If you think everyday carpet stains are scary, wait until you see the ghastly Halloween stains costumed ghosts, witches and yes, even fairy tale princesses and superheroes ready for battle are likely to drag in one week from today.
Save your carpets this Halloween by preparing yourself for even the most ghastly of all pumpkin spills, makeup stains and in-bedded candy this year by utilizing the following carpet stain removal tricks. But first a little history on the origins of Halloween.
The History of Halloween
A time for celebration and superstition, Halloween is said to have originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in), where people would dress in costume and light bonfires to ward off roaming ghosts.
The tradition of trick-or-treating while dressed in costume dates to the turn of the century. It was during this time that family-friendly, community-centered Halloween parties featuring entertainment, games and food became common place.
Since this time, Halloween has become so popular that the National Retail Federation (NPR) predicts shoppers will spend a record breaking 9.1 billion on costumes, apples for bobbing and decorations for throwing a spooky Halloween party.
Spending includes:
- $3.4 billion on costumes
- $2.7 billion on candy
- $2.7 billion on decorations
- $410 million on greeting cards
The federation also reports that the five most popular costumes for children this year are action/superhero; batman; fairy tale princess; spider-man; and an animal (cat, dog, monkey or another animal). Pets will be dressed up, as well.
Tricks to Remove Ghastly Stains
Here are some tricks for removing ghastly stains on carpet:
Trick #1: Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by gently blotting the area with a clean, non-patterned towel or if solid, scrapping it with a rounded spoon.
Trick #2: Apply rubbing alcohol to the area using a clean cloth. Agitate gently, then rinse with warm water, and blot dry. Be careful not to penetrate the carpet pile as this may cause damage.
Trick #3: Apply a small amount of diluted dishwashing liquid; one teaspoon per pint of warm water works best. Gently agitate the affected area by blotting with another clean, non-patterned towel. Rinse with warm water.
Trick #4: If stains persist, repeat the application of rubbing alcohol (if needed, you can also switch to hydrogen peroxide), and dishwashing liquid until the spill no longer transfers over to the towel. Be patient: Several applications may be necessary to see an improvement in the affected area.
Trick #5: When all else fails, or your carpet requires special treatment, you may want to consider calling for reinforcement in the form of professional carpet cleaning superheroes.