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How Professional Cleaning Services Tackle Winter’s Toughest Stains

How Professional Cleaning Services Tackle Winter’s Toughest Stains
January 20, 2025

Whether you’re a chronic klutz, have pets or kids, or tend to entertain a lot, stains are something we all face at some point. However, winter can present some particularly tough stains that require quick thinking and know-how to remove properly. 

Here’s what the pros at our cleaning company in Scarborough recommend when you’re faced with tough winter stains.

 How professional cleaning services tackle winter’s toughest stains

Determine the Nature of the Stain

The culprit that makes a stain so difficult to clean is not so much its colour, but more what makes up the base of the stain. There are four possible types of stains that determine how to approach stain removal:

  1. Water-based stains, such as mulled red wine, pomegranate martinis, or peppermint hot chocolate. 
  2. Oil-based stains, such as turkey gravy, holly berry lipstick, or tangerine-scented hand cream.  
  3. Protein-based stains, such as egg nog, gingerbread spice latte foam, or things like blood or pet urine.
  4. Synthetic stains, like jingle bell gold nail polish, elf green hair dye, or Santa Suit red paint.  

A professional cleaning company in Scarborough understands the importance of identifying the type of stain so they know what steps to take to remove it.

Tackling Water-Based Winter Stains

For cleaning water-based stains during the winter, as long as you act fast, you should have no problem removing them. The most important step is to quickly grab a clean, dry cloth and blot at the stain to remove the access.

If you rub, you’ll spread the liquid and make the stain bigger. You should also avoid using stain-removing products without first doing a spot test to ensure they don’t remove colouring. 

Some safer methods, once you blot away the excess, include the following:

  • Apply white vinegar and a sprinkle of baking soda to remove tough stains like red wine. Allow it to sit for a few hours. Vacuum the dry baking soda, and rinse the stain away with a clean, wet cloth and water.
  • Apply club soda to the stain and let it set for at least 10 minutes. Then, blot the stain again to lift it away.
  • Use warm water and dishwashing liquid to remove the stain, and rinse and repeat until it disappears.

Tackling Oil-Based Stains

The key to oil-based stains is absorbing the greasy elements. Some methods that tend to do a good job at oil absorption include:

  • Rubbing alcohol: Dabbing at the stain with rubbing alcohol can dissolve the oil, making it easier to blot up the mess. You can then use water to remove anything left behind. 
  • Baking soda: For real messes, baking soda works like a magnet for the grease when left to sit for several hours or overnight. You can then vacuum it up and use rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth to remove any remaining residue.
  • Vinegar and water: Vinegar can help break down oily messes when applied with a clean cloth.

Be sure to blot and never rub oil stains, as rubbing will push the stain further into the fibres, making it very difficult to remove.

Tackling Protein-Based Stains

Keep an enzyme-based stain remover handy to tackle protein-based stains. This is hands-down the best way to remove this type of stain, especially pet urine.

In a pinch, you can also use vinegar. It works the same way as enzyme cleaners by helping to break down the molecules. If odours are an issue, baking soda can help. Let it sit overnight to absorb the odours, and then vacuum it up. 

Tackling Synthetic Stains

Often, a safe option for synthetic stains like paint and nail polish is to use a non-acetone, dye-free nail polish remover. This can work wonders on all kinds of synthetic stains, including glue.

Test it first using a cotton ball soaked in the remover to ensure it does not make things worse. You might need to add quite a bit and keep blotting the stain to see any results. Unfortunately, if the spill is more saturated or the nail polish is dark, you should prepare yourself for a faded stain.

For water-based paints, you can use a mix of dish detergent and warm water. First, try to blot up as much of the paint as possible with an absorbent cloth, working from the outside in to avoid spreading it. Then, add a generous spritz of warm water and dish soap, and use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub the stain.

Blot as you remove the excess. Continue to spritz the stain and rinse the brush clean as you work to prevent the paint from moving around. Keep working until you see the stain disappear.

Tackling Salt Stains on Leather

Your favourite leather boots, coats, and gloves require conditioning and protection to prevent salt stains. If you don’t apply proper treatments, using special cleaning products designed specifically for this purpose is the best way to go.

They work best to reduce the risk of damaging the leather’s suppleness, dyes, and appearance. However, you can also use our DIY vinegar and water method in a pinch:

  • Brush off the excess salt with your hand or a soft, dry brush.
  • Apply a mix of equal parts vinegar and water with a clean cloth, applying light pressure in a circular motion until the white stain disappears.
  • Allow the leather to dry overnight and then buff it with a dry microfiber cloth.
  • Apply leather conditioner and protection to avoid future staining.

How to Remove Holiday Makeup From Upholstery and Clothes

Things like foundation, lipstick, and mascara can leave an unsightly glob on upholstery and clothes. Make sure you act fast, using a spoon or butter knife to scrape off the glob, trying hard not to spread it as you work. Then, follow these steps:

  • Blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth to absorb some grease and any excess not picked up by the spoon. 
  • Mix dish soap and warm water in a spritz bottle and spray the stain. Then, gently blot the area to remove the oils and pigments.
  • You can also opt for vinegar and water, as they will break down the grease and help remove the pigments.
  • It might take many tries and several clean cloths to completely remove the stain.
  • You can then use a clean cloth dampened with water to remove the residue.

Contact a Professional Cleaning Company in Scarborough

Whether it’s the hazards of the holiday season, or old man winter himself, these tips can help you tackle those stains like a professional. You can also use a cleaning company in Scarborough or the GTA to tackle winter stains for you!


For a free quote from the cleaning experts at Maid4Condos, click here. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

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