\n<\/p>\n
I love people and hate messes<\/a>, which is a problem around the holidays. As much as I want to be the chill, breezy host who says, \u201cSure, you can leave your shoes on<\/em>,\u201d or, \u201cOf course, you can drink red wine on the couch!\u201d that\u2019s just not me. But no matter how hard I try to prevent them, spills and stains are a reality of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Lori Williamson of @nowitsclean<\/a> is a huge fan of using a long-handled pumice stone<\/a> to tackle the muck and mire on the bottom of a hardworking oven. Soak the stone for 15 seconds in water, rub on the problem area, and the gunk comes right off \u2014\u00a0no chemicals required.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Kitchn-approved method<\/a> for cleaning spills and explosions in the microwave only calls for Dawn dish soap and a bowl of water. You fill up the bowl and microwave it for two minutes. When the time is up, leave the microwave closed, allowing the steam to do its work for another two minutes. Then, wipe down the interior of the microwave with a sponge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Becky Rapinchuk of Clean Mama<\/a> recommends using parchment paper to avoid constantly scrubbing sheet pans \u2014 Moore loves this method, too. When it\u2019s time to wash them, Rapinchuk suggests making a paste of baking soda and dish soap or using Bon Ami<\/a> to make quick work of baked-on sugar and grease.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You just need a plastic spatula, some baking soda, and some dish soap to quickly clear your cookware of burnt potatoes or holiday morning eggs. Ayn-Monique Klahre, a lifestyle editor and writer, previously shared on The Kitchn her preferred method<\/a> for cleaning caked-on messes. You sprinkle baking soda all over the dish, add dish soap and very hot water, let it sit for at least 15 minutes, and then scrape loose bits with the spatula. Repeat as necessary until the food remnants are gone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSprinkles are the glitter of baking,\u201d says Moore. He favors using less messy alternatives, such as gum drops or mini M&M\u2019s. But if it\u2019s not a holiday without nonpareils or shimmery sprinkles, he suggests creating a decorating zone inside a casserole dish to catch all the little decorations before<\/em> they fall to the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If your mess is past the prevention stage, you\u2019re not totally out of luck. Rapinchuk swears by using lint rollers to pick up the bits. They collect every last dot and keep sugar out of the vacuum cleaner, she says, adding that they also work for broken glass!\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you\u2019re a frequent froster and want to avoid single-use bags, reusable piping bags can be cleaned by hand. \u201cRinse under warm [or] hot water, add a drop of dish soap, close and shake \u2026 [then] rinse under warm water, and air dry,\u201d says Rapinchuk. If that sounds like too much work for a holiday, some pastry bags are even dishwasher-safe<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For butter stains on fabrics, \u201cMy number-one go-to is dish soap and cold water,\u201d says Moore. Dish soap is designed to cut through grease, and it\u2019s a great pretreatment for stains. Because every kitchen stocks dish soap, it also requires no planning ahead or trips to the laundry room. Rapinchuk similarly believes in the power of pretreating butter stains with dish soap and recommends a combination of soap (to break down grease) and baking soda (to absorb it).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For these beverage stains<\/a> on clothing, Williamson recommends a cold water rinse followed by Puracy Stain Remover<\/a>. She likes it because it\u2019s a \u201cnatural stain remover that contains a variety of enzymes that can break down stains to get them out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For spills on carpet<\/a> or upholstery, Williamson reaches for Folex Spot Remover<\/a>. \u201c[It\u2019s] a great multi-use stain fighter that is handy to have around the house,\u201d she says. Always check fabric care instructions first, as some materials are too delicate for standard methods. For example, Rapinchuk warns, \u201cDon\u2019t let people drink [wine] on your velvet couch.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n1. How to Clean a Sticky Oven<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
2. How to Clean Microwave Messes<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
3. How to Clean Cast Iron Skillets<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
4. How to Clean Sticky Sheet Pans<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
5. How to Clean Casserole Dishes with Burnt-on Food<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
6. How to Clean Sprinkle Explosions<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
7. How to Clean Messy Frosting Bags<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
8. How to Clean Greasy Butter Stains<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
9. How to Clean Red Wine, Coffee, and Tea Stains<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
10. How to Clean Cranberry Sauce and Chocolate Stains<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n