I don’t know if every kid who grew up in the ’80s has the same memories of Thanksgiving dinners as I do. But clearer than the turkey is the way our table was always set: first, a waterproof pad (that I swear was later repurposed atop a mattress when my children came for a sleepover) and then one of my mom’s linens or one handed down to her.
The padding left the table a bit squishy and meant that wine glasses sometimes toppled over. And the linen ended up covered in a cornucopia of cranberry sauce and gravy.
I was thankful, year after year, that my mom never asked me to try and get those stains out. She’d spend an unfortunate amount of time hunched over the laundry room sink, with a bar of Sunlight in hand. Scrubbing. I remember a lot of scrubbing.
Fast forward 25 or 30 years, and now that we host our own Thanksgiving dinners, I’ve learned to skip the linens. Sadly, that doesn’t mean I don’t still meet my fair share of stains after a big turkey dinner. Whether it’s on clothes or fabric napkins, those cranberries and that gravy still like to make their mark.
The difference between then and now, of course, is that I don’t spend too much time in the laundry room. I reach for a spray bottle of pre-mixed OxiClean liquid or use one of the new (and utterly convenient) OxiClean Laundry Detergent Paks. I still favour natural detergents for my everyday laundering, but for tougher stains — and I don’t have to tell you that gravy is tough — I usually go for something stronger.
If only all the washing up following Thanksgiving ended with laundry. Alas, no. The dishes are another story altogether. Another thing I’m thankful for? Our dishwasher. Because, honestly, the last thing I want to do after prepping, cooking, serving and hosting up a storm is dishes by hand. I know some people find doing dishes relaxing, and one woman I recently met tells me she does all her best thinking washing dishes.
Not this girl.
I’d rather tuck into a nice glass of wine listening to the sweet hum of the dishwasher.
So, as we get ready to go into turkey overdrive tomorrow across Canada, lifestyle expert Nicole Sassaman has some great tips so you spend more time entertaining and less time cleaning:
- Have an emergency clean-up kit ready to go for guests who dribble red wine (or other super-important food group) on themselves: cloths (microfibre or regular terrycloth) alongside a small bottle of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover mixed with warm water
- Start cleanup as soon as dinner’s over, and tackle stuck-on food with OxiClean Extreme Power Crystals Dishwasher Detergent — remember to let guests help!
- Deep clean table linens using OxiClean Liquid Laundry Detergent, ensuring next year’s canvas is bright and clean
It’s all about survival, people. If you can make it through preparing a bird from scratch, serving everything at (relatively) the same time and manage to carry on conversations with every member of your extended family (yes, all of them), you pretty much deserve a medal.
But since I don’t have a medal, instead, the kind folks at OxiClean would like to give you the chance to win a Thanksgiving Survival Kit, valued at $60. That’s a whole lot of clean, my friends. It includes a bunch of awesome OxiClean products (Laundry Detergent Paks, Liquid Laundry Detergent, White Revive Stain Remover, Dishwashing 2 in 1 Booster, Unit Dose Laundry Detergent and Extreme Power Crystal Dishwasher Detergent).
DISCLAIMER: I was compensated for this post, but opinions (and sass!) are always my own.
roger simmons says
I see everyone has the same fear. Red Stains such as….cranberries!! hahaha not wine…on a White Tablecloth
roger simmons says
I see everyone has the same fear. Red Stains such as….cranberries!! hahaha not wine…on a White Tablecloth
409cope says
My worst stain memory on Thanksgiving was half a gravy bowl dumped on a white tablecloth.
409cope says
My worst stain memory on Thanksgiving was half a gravy bowl dumped on a white tablecloth.
Alexia H. says
Greasy gravy stains on my favourite tablecloth!
Alexia H. says
Greasy gravy stains on my favourite tablecloth!
intensev5 says
Red Wine on the carpet!!!
Rafflecopter name: Enelram
intensev5 says
Red Wine on the carpet!!!
Rafflecopter name: Enelram
Marya says
I don’t have any of my own stain memories. Though I have four boys, so I’m sure we’ll make plenty of new stain memories!!
Marya says
I don’t have any of my own stain memories. Though I have four boys, so I’m sure we’ll make plenty of new stain memories!!
Miriam Wilton says
cranberry sauce on the white plush carpet at my grandmothers house.
Miriam Wilton says
cranberry sauce on the white plush carpet at my grandmothers house.
aarone mawdsley says
My worst memory is when red wine spills all over everything!
aarone mawdsley says
My worst memory is when red wine spills all over everything!
melanie borhi says
Gravy and wine
melanie borhi says
Gravy and wine
Lee-Ann says
dumping a bowl of borscht on my boss who had brought some in for everyone to try. Thankfully it was before I put it in the microwave.
Mommy Gearest says
Mmmm, Boss Borscht. The worst kind of offender.
