Christmas Party Stains: How to Save Your Outfit

The five rules of stain first aid

Almost any stain can be saved if you do the right things quickly – and avoid the classic mistakes that set the stain for good.

• Be quick: a fresh stain lifts far more easily than one that has dried in.
• Blot, do not rub – rubbing drives the stain deeper into the weave and wears the fabric.
• Use cold water, not hot: heat sets protein and tannin stains like blood, egg and wine.
• Always test the method on a hidden spot first, especially on silk, wool and coloured fabric.
• Work from the outside of the stain inwards, so it does not spread.

Red wine, mulled wine and coffee

The dark drink stains are tannin and pigment. The key is to dilute quickly with cold – never hot – water, and to skip the home remedies that make things worse.

1. Blot up as much liquid as possible with a clean, dry cloth straight away.
2. Pour or dab on cold water or colourless sparkling water to dilute, and blot again.
3. Skip salt on red wine – it is a myth that can bind the colour rather than draw it out.
4. If it lingers, let a proper stain treatment finish the job at home, and do not dry the garment with heat until the stain is gone.

Sauce, grease and make-up on the collar

Grease from sauce, dressing and make-up (foundation, lipstick) is a different kind of stain – it needs something that dissolves grease, not just water.

1. Dab or gently scrape off excess grease or make-up without rubbing it into the weave.
2. Put a little mild dish soap directly on the grease stain, let it work for a few minutes, and blot with lukewarm water.
3. For make-up on a collar, a mild dish soap or an oil-free make-up remover can dissolve foundation and lipstick.
4. Avoid rubbing – on a shirt collar the make-up spreads easily into the fine fabric.

Candle wax from tealights and dinner candles

Candle wax should not be wiped away while it is soft – that only smears it. Instead, let it go hard and lift it off in two steps.

1. Let the wax set completely; putting the garment in the freezer for a while makes it crack off more easily.
2. Crack and gently scrape off the hard wax with a blunt edge, such as the back of a knife.
3. Place kitchen paper or a clean cloth over and under the rest, and iron on low heat – the melted wax lifts into the paper.
4. If the wax was coloured, a pigment mark may remain that needs stain treatment afterwards.

When should the garment go to a professional?

If the party garment is silk or wool, has sequins or is labelled 'dry clean only', do not experiment yourself – and a stain that has already dried in after the party is safest in professional hands. Do not iron or heat-dry the garment before the stain is gone, because that sets it. Send it to us instead, and we help you across Norway. We treat the stain according to the fabric and care label. You order online, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions