How to Deal with the Horror of Halloween Messes

How to Deal with the Horror of Halloween Messes

Happy HaloweenHalloween is a time for spooky fun and the one time a year eating too much candy is expected. What’s not expected is the mess that decorations and cute trick-or-treaters leave behind. Before you die of fright, consider using these simple tricks for cleaning up treats and other spills and splotches.

  • Pumpkin – Carving pumpkins is one of the most beloved parts of Halloween tradition but the ‘guts’ can prove difficult to remove. Try to lay down a layer of newspaper or an old bed sheet.  Luckily dish washing liquid and water will get rid of any spilled remnants.
  • Glitter – Glitter is so fun to add to decorations and costumes but gets EVERYwhere. Try to vacuum up extra sparkles when you can and use play doh or something similar to roll over anything left behind.
  • Sticky Candy – Hot water is good for dissolving sugar but for things that cannot be soaked, wipe with a mixture of vinegar and warm water.
  • Gum – On carpet or most other cloth items, lay ice cubes on top of the gum until it hardens and then scrape off. If in the hair, don’t reach for the scissors! Creamy peanut butter is great for loosening the gum.
  • Makeup – Makeup is surprisingly hard to get out of carpet and upholstery. Commercial carpet cleaners work pretty well if you use it correctly. The important thing to note is to never wipe it. Always blot the area.
  • Eggs – Time is of the essence for removing egg splatters on your house and walk ways. Sun baked egg is nigh impossible to remove. Remove the eggshell first so it will not work like an abrasive and ruin your paint or siding. If it the egg is still moist, simply spray away with your hose. If not, a mixture of half water and half vinegar will help soak the egg off.
  • Toilet Paper – It is fairly simple to remove dry toilet paper. If out of reach, wrap a long stick or a yard tool like a rake with duct tape (sticky side out) and use it to grab the paper.
  • Fake Blood – On the carpet, blot with club soda and water to remove. For clothing, toss everything in the washer with cold water, baking soda and vinegar. Note that too much vinegar and baking soda will turn your washer into a messy volcano.  For any fake blood on your skin that is being stubborn, makeup remover and cold cream are wonderful. For extra stubborn skin stains, try lemon juice on a cotton ball.

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