The Festival of Lights is upon us. Candle-lighting celebrations are accompanied by gelt giving, wine and grape juice drinking, and treat baking. Here are ACI’s tips for Chanukah stain removal, so that this time of family togetherness is as sweet as possible!

Wine
Sponge the stain with cool water or soak it in cool water for about 30 minutes. Pretreat it with a prewash stain remover. Launder it, and if it’s safe for the fabric, add chlorine bleach to the wash.

Grape Juice
Wash the garment or tablecloth with bleach that is safe for the fabric.

Candle Wax
Scrape off surface wax with a dull knife. Place the stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace the paper towels frequently to absorb more wax and to avoid transferring stains. Place the stain face down on clean paper towels. Sponge the remaining stain with prewash stain remover and blot it with paper towels. Let it dry and launder it! If any color remains, rewash it using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for the fabric, or else use oxygen bleach.

Chocolate
When this stain strikes, gently scrape off any excess chocolate, and soak it in cool water. Then pretreat with a prewash stain remover and wash it in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric, according to its label. If the stain remains, rewash it using a bleach safe for the fabric.