Lee-Ann says
dumping a bowl of borscht on my boss who had brought some in for everyone to try. Thankfully it was before I put it in the microwave.
Mommy Gearest says
Mmmm, Boss Borscht. The worst kind of offender.
Kim M says
Red wine on someone else’s sofa
Kim M says
Red wine on someone else’s sofa
Dayna Wilson says
Red wine spilled on the baby: both impossible to get out and embarrassing at the same time.
Mommy Gearest says
OK, Dayna – that’s actually kind of hilarious…LOL!
Dayna Wilson says
Red wine spilled on the baby: both impossible to get out and embarrassing at the same time.
Mommy Gearest says
OK, Dayna – that’s actually kind of hilarious…LOL!
nicolthepickle says
I got fresh cranberry sauce all over everything.
nicolthepickle says
I got fresh cranberry sauce all over everything.
Sandi Tymchuk says
Grease staining my tablecloth.
Sandi Tymchuk says
Grease staining my tablecloth.
Tracy D says
Red wine, or gravy.
Tracy D says
Red wine, or gravy.
Janet says
My brother-in-law always managed to spill red wine on Mom’s heirloom tablecloth.
Janet says
My brother-in-law always managed to spill red wine on Mom’s heirloom tablecloth.
Carol Denny says
Gravy stains on my table cloth.
Carol Denny says
Gravy stains on my table cloth.
julie bolduc says
I remember coming from church and we had our Thanksgiving dinner and i spilled gravy on my dress i was so upset
julie bolduc says
I remember coming from church and we had our Thanksgiving dinner and i spilled gravy on my dress i was so upset
Shelley Nelson says
my worst stain memory when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner was when a glass of red wine was dumped on our beautiful cream coloured tablecloth. It took a ton of stain remover spray and many many washes to get that one out.
Shelley Nelson says
my worst stain memory when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner was when a glass of red wine was dumped on our beautiful cream coloured tablecloth. It took a ton of stain remover spray and many many washes to get that one out.
SueSueper says
Certainly would have to be grease is my worst nightmare.
SueSueper says
Certainly would have to be grease is my worst nightmare.
prairiebelle says
the worst mess I ever had was dropping the gravy boat on the floor, full of gravy…smashed and glass and gravy everywhere
prairiebelle says
the worst mess I ever had was dropping the gravy boat on the floor, full of gravy…smashed and glass and gravy everywhere
Tammy Dalley says
red wine
Tammy Dalley says
red wine
SUMMER PLEWES says
Gravy!! one of the chillins at the table knocked one of the gravies over, total accident, no ones fault but I lost a beautiful table cloth that day!
SUMMER PLEWES says
Gravy!! one of the chillins at the table knocked one of the gravies over, total accident, no ones fault but I lost a beautiful table cloth that day!
Jenn Erin says
Definitely when the bottle of red wine tipped over which to make it worst, landed someone plate of mash potatoes!
Jenn Erin says
Definitely when the bottle of red wine tipped over which to make it worst, landed someone plate of mash potatoes!
nomnombearinyvr says
Cranberry sauce on my mom’s new white dinning room chair
Jeannie Lam
nomnombearinyvr says
Cranberry sauce on my mom’s new white dinning room chair
Jeannie Lam
kristineewald says
Spilling red wine :S
kristineewald says
Spilling red wine :S
favgreen says
I don’t recall any unusal stain disaster…With lots of little ones running around I do have memories of many things being spilled for sure though…
favgreen says
I don’t recall any unusal stain disaster…With lots of little ones running around I do have memories of many things being spilled for sure though…
Mark V. says
spilling the cranberry sauce on my mothers white lace table cloth
Mark V. says
spilling the cranberry sauce on my mothers white lace table cloth
angela m says
One year my husband dropped the Turkey in the roaster and splashed grease everywhere.
angela m says
One year my husband dropped the Turkey in the roaster and splashed grease everywhere.
lori b says
red wine with dinner on my brand new white shirt
lori b says
red wine with dinner on my brand new white shirt
Tanis S says
Cranberry sauce on the carpet under the table. Left for a week!
Tanis S says
Cranberry sauce on the carpet under the table. Left for a week!
loucheryl says
My mom spilled a full glass of red wine all over the Thanksgiving table. It really stained our table cloth.
loucheryl says
My mom spilled a full glass of red wine all over the Thanksgiving table. It really stained our table cloth.
marie Catherine says
Gravy stains because of the grease
marie Catherine says
Gravy stains because of the grease
Lori Jackson says
Cranberry sauce slid right down my shirt! We slice it and it slipped off my fork.
Lori Jackson says
Cranberry sauce slid right down my shirt! We slice it and it slipped off my fork.
Karla Sceviour says
tipping over a botle of beets,,,MESSY,,and beets stain badly!!!
