Halloween is really a holiday for the kiddos. It gives them a chance to dress up as their favorite characters, hang out with their friends, and stuff themselves full of candy. There’s not much to do for adults besides watch horror movies or maybe peruse some not-so-funny Halloween cleaning memes.
What lots of people don’t talk about is the absolute mess that your typical Halloween activities can cause. It’s not uncommon for the kitchen and/or living room to be a wreck on November 1st, covered with chocolate, grease, glitter, paint, and all kinds of odds and ends of those homemade Halloween costumes.
Here at Maid Zen, we want to make sure that you have all the info you need to make a clean recovery when its all said and done. Below, you can learn how to clean some of the most common messes that Halloween activities can make.
Updated for 2023
This year’s most popular Halloween costumes will likely consist of a mix of Spiderman, Stranger Things kiddos, and a mix of your tried and true costumes (including dinosaur, fairy, witch, and more). Luckily, that means that our guide below covers most – if not all – scenarios where you might want to clean the costume.
Cleaning Halloween Costumes
When it comes to Halloween, one of the highlights is dressing up in your favorite Halloween costumes. Most people who purchase store-bought Halloween costumes do not expect them to last a long time. On the other hand, if you who would like to wear your costume next year or pass it down to your children or grandchildren, you should make sure you clean your Halloween costume appropriately. Here’s how to clean your Halloween costumes.
Halloween Costumes with Beads and Sequins
For those who are wearing costumes with added props such as beads or sequins, this is something that has to be hand-washed. In order to watch this costume properly, fill a sink or plastic tub with cold water. Then, add a little bit of gentle detergent and fabric softener. Turn the costume inside out to protect the props. Then, knead the costume by hand for a minute and rinse it with cold water to ensure all of the detergent and fabric softener has been removed. Let the costume air-dry.
Polyester and Nylon Halloween Costumes
For those who have polyester or nylon costumes, these are safe to wash in a machine. Just make sure to use a cold water setting. For costumes that contain white, it might be a good idea to add a little bit of bleach to the wash. Always hang these costumes and let them air-dry.
Store the Halloween Costumes Appropriately
Always store these costumes in a cool, dry place. It is a good idea to place them in a sealed container with some mothballs to keep them fresh and to prevent mold from growing.
Cleaning Chocolate & Candy Messes
Halloween is all about candy and chocolate. At the same time, this can leave a significant mess behind. The good news is that for those who are wondering how to clean chocolate stains, there are a few easy steps that can be followed to tackle even the toughest residues.
Materials Needed To Remove Chocolate and Candy Stains
In order to remove chocolate and candy stains, some of the materials that you might require include:
- A flat surface, such as a butter knife
- Stain pretreatment or laundry detergent
- A washing machine
This will help you tackle even the toughest candy or chocolate stains on your garments.
Getting Rid of Chocolate or Candy Stains
To get rid of chocolate and candy stains:
- If you have chocolate or candy stands on your clothes, then you need to take the garment and place it in the refrigerator as quickly as possible.
- Leave it in there for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- After this, use the flat edge of a surface, such as a butter knife, to remove the top part of the same. Chocolate stains tend to set quickly, so try to remove them as quickly as possible.
- After this, apply stain pretreatment to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Finally, place it in the washing machine and wash it in the hottest water possible.
If your clothing is dry clean only, then it requires the attention of a trained professional. Again, try to tackle chocolate and candy stands quickly before they set.
Cleaning Halloween Costume Makeup & Greasepaint
With Halloween right around the corner, there are lots of people who are getting prepared. In addition to taking out an amazing costume, by and candy, and planning parties or family gatherings, it is also important to think about the cleanup process. This includes cleaning up costume makeup and greasepaint. Even though this can be challenging to remove, there are a few helpful tips to keep in mind.
Materials for Cleaning Up Costume Makeup and Greasepaint
If it seems like Halloween makeup is messier than regular stuff, that’s because it is. Halloween tends to bring out the most exuberant makeup products; however, there are simple ways to clean up this mess. Some of the materials that people can use include:
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Cooking Oil
How can each of these materials be applied to clean up greasepaint?
Removing Costume Makeup and Greasepaint
In order to remove costume makeup, options include:
- Rubbing Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove makeup stains from skin, clothing, and numerous other textiles. This can also be used to remove costume makeup from the countertop. Take a cotton ball or pad, dip it in the alcohol, and then dab it on the stain until the makeup is gone. Clean up the area with a damp cloth or washcloth to remove alcohol residue.
- Cooking Oil: The same process can also be used with cooking oil in certain situations. Useful for skin or hard surfaces, cooking oil can be used to remove long-lasting lipstick or other makeup that simply will not budge. Do not use cooking oil on fabrics.
These two helpful options can help you remove stubborn costume makeup from surfaces.
Cleaning Up Fake Blood from Halloween
One of the highlights of Halloween is all the fake blood and horror costumes that people wear. This is also one of the most common props when it comes to Halloween displays. On the other hand, fake blood can also leave a significant mess behind. For those who are wondering how to clean up fake blood stains, there are a few key points to keep in mind.
Cleaning Fake Blood Stains from Fabrics
For those who have fake blood stains on fabric that they would like taking care of, it is important to note that the most common ingredients tend to include corn syrup, water, and food coloring. This means that people are essentially trying to remove a food coloring stain.
In this situation, rubbing alcohol is going to do the trick. Take a cotton ball or pad, dip it in rubbing alcohol, and dab the same. After this, place the fabric through a routine washing machine cycle and the fake blood should come out quickly.
Removing Fake Blood from Walls, Floors, and Surfaces
For those who have fake blood on hard surfaces such as walls, floors, or countertops, products such as Soft Scrub bleach tends to do the trick. This is particularly effective at removing stains that are made from food coloring. Use a pad and dab soft scrub bleach on the stain. Then, let it sit for a few minutes. Finally, remove it using a moist or damp washcloth that will clean up any residue that might have been left behind.