Tips and tricks for removing Christmas decorations
2.1.2024
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
What would the holidays be without a few extra pounds – and glue or wax residue on your table or carpet? Here’s how you can revive any Christmas casualties.
With the turn of each year comes the time for clearing out your holiday adornments. As Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season, for most people the big clean-up happens on 6 January. That’s when the baubles and fairy lights are packed into their boxes and brought back down to the cellar. But the work often doesn’t end there. Christmas decor can leave behind traces. Fortunately, there are simple household remedies to remove them.
How to remove adhesive residue from the window
Window pictures and Christmas decorations are often easiest to stick on with tape. And the tape sometimes sticks to the glass better than it should. Before you start removing the decoration, heat the tape with a hairdryer. This makes it easier to pull off. If you’re stuck with some stubborn adhesive residue, try a touch of cooking oil to get it off. Put some rapeseed or olive oil on a cloth, spread it over the residue and let it sit for a while. The residue should now come off the window. To finish, go over the spots again with water and washing-up liquid.
How to clean off snow spray
Snow spray can be tricky to remove. To get rid of the white fluff, you can use a conventional scrubbing milk paired with a ceramic hob scraper. First, carefully scrape off the excess fake snow. Next, spread the scrubbing milk on the window, leave it to work for a short time, then wash it off. A tip for next Christmas: don’t spray the snow directly onto the glass. Instead, place a layer of cling film in between. That way, it’s not only easy to decorate, but also easy to clean your window.
How to remove wax stains
Alas, tranquil candlelight goes hand in hand with the odd waxy accident. Many surfaces such as chests of drawers, table tops and window sills will retain stubborn stains. The good news is these are only difficult to remove when solid. Place a sheet of blotting paper on the affected area and heat it up with a hairdryer or an iron. The paper will absorb the wax as it melts. Alternatively, you can clean the area with very hot water. In this case, simply dab off the wax stains with a cloth. If large areas are affected, you can first scrub off the excess using a ceramic hob scraper.
How to remove crusty remains and mulled wine stains
Mulled wine can quickly stain your top. And that juicy pork roast can easily coat your oven with crusty splatter. In both cases, salt can be your saviour. First, wipe out the inside of the oven with a damp cloth. Next, sprinkle salt over burn marks and residue. Heat to 50 degrees until the salt is brown. Allow the salt to cool, and then wipe everything off with a cloth.
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Salt can also help remove mulled wine stains, as long as they’re still fresh and wet. Simply apply some salt to the affected area, then remove. Repeat until the salt no longer turns red. If the stain has already dried, opt for glass cleaner instead. Spray the stained area and leave to soak. Wash the garment as usual afterwards.
A final tip for storing decorations
Has your stash of seasonal decorations expanded? Empty egg cartons and Schokokuss chocolate marshmallow packaging are a great storage option for Christmas tree baubles and other ornaments.
Header image: Maike Jensen
Cat lady and coffee lover from up north. Always on the lookout for «News and Trends».
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