Karla Sceviour says
tipping over a botle of beets,,,MESSY,,and beets stain badly!!!
jenny says
red wine
jenny says
red wine
karinespace says
Last year, my nephew spilled a jug of juice all over the table, needless to say it made us clean
karinespace says
Last year, my nephew spilled a jug of juice all over the table, needless to say it made us clean
Kel Gordon says
Ohh MY Red wine for sure !!
Kel Gordon says
Ohh MY Red wine for sure !!
Pam says
Hubby spilling the entire gravy dish on my beautiful table cloth.
Pam says
Hubby spilling the entire gravy dish on my beautiful table cloth.
Lori Bazan says
Years ago, my first Thanksgiving at my now in-laws, I reached for the mashed potatoes and knocked over my red wine on to their treasured embroidered table cloth.
Lori Bazan says
Years ago, my first Thanksgiving at my now in-laws, I reached for the mashed potatoes and knocked over my red wine on to their treasured embroidered table cloth.
Athena says
Red wine on a white tablecloth
Athena says
Red wine on a white tablecloth
kathy downey says
Red wine is the worst
kathy downey says
Red wine is the worst
Amy Heffernan says
Worst would be YESTERDAY when i spilled red wine on my shirt! 🙁
Amy Heffernan says
Worst would be YESTERDAY when i spilled red wine on my shirt! 🙁
Yuen C says
I havent had any bad stains, just a bit of spilled gravy.
Yuen C says
I havent had any bad stains, just a bit of spilled gravy.
ivy pluchinsky says
Red wine all over my white top!
ivy pluchinsky says
Red wine all over my white top!
Tricia Cooper says
My worst stain memory when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner is gravy on the good tablecloth!
Tricia Cooper says
My worst stain memory when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner is gravy on the good tablecloth!
edmontonjb says
I was making gravy and splattered turkey drippings all over my new top
Jonnie
edmontonjb says
I was making gravy and splattered turkey drippings all over my new top
Jonnie
seham merzib says
my son spilling the gravy and went all over the table
seham merzib says
my son spilling the gravy and went all over the table
Charlene Argaez says
Never fails – cranberry sauce, red wine or gravy spills on the tablecloth, or somebody, every year. Those are the worst stains every year!
Charlene Argaez says
Never fails – cranberry sauce, red wine or gravy spills on the tablecloth, or somebody, every year. Those are the worst stains every year!
Brenda Lacourciere says
my worst stain was my granddaughter using marker on my really nice tablecloth while the adults were chatting.
Brenda Lacourciere says
my worst stain was my granddaughter using marker on my really nice tablecloth while the adults were chatting.
Brenda Penton says
I think the worst stain I had was from mustard pickles that my grandmother spilled on my table cloth.
Brenda Penton says
I think the worst stain I had was from mustard pickles that my grandmother spilled on my table cloth.
Vesper Meikle says
The worst stains are anything that lands on my white table cloth – still have one stain that hasn’t come out – I think it was a gravy stain
Vesper Meikle says
The worst stains are anything that lands on my white table cloth – still have one stain that hasn’t come out – I think it was a gravy stain
Angela Mitchell says
Wine and cranberry sauce on my brand new white tablecloth!
Angela Mitchell says
Wine and cranberry sauce on my brand new white tablecloth!
andrea amy (@mommy2fiveboys) says
Cranberry sauce!
andrea amy (@mommy2fiveboys) says
Cranberry sauce!
Eldon says
Hmm I think it was wine which was so hard to get off!
Eldon says
Hmm I think it was wine which was so hard to get off!
Erika E says
I bought a new shirt to wear to Thanksgiving dinner at my friend’s house and while I was carrying my plate full of food to the table I managed to spill gravy off my plate onto my shirt. The grease was really hard to get out!
Erika E says
I bought a new shirt to wear to Thanksgiving dinner at my friend’s house and while I was carrying my plate full of food to the table I managed to spill gravy off my plate onto my shirt. The grease was really hard to get out!
Florence C says
I tipped my red wine. Stain my good tablecloth.
Florence C says
I tipped my red wine. Stain my good tablecloth.
Silvia D says
My worst memory would be when the turkey was carried to the table and slipped off the platter sending wine glasses,side dishes,gravy boats, ect..flipping over the table cloth and people! Was a mess!
Silvia D says
My worst memory would be when the turkey was carried to the table and slipped off the platter sending wine glasses,side dishes,gravy boats, ect..flipping over the table cloth and people! Was a mess!
lisa bolduc says
don’t really remember any stains but I do have an 8 month old who loves to explore eating and he stains his clthes a lot with the food
lisa bolduc says
don’t really remember any stains but I do have an 8 month old who loves to explore eating and he stains his clthes a lot with the food