A Toss to Good Fortune and a Spotless New Year

Xin nian kuai le! How many times did you lo-hei this year? We're pretty sure you've had lots of friends and family gathered at the table, tossing colourful yu sheng for luck in 2013. Not just a regular toss of course, but tossing high as possible for good fortune, which might not be so fortunate if you stain your brand new table linens.

Abundance, prosperity… remaining stain-free

 

Raw salmon slices, vegetable shreds, and pok chui crackers soaked in vinegar or plum sauce? Red wine or champagne? No matter the offender, here's what you can do to counter that stain before it sticks for good.

• Oil / oil-based sauces: Immediately spread baby powder over the stain, and allow it to sit at least a half hour. Brush it off after, apply a stain remover, and wash in the water the fabric can stand.

• Red wine: Cover the stain with salt and blot with cold water until you don't see any more of the red-pink wine color. When that's done, get your table cloth to your washing machine fast.

• Champagne: Pour white wine or club soda onto the stain. The carbonation will help the red rise out of the cloth. Blot the stain out and finish cleaning with some Vanish Power O2 Liquid.

Out with the stain spots, in with everything clean

 Some of us say that if old doesn't go, the new won't come. The same goes for ensuring stain-free clothes and table linens to welcome the new year. The general rule is that the longer a stain remains, the tougher it is to remove. So be quick on your pre-laundry treatments, such as the ones we've listed above. Keep those nasty spots out, and keep your wardrobe and home clean and fresh throughout the Year of the Snake.