Your Guide to Handling Festive Spills
December 9, 2024
From wine and beer to soot and candle wax here’s our guide to handling some of the most common Christmas spills on our luxurious handwoven woollen carpets.
You’ve decked the halls, prepared your home for Christmas, and welcomed family and friends through the door.
The festive season is in full swing—but with all the laughter, and celebrations, spills and stains can happen.
Don’t worry—Riviera Home is here to help you handle those inevitable mishaps and keep your carpets and rugs looking as stunning as ever.
Red Wine
- Blot the spill as soon as possible with a clean white cloth
- Appy a mild spot remover to a white cloth and blot. Repeat until no more stain transfers to the cloth
- Repeat the blotting with clean water to remove residues
- Dry thoroughly with a white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Groom the pile if needed
White Wine
- Blot up the spill with a clean white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Apply a mild spot remover, blotting until no more stain transfers to the cloth
- Repeat the blotting with clean water again to remove any residues
- blot dry with a white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Groom the pile if needed
Soft Drinks
- Blot the spill immediately with a clean white cloth, tissue, or paper towel
- Apply a mild spot remover to a white cloth and blot. Repeat until no more stain transfers to the cloth
- Repeat the blotting with clean water again to remove any residues
- Dry the treated area with white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Restore the pile with a soft brush
Beer
- Blot up as much of the spill as possible with a clean white cloth, tissue, or paper towel
- Apply a mild spot remover to a white cloth and blot. Repeat until no more stain transfers to the cloth
- Blot again with clean water to remove any residues
- Dry the area with a white cloth, tissue, or paper towel
- For cut pile carpets, gently groom the pile with a soft brush to align the fibres
Candle Wax
- Place absorbent paper, such as kitchen towel on the wax and gently heat it with a hot iron to melt the wax. Note: This method is for wool pile only, not synthetic carpets
- Apply white spirit/mineral spirit to a white cloth and place on the stain. Leave for two minutes then blot. Repeat until no more stain transfers to the cloth
- Apply a mild spot remover to a white cloth and blot. Repeat until no more stain transfers to the cloth
- Repeat the blotting with clean water again to remove any residues
- Gently warm the area with a hairdryer to evaporate remaining residue
- Groom cut pile carpets to restore the pile
Gravy & Sauces
- Scoop up excess sauce with a blunt knife or spatula
- Blot the area with a clean white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Apply a mild spot remover to a white cloth and blot. Repeat until no more stain transfers to the cloth
- Repeat the blotting with clean water again to remove any residues
- Dry the treated area with white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Realign the pile with a soft brush, if necessary
Chocolate
- Scoop up as much chocolate as possible with a blunt knife or spatula
- Blot the remaining spot with a clean white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Use a mild spot remover, blotting repeatedly until no stain remains
- Repeat the blotting with clean water to clear away residues
- Dry the treated area and groom the pile if needed
- Groom pile if needed
Vomit
- Remove as much of the mess as possible with a blunt knife or spatula
- Blot the area with a clean white cloth or tissue
- Apply a mild Pet Stain Remover, if available, and blot. Repeat as needed
- Rinse with clean water to remove any residues
- Blot dry with a white cloth, tissue or paper towel
- Groom the pile to restore its appearance
Soot
- For soot stains, immediate action by a professional cleaner is essential. Attempting to clean soot yourself can worsen the stain
When accidents happen, quick action is key to preserving the beauty of your Riviera Home carpet or rug
Don’t be tempted to use washing-up liquid, soaps, or other cleaners formulated for general household use, as these can damage your carpet fibres and leave behind residues.
For our woollen carpets and rugs use only a ‘WoolSafe’ approved product for safe and effective cleaning.
Always test any cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area first, and if in doubt, trust the experts.
Wishing you a joyous, mishap-free Christmas!
Riviera Home recommend the use of WoolSafe Approved spot removers, shampoos and chemicals (www.woolsafe.org)
Click here to locate a WoolSafe Approved carpet cleaner near you.
This advice is for woollen carpets and rugs. and not intended for Tensile carpets. We do not recommend using water or chemicals on your tensile carpet
