The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays mean parties, gatherings, get-togethers – and the big annual holiday dinner – or two! Whether turkey or ham is the main course for this year’s family feast, gravy on the side is a requirement, and – while everybody has their own recipe – no one makes gravy without plenty of butter, oil, fat – or whatever your secret ingredient is. That means that when the gravy boat gets passed and it lands on the carpet instead of a plate, it can be a disaster! Here’s what to do and how to do it!
You’ll need:
• Talcum powder
• Rubbing alcohol
• White Vinegar
• Clear dish soap
• Very hot water
• Vacuum cleaner
• Sponge
• Clean towels
The Steps:
• Get the gravy up without doing too much more damage. (scoop it up with a spoon if necessary; work toward the center of the spill so it doesn’t spread)
• Sprinkle the talcum powder over the spot – a lot of it. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then vacuum it up.
• Take a sponge and moisten it with the rubbing alcohol; dab at the spot – working from the outside edges in toward the center. (you might want to test the alcohol on an inconspicuous spot first.)
• Mix 2 cups of the very hot water, a tablespoon of white vinegar, and a tablespoon of the dish soap.
• Using a clean towel, dip into the solution and wring it out well, then use the cloth to blot up more of the spot, again – working from the outside in.
• Keep repeating this step, cleaning the cloth as you go, until the spot is gone.
• Get another clean towel and dampen it with plain water, and then blot the area thorough to remove any of the soap in the carpet. (why? Because soap left in a carpet attracts dirt!)
• Let it dry thoroughly!