3 Tough Thanksgiving Stains and How to Remove Them

When most of us think of Thanksgiving, we think of friends, family, and the feast we’re about to devour.  If you’re hosting the meal, you’re also thinking about the aftermath from entertaining your loved ones, including the accidents that happen as people pass dishes, line up at a buffet table, or catch up over drinks while waiting for dinner.

You don’t have to let fear of the “what could happen” stain wise impact your holiday party planning, especially when you prepare ahead of time. 

There are three types of stains you’ll want to know about as they are the main culprits of Thanksgiving stains.

• Protein – has some form of animal protein in them like broth and needs addressed at the molecular level to lift, and you want to avoid heat because heat can “cook” the protein into the fabrics.
• Grease – are caused by fatty substances like oil and butter which stick to the fibers in the fabrics.  Although grease repels water, surfactants like soap may be able to break it down, and certain powders like baking soda can absorb it and remove it from fabrics.
• Tannin and Dye – wine for example stains because the tannins that color it act like dyes to the fabric.  These get treated by the type of fabric and what it can handle, and by using the opposite of the dye.  Tannins are antioxidants, so using oxidants is the natural remover.

There are also three foods that cause a lot of the Thanksgiving stains:  

• Brown gravy
• Red wine and cranberry sauce
• Grease and butter

The guide below shares how to get rid of them and the science behind why the method works.  Please note that the solutions are in general, specific fabrics need specific care as you don’t want to treat silk the same way as cotton.  Always do a test run first, and read the care instructions for the fabric that got stained just in case the solutions could damage it further.

Professional-tip: Use a fabric protection spray a few days before Thanksgiving dinner on couches, carpets, and clothing.  Test a non-visible area first to make sure the protective treatment doesn’t discolor or ruin it.  The middle area between two pieces in a sectional sofa, the bottom side or backside of a cushion on your couch, or a small corner of a carpet that is furthest away from where people enter a room as these are the least seen places and won’t matter as much if they discolor.

Brown Gravy

Brown gravy and white gravy are equally delicious, but brown pairs better with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes which are found on most Thanksgiving dinner tables.  White gravy is normally served with biscuits and sausage instead of Thanksgiving dinner.

The chances of gravy spills are almost inevitable with people eating while watching the game on tv, and passing the gravy boat over the table where it can drip onto clothing, tablecloths, and the carpet.  

The brown color can be natural from browning the flour as you make a roux, and from the broth you use to season and flavor it.  Once you add broth to enhance the flavor, you’re also adding potential for more difficult stains as the gravy is still a protein and grease stain, but there’s additional colors that can soak in compared to white gravy which uses a milk or cream base.  

Because gravy stains are both grease and protein, you need to treat them for both.  Here’s what we recommend.  

1. Immediately blot (don’t rub) the area to pick up any liquids that have not spread or absorbed in.
2. You can use either a dry cleaning formula in a spray bottle, or a stain remover like shout to try and prevent some of the stain from setting. If its in a carpet or on your couch, try rubbing it out with a light carpet cleaning brush.
3. Now sprinkle a layer of baking soda or cornstarch over the area and let it sit for 30 minutes.
4. Vacuum the powder up and then try blotting the stain out.  You may want to repeat step 2.
5. If the stain is still there, use this recipe we found on The Spruce to help break it up and remove it.  
   1. Combine 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap, 2 cups hot water and 1 tablespoon household ammonia, and spray the area, but don’t soak and overdo it, and wait for the stain to break apart.  Once it does, blot the area with a clean towel or paper towel and let it dry.

Red Wine and Cranberry Sauce

The tannins in red wine are what give it their color as they go through the fermentation process inside the barrels, wine fermentation eggs, and chambers.  And tannins are what give cranberries their red color.  These tannins act like dyes which can color fabrics, teeth, and most surfaces they come in contact with.  

Fun fact: Tannins have been used to color fabrics like silk since ancient times, including leather which has been using these for millenia, and the modern updates to the process didn’t happen until the late 1700’s when a chemist introduced irons to astringents and created a new process which took off in 1850.

Because a tannin stain is a dye stain, the stain needs an oxidant to remove it like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide if you are able to bleach the area, and some people say the acid in lemons works too, especially on carpets.  

Here’s what we recommend trying first.  We found this helpful recipe for steps three and four on Home Made Simple here.

1. Blot the stain first, but don’t rub it into the fabric further as you want to prevent the fibers from being dyed.
2. Pour a bit of cool water (don’t use hot) and blot out the stain a bit more.
3. For couches and carpets, mix 1 part water to 3 parts baking soda so it forms a cake like batter and apply it to the stain.
   1. Let it sit until it dries and then vacuum it up.
4. For clothing there are a couple of options.  
   1. White clothing: Apply three parts hydrogen peroxide to one part laundry detergent to the stain.
   2. Colors: Use three parts white vinegar the same way with one part laundry detergent and apply it to the stain.
5. Let this sit on the stain for about 20 to 30 minutes and then rinse with cool water and blot dry.  If the stain is still strong, try this one more time.
6. Now run the garment through the washing machine and use a stain lifting detergent.

Professional-tip: If you Google vinegar and salt wine removing recipe, you’ll find more ideas if the vinegar or hydrogen peroxide mixtures above don’t work, and modifications for a different formula that may.  

Grease and Butter

Butter and grease go hand in hand with Thanksgiving meals as they’re on veggies like green beans and mashed potatoes, the bottoms of serving dishes for fried foods, and pre-dinner lunches like pizza to keep kids and guests sated.  They are both easy to remove if treated quickly.

Butter is a protein stain because it comes from milks and animal products, where grease stains from foods are primarily from oils like the fryer potatoes and chicken nuggets are cooked in.  There are also protein grease stains like bacon, sausage, and pepperoni which are all present at Thanksgiving as sides, toppings, and in parts of recipes.  

These are some of the more common stains you’ll find on clothing as hands wipe them on shirts or pants, and as food drops onto chairs, couches, and carpets.  We’re combining them here because you can use a similar technique on both.

1. Blot the stain immediately to pull the liquids out of the fabric to help prevent them from sinking in more deeply.
2. Change clothing if you can because if the stain sits it will be harder to get out later. 
   1. Don’t worry if you cannot, these stains can likely be removed from most fabrics later on.
3. Place baking soda or cornstarch over the stain to try and pull any of the protein stains out.
   1. Mix a bit of water to the powder so it forms a paste if that is your preferred method before applying or on a second round.
4. Now pre-treat the stain by applying a stain removing laundry detergent over the area and let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes so it can begin activating.  
   1. The other option is a white vinegar mix of 1 parts vinegar to 2 parts water for whites, but do not do this to colors or delicate fabrics as it could bleach and damage them.
5. Last wash the clothing on the hottest cycle allowed for the fabric on the label inside the clothing. 
   1. If the label is missing, go to the brand’s website and see what they recommend.  If it is during the day you may find live chat and be able to contact a person from the support team.

Thanksgiving spills and stains happen.  It’s part of hosting a holiday party.  By pre-treating surfaces and furniture that are more likely to get stained, and knowing how to remove the stains by the type of stain, you’ll be able to enjoy your guests without having to panic about accidental spills later on.