The winter holidays are a time of fun and celebration for the entire family. However, amid all the excitement is an increased chance that someone will spill food, beverages or candle wax on your carpet. In preparation for such mishaps, INVISTA's STAINMASTER® carpet team offers some simple cleaning solutions to help you clean the most common holiday spills.

"The night before I hosted a holiday party last year, my red candle melted all over my white carpet! Thanks to the cleaning solutions from the experts at INVISTA, I hosted my party without any remnants of the disaster from the evening before. These simple stain solutions saved my carpet and my sanity! Keep them close this holiday season," said Leah Satterwhite, of Dallas, Texas.

Dry Cleaning Fluid Solution

Use non-flammable dry cleaning fluid or a liquid spot remover from the grocery store or hardware store. (Note: Do not apply dry cleaning fluid directly to carpet. Apply first to a cloth and use the cloth to apply the fluid to the stain.)

Detergent Solution

Mix 1/4 teaspoon mild liquid dish detergent (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water.

Detergent Solution

Mix 1/4 teaspoon mild liquid dish detergent (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water.

Vinegar Solution

Mix two tablespoons white vinegar in four cups warm water.

Detergent Solution

Mix 1/4 teaspoon mild liquid dish detergent (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water.

Ammonia Solution

Mix two tablespoons clear, white, non-suds ammonia in four cups of warm water.

Note: If the stain is not removed by the mild detergent solution, visit http://www.carpet-rug.org for additional suggestions.

1. Scoop up and blot as much of the spill as possible.
2. Vacuum any dry particles.
3. Prepare suggested cleaning solutions, beginning with the first one listed.
4. Pretest the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous spot of carpet to ensure it does not discolor or damage the carpet.
5. Apply the cleaning solution to the stain area. Work from the outside of the stain toward the center.
6. Allow the cleaning solution to remain on the spill for at least five minutes.
7. Blot with a clean white cloth until no more stain transfers to the cloth. Do not rub the stain area or you might damage the carpet fibers.
8. Rinse with cold water. Be sure all cleaning solution is removed from the carpet.
9. If you can still see the stain, repeat the process until either the stain is removed or the stain no longer transfers to the cloth.
10. If the stain remains, try the next solution on the list and follow the same protocol above. If the stain persists after trying each of the solutions, contact a professional cleaner.
11. Once the stain is removed, place layers of white paper towel on the site to absorb any moisture. Weight down the towels with a non-staining glass or ceramic object. You can let them sit overnight.
12. When the carpet is dry, vacuum to restore the texture.
13. Have your carpet professionally cleaned every 24 months, as required by the STAINMASTER® carpet limited warranties. (See full warranty details at your retailer.)