Holiday meals are all about gathering around a beautiful table… until the gravy drips, the cranberry sauce splatters, and someone (every year!) knocks over a glass of red wine. If your tablecloths and cloth napkins are part of your family tradition – or if you simply love a beautiful holiday table – the last thing you want is a permanent stain or yellowing that ruins them for next year.
The good news? Most holiday stains can be saved with the right care. And the team at Kean’s are here to help you keep your linens looking fresh, bright, and ready for all the celebrations ahead.
Here’s your guide to getting through Thanksgiving and Christmas with clean, long-lasting linens – plus the stains you should never try to treat at home.
Why Holiday Tablecloths Take the Worst Hits
Holiday foods are delicious… and notoriously tough on fabric.
Common offenders include:
- Turkey gravy and cooking oils (oil-based stains)
- Cranberry sauce and berry pies (deep dyes + tannins)
- Red wine (acidic + pigmented)
- Candle wax (hot + oily)
- Chocolate (fat + protein)
- Lipstick on napkins (pigment + wax)
- Butter (oil stain that spreads quickly)
Add kids, pets, and family members reaching across the table – and mess is guaranteed.
But the real issue is this:
Most people fold up their holiday tablecloths with stains still on them, put them in a drawer, and don’t look at them again for 11 months.
That’s when stains oxidize, turning yellow or brown – sometimes permanently.
Let’s avoid that this year.
How to Treat Holiday Stains Immediately
These tips will get you through Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner without panicking – and without setting the stains deeper.
1. Red Wine Stains
Do:
- Blot up as much wine as possible with a clean, white cloth – blot, don’t rub
- Lay the fabric flat and generously cover the stain with table salt to absorb the wine.
- For washable, colorfast items, follow Kean’s go-to method: mix hydrogen peroxide and dish soap, apply to the stain, and gently blot until it begins to lift.
Don’t:
- Rub the stain deeper into the fibers.
- Pour white wine on it (that myth doesn’t help and can make things worse).
If the stain has dried or the fabric is delicate (silk, wool, cashmere, heirloom linens), skip DIY and bring it straight to Kean’s.
2. Cranberry Sauce & Berry Pie Stains
Do:
- Carefully lift or scrape off any solid bits of sauce or filling.
- Blot with cold water from the back of the fabric to push the stain outward instead of deeper in.
- For washable fabrics, Pre-treat with a little liquid laundry detergent, or a diluted mix of white vinegar and water if the care label allows.
Don’t:
3. Gravy, Butter & Turkey Drippings (Grease/Oil Stains)
Do:
- Gently scrape off any excess gravy or butter with a spoon or knife.
- Lay the fabric flat and sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or baby powder liberally over the stain to absorb the grease. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Brush off the powder.
- Apply a small amount of dish soap directly to the stain and gently work it in – dish soap is designed to cut grease.
- Rinse in warm water if the care label allows, then launder or bring to Kean’s.
Don’t:
- Immediately rinse under water before giving the powder time to absorb – you’ll just spread the oil.
- Put the item in a hot dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone (heat can set grease permanently).
For dry-clean-only or delicate fabrics, skip the DIY and go straight to professional stain removal.
4. Candle Wax Stains
Do:
- Let the wax fully harden first – you can speed this up with ice cubes in a plastic bag.
- Gently lift and scrape off as much hardened wax as possible.
- For sturdy, washable tablecloths, use the classic method: place paper towels or a brown paper bag above and below the wax spot, then use a warm iron to melt the remaining wax so it transfers into the paper. Replace the paper as it becomes saturated.
Don’t:
- Yank or pick at soft, warm wax – it will smear and penetrate more deeply.
- Use a hot iron directly on delicate, antique, or heirloom linens. For those, bring them to Kean’s instead of risking heat damage.
5. Chocolate & Cocoa Stains
Do:
- Scrape off any excess chocolate carefully so you don’t push it deeper into the fibers.
- Soak the stained area in cold water for at least 30 minutes.
- After soaking, gently work in liquid laundry detergent on the stain.
Don’t:
If a “shadow” of chocolate remains after your first attempt, Kean’s can often get the rest of the way there with professional stain treatment.
The #1 Rule: Don’t Store Holiday Linens Without Cleaning Them
Even if the stain looks faint or invisible, food residue oxidizes over time – especially in Louisiana’s humidity.
This leads to:
- Yellow rings
- Brown spots
- Fabric weakening
- Permanent discoloration
- Musty smells
- Mold growth in stored linens
Once oxidation happens, some stains are permanent no matter what you do.
That’s why professional cleaning is so important before you fold them up for the year.
This Holiday Season, Let Kean’s Save Your Linens
Holiday stains don’t have to be permanent – and your family tablecloth doesn’t need to be replaced every year. Whether it’s red wine from Thanksgiving or candle wax from Christmas dinner, Kean’s can help restore your linens to their best condition.
Bring your tablecloths, napkins, runners, and holiday linens to Kean’s for:
- Expert stain removal
- Gentle cleaning
- Crisp, hand-finished pressing
- Safe preparation for long-term storage
Make this the year your tablecloth survives the holidays beautifully.
