Halloween’s Stickiest Messes and How to Clean Them

Halloween is one of those nights when candy has a way of escaping the trick-or-treat bag. Chocolate melts onto shirts and sofas, sticky candy ends up on little hands and everything they touch, and gum somehow finds its way under tables, onto floors or, worst of all, into someone’s hair.

Fortunately, each mess has a fairly simple solution when you know what you’re dealing with.

Chocolate: Start cold.

If chocolate lands on clothing or upholstery, gently lift away as much as possible first. Then use cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent to work on what remains. Blot rather than scrub, especially on upholstery, so you don’t spread the stain or drive it deeper into the fibers.

Sticky candy: Sugar loves water.

Gummies, lollipops and other sticky candies can leave residue on clothing, sofas, dining chairs and other surfaces. Since much of that stickiness comes from sugar, warm water is your best first step. Let a damp cloth sit against stubborn residue briefly to soften it before wiping. On washable clothing, rinse away as much of the dissolved sugar as possible before laundering.

Gum: It depends where it lands.

On a hard surface, harden gum with ice and carefully lift it away. If residue remains in fabric fibers, a little isopropyl alcohol can help release it. Always spot-test first. Gum in hair? Skip the scissors. Work a little cooking oil or another food-safe oil into the gum and surrounding hair, gently working it free before shampooing thoroughly.

Make Halloween cleanup easier this year by matching the method to the mess.

And my everyday stain mantra still applies: Cold before hot more often than not, and when in doubt, blot it out.

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