All Hallow's Clean
Watch Jack-o'-Lanterns
“Everyone likes to put jack-o'-lanterns by the door, because they’re fun,” says Reichert. “If you do that, don’t put a candle in it, though.” Imagine a young child kicking a blazing pumpkin into your dry leaves … not good.
Think About Décor
This fun-in-theory double-whammy is both a safety hazard and a mess-maker. “If you like to invite people just inside your door for trick-or-treating, make sure you put the décor far from the door so they aren’t tripping or knocking into it,” says Reichert.
Trick-or-Treat: Chocolate Stains
Whether on your kid or the carpet, chocolate stains are inevitable. "First, use an ice cube on the chocolate to freeze it," Reichert says. "When it’s hard, scrape it off with a butter knife. Try some club soda on the spot, and dab with a white cloth until you can’t see any more residue." From there, rub a shoe or nail brush on an ivory soap bar until foamy. Work on the stain from the outside in, dabbing off chocolate as you go. Use rubbing alcohol on the remaining oil spot.
Face Paint
For face paint, Reichert suggests a three-step method: “First, use cold cream or body balm to remove oil-based paint. If that doesn’t work, use baby wipes or rubbing alcohol, which will take off grease-based paint. If all else fails, try baby oil on a cotton ball, working from the outside in. Be gentle. Try a little spot first, before rubbing, to see which works best.”
Glitter and Confetti
Whether kids track it in, dump it on the floor, or leave it after a party, glitter and confetti can wedge their way between carpet fibers and stick. "The vacuum will get this up, but you need tools," Reichert says. "Use the brush attachment and get right down on the floor to scrape it up. You could also lift with a toothbrush or shoe polish brush. The big thing is using bristles."
Pranks: Eggs
Your house may not escape holiday pranks on Halloween or Devil’s Night, especially eggs: “Instinct is to grab a hose, but don’t do that,” Reichert says. “Spraying directly will splatter it. Wet the house underneath the egg, coming downward over it, and gently rinse it off. Time is of the essence, so get up early and check for pranks. If the sun hits it, the heat might set the stain.”
