Chaos is defined as any confusion or disorder.  The perfect example of chaos is being attacked by your marinara sauce in the process of cooking your family the perfect meal. You don’t have to be a victim of the long-term damage that can be left by pasta sauce stains.  Today, we are going to battle with those tiny, red blotches that are left behind on your favorite shirt after you sat over the sauce pan stirring until your fingers hurt. We are going to battle with the 10-year old that wanted to be a “big girl” and carry her daddy’s food to the table only for it to end up face down on the carpet and a present for the dog. We are going to battle with the spouse who wanted to eat on the couch so they could watch the game, but instead watched as their meatball rolled down the side of the La-Z Boy.  Chaos doesn’t have to last forever and neither do those pasta stains.

Fabric

1. Working from the back of the stain, flush with cool water.
2. Pretreat with a liquid laundry detergent; tamp the stain and let stand for several minutes.
3. Rinse well.
4. Sponge with Flora Organic White Vinegar.
5. Rinse well.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 until you have removed as much stain as possible.
7. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover.
8. Launder.
9. If the stain remains, rub with a liquid laundry detergent, and then soak in warm water for up to 30 minutes.
10. Launder again with fabric-appropriate bleach, if necessary.

Upholstery

1. Using a clean white cloth, apply a dry-cleaning solvent to the stained area.
2. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
3. Repeat, applying and blotting the solution until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed onto the cloth.
4. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water.
5. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
6. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until the stain disappears.
8. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Carpet

1. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water.
2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
4. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia – the resulting fumes are hazardous) with 1/2 cup of cool water.
5. Sponge the stain with the ammonia solution.
6. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
7. Sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the ammonia solution.

We all know that chaos is a part of life and can raise its ugly head at any family meal, but it doesn’t need to leave a stain on your life, your carpet or your couches.  Like all wonderful things in life, rewards come with immense responsibilities. Managing pasta sauce is no different.  So if you plan on using some of our delicious marinara sauce, make sure you have a backup plan in case things get a little messy.