This article offers tips for tackling Big Game celebration stains with help from Heritage Park.

The Big Game is almost upon us. And if you’re one of the nearly 100 million football fans tuning in, you’re probably anticipating the Game Day party spread just as much as the gridiron action. Philly Cheese Steak or KC-Style Barbeque Ribs, anyone? Not to mention digging into our usual faves like hot wings, nachos, chili, sliders, and gooey Buffalo Ranch dip (to name a few).

But what’s not so fun? The inevitable spills, stains, and messes that result from eating, drinking, and cheering in front of our big screens. At Heritage Park Laundry Essentials, we say don’t let game day grime ruin your fun time. Here are a few tips to prevent getting blindsided by stains.

Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent: Harnessing the Power of Enzymes

If you’ve been reading our blog, you probably know we created Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent to bridge the gap between harsh commercial detergents that are loaded with chemicals and typical “gentle” detergents that aren’t really effective at getting laundry clean. So how did we do it? With powerful laundry enzymes.

Similar to digestive enzymes in saliva, laundry enzymes are biological compounds that break down and remove different types of dirt and stain; enzyme detergents are sometimes called “biological” detergents. Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent contains a proprietary five unique enzymes, each of which targets a specific stubborn stain. When put together in water, the enzymes catalyze and activate one another for maximum effectiveness; we like to say they are “position players” that work best as a team. You can learn more about how laundry enzymes work here.

Your Stain-Fighting Team: Heritage Park’s Proprietary Enzyme Blend

While the specific details of our enzyme blend are closely guarded, we’re happy to share a list of ingredients to show you why our detergent works so well on stains:

Treat Game Day Stains Fast and Effectively

Whether you’re captivated by the game, tuning in for the commercials, or mostly amped for the half-time show, you do NOT want to spend your “Super Sunday” in the laundry room. Here are a few quick steps for sidelining stains:

1. Check out the garment’s care label before treating any stain. Here’s a helpful guide to deciphering care labels.
2. Always treat stains quickly before they have a chance to set in and prior to washing.
3. Bookmark and refer to this helpful guide for treating different types of stains.
4.  If you can, set up a “stain station” near a utility sink or with a bucket. Use water, stain spray, or pre-soak as soon as possible.
5. Blot stains, don’t rub. Remove any solid stains (ex: a splatter of meat sauce, a dollop of ketchup) with the dull side of a knife first. Then blot with a clean cloth, sponge, or paper towel.
6. For rinsing, flush with water from the “wrong” side of the fabric so the water can force the stain out back to front. This is very effective for stains like BBQ sauce or ketchup.
7. Pre-soak and/or pre-treat. Either use a commercial stain spray or make your own with equal parts water and Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent. You can also pre-soak with Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent in lukewarm water, which will get you right back to the game.
8. For delicate fabrics, start with the least drastic method and work up. 
9. NEVER use bleach on stains. Bleach removes color and causes whites to yellow. Under limited circumstances, bleach can be used to brighten and disinfect white bed and bath linen, but it is not ideal for general stain treatment.
10. Don’t attempt to use dry cleaning solution on your own at home; that type of chemical requires commercial cleaning expertise.

Pro tip: You can also use our All-Purpose Detergent for spot cleaning and stain removal on your carpet or upholstery. Just mix with water and treat sooner than later and you may avoid having to hire a pricey cleaning service to clean up after your guests.

More About Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent

Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent is wonderful for regular laundering of cotton, synthetics, linen, and blends. You can use it on most of your clothing, bedding, bath linen, and even table linen. It is a pH-balanced, concentrated formula that can be used in a regular or HE washing machine or for handwashing; it is effective in cold water, cool water, warm water, and hot water. Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent is made in small batches under strict stewardship guidelines with a short list of plant-based ingredients, including enzymes. It comes in Fragrance-Free/Hypoallergenic, Lavender Mist, Shore Breeze, and Spring Magnolia scents. The Fragrance-Free formula is lab-certified hypoallergenic and has been pediatrician- and dermatologist-tested. It is wonderful for the most sensitive skin. Additionally, all Heritage Park detergents are Leaping Bunny approved as never tested on animals through any phase of production.

When NOT to use Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent

Because it contains laundry enzymes, which are made to dissolve protein-based stains, Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent should not be used for regular washing of protein-based fabrics like silk, wool, or cashmere. For these, use Heritage Park Silk and Wool Detergent, which is made to clean these natural fibers without causing damage.

Heritage Park Laundry Essentials

At Heritage Park, caring for fine fabric is our passion. As lifelong collectors of luxury sheets, towels, and cloths, we found many commercially available "gentle detergents" either damaged our fabrics or didn't get the job done, leaving stains. We knew we could do better. So we developed a formula with the perfect balance of powerful -- yet safe -- ingredients designed to remove tough, set-in stains while remaining gentle on luxury linens. Please connect with us at (800) 977-1841 or visit our store or email us with any product feedback or cleaning questions.