Although we are so close to the beginning of summer, most of us still desire a good indoors party. No matter the reason, no matter if it is organised about a birthday, a football season, or anything else, every host wants to ensure the guests will feel amazing and will be impressed by the catering and delicious food. At home, parties don’t have to be something really fancy if this is really not up to your alley, but it is mandatory to ensure there is a lot of delicious food… for your guests to enjoy it and for your pleasure too.

However, a party and a lot of food almost always lead to accidents. Yes, we are talking about all those stains left on your carpet, or hardwood floor, or the curtains, rugs and upholstery that are amazingly stubborn and you do not know how to deal with! Barbeque and grill food is amongst the most delicious things you can serve to your guests and at the same time you risk the most by doing that, because such food, as well as a sauces like a barbeque or ketchup, can leave stains that are almost impossible to be removed and ruin the whole look.

The first and most important thing you have to remember is that when stains happen, you have to act fast. Yes, we understand that this sounds almost impossible, because, after all, how are you supposed to balance being a host, interacting with people, serving food and inspecting the carpet and upholstered furniture pieces for possible stains. However, make sure that from time to time you take a quick look and when you detect a nasty stain – attack it fast, otherwise you may end up in need of professional carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and stain removal service. The longer you let the stain set, the harder it will be to remove it later and the bigger the chance of this stain getting permanent, so your guests will understand and they will forgive you the lack of attention for a while.

How to remove food stains (from ketchup, barbeque, dips and dressings):

• Before starting to do anything else you have to remove any excess sauce from the carpet very lightly, so you do not spread the stain around. Do not scrub and wipe intensively but blot lightly instead, so you prevent the sauce penetrating deep down in the fibres of the carpet/fabrics.
• Mix a tablespoon of dishwashing soap with two cups of warm water and begin blotting the stain gently with a clean, soft cloth. Remember not to scrub, because this will make things worse. Keep blotting until the liquid is absorbed.
• If the stain remains, then mix a bit of ammonia with water and continue blotting the stained area.
• Then sponge the area with clean cold water and blot until it is dry.

Beverage stains

• Mix a tablespoon of white vinegar with a tablespoon of dishwashing soap and two cups of warm water and begin blotting the stain gently with a damp cloth.
• If the stain is left from red wine, then blot it every five minutes for a half an hour.
• Then rinse out the solution by sponging it with warm water.
• If the stain remains, damp a clean cloth into rubbing alcohol and blot the stained area until the stain is gone.