll do my best to help you out. Also, be sure to ask all of your costume-related cleaning Qs so I can get to them next week!
19-10-2017 - Vidéo
