Yes, indeed, accidents happen during parties, and occasionally, just before a party too! In the front hall at Fox Hall, my favorite butter-yellow damask-covered chair, pictured here, was accidentally covered in hot green wax. So, now what?
Have you ever attended a lively party filled with laughter and happiness, and then a guest accidentally spills a glass of red wine, and the party comes to an abrupt halt due to an outwardly distraught hostess? At this point, guests just want to skedaddle… the party is over!
Red wine eventually finds itself somewhere other than in the wine glass… either on the carpet, the tablecloth, or some piece of upholstery. A guest will naturally be mortified to have spilled wine. Nothing ruins a party faster than a hostess who is uptight and stressed about an accident happening at her party. So, prepare in advance for mishaps. I permanently keep a bottle of seltzer water, a towel, and an everyday white napkin ready to use if need be.
Stay calm, and carry on by keeping the panic off your face. Smile and pour some seltzer water over the stain, cover it with the spare white napkin, and leave it alone… this is key! My advice is to wait until your guests depart before you attempt to clean anything up. I say something like: "The magic fairy comes in the morning, don't worry!" The less you do to clean any mess up, the more your guests will feel comfortable and continue to have a merry time.
And, if you discover a white ring on your wood furniture the next day, due to the condensation from a glass, Mummy shared a secret recipe of mayonnaise and cigarette ashes to remove the ring, which is mentioned in my book, The Pretty and Proper Living Room.
While entertaining at Fox Hall, I have experienced a myriad of mishaps. From the water pipe breaking over the butler's pantry, causing the ceiling to collapse two days before Lady Carnarvon arrived for a luncheon, to a full glass of port spilling across the dining room tablecloth onto a guest, several wine glasses breaking, and hot wax from an evergreen-scented candle being accidentally knocked over