Ah yes, Halloween…nothing brings out the pranksters like Halloween. If you are a Type A personality like me, your first instinct is probably to track down the pranksters and beat the snot out of them hold them accountable for their actions. Since this course of action isn’t recommended by authorities, here are easy cleanup tips to the four most common pranks.
Egg splatters on your house
Time is your enemy when your house has been egged because sun-baked yolks can stain siding. Also, micro-shards of shell can become embedded in paint or act as an abrasive when you clean off the gunk. (They’re nothing compared to my abrasive personality if I catch the pranksters though!)
Instead of scrubbing, spray away the egg with your garden hose. But don’t aim the hose full blast at the yolk; that will just splatter the mess. Instead, Popular Mechanics magazine suggests first wetting the siding below the egg, then gently spraying the siding above the egg. The water will fall in sheets and flush away the mess.
If you need more cleaning muscle,try dipping a brush into a bucket of warm water (never hot, which will bake on yolks) and dish soap, and then scrub away the mess.
Toilet paper in your trees
Wet toilet paper is a beast to remove from trees. So wait until the sun evaporates dew. But if rain is predicted, start removal right away. Otherwise, you are going to want to just cut the tree down.
Use a rake to grab and pull the TP down, a leaf blower to blast it, or a reacher/grabber to pluck it.
Start at the top and work your way down. Immediately throw paper away because leaving it on your lawn can smother grass.
Candle wax on the carpets
Never try to remove hot wax from carpeting. Not only can you burn yourself, but you’ll likely spread the wax, making a bigger mess.
When the wax has cooled, break it with a dull knife or Popsicle stick. Throw away the pieces.
Cover remaining bits with a paper towel or rag, and press a warm iron to the area. Replace the towel frequently to avoid spreading the wax.
Halloween makeup on upholstery and carpet
Many commercial carpet and upholstery cleaners remove makeup from unwanted places. The only tricky part is applying these cleaners.
Always test the cleaner on an inconspicuous spot. Apply a dab of cleaner on a white cloth, then hold it to the test area for about a minute. If no color is transferred to the white cloth, the cleaner is safe.
Never rub cleaner on a stain. Rather, blot the stain starting from its outer edge and work to the center.
What pranks and Halloween messes have you had to clean up? Got any good cleaning tips?
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