Page 12 - Real Estate Now Sept-Oct 2021

Scrubbing Out Stubborn Stains

with DIY Tricks

Megan Kelly courtesy REALTOR.ca
Dealing with stains is a pain most people don’t want to deal with. Maybe you decided to eat in the family room one
evening and spilled spaghetti on the carpet, or perhaps you turned your eyes for two seconds and your child has
drawn a lovely work of art on your wall. Or maybe after an extremely long day you plopped down on the couch with
a glass of red wine and sploshed some onto your cushions. No matter how stains make their way into your home, one
thing is for certain: getting rid of them is not fun.
Madison McCausland is the owner of Mad’s Manic Cleaning Co. in Ottawa, Ontario, where she and her team offer
residential, commercial, and short-term cleaning services so you can spend more time enjoying your home, not
dusting or mopping it! McCausland shared some tips on how you can tackle stubborn stains without spending a
fortune on specialty products.
Food stains out of clothes

Ketchup, chocolate, gravy—really anything can stain your clothes and leave an unpleasant blotch on what was once
your favourite shirt. While house cleaning services don’t typically include laundry, McCausland shared her personal
method of getting food stains out of clothing.

“Soda water, salt, and baking powder work magic,” she says. “Vinegar and lemon as well! Always let the stain sit before
washing, then dab the mixture onto the affected area. Check the stain in between washes and never dry the garment
until the stain is out completely.”

Red wine on the furniture

It happens. An exciting moment in a movie, a dramatic conversation, or even an unexpected sneeze can send your
red wine over the brim! Most peoples’ first reaction is to frantically try to scrub out the stain with a cloth, but that can
actually do more harm than good, according to McCausland.

“Don’t pour another glass until you deal with it!” jokes McCausland. “Get to the stain immediately or it’ll settle further
into the fibres of the couch. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda works wonders! Be sure to only blot the stain—soak,
never rub. Use a wet white cloth to see the results as the wine comes up. The number one trick with this method?
Patience.”

12 | REAL ESTATE NOW | denise@BCislandhomes.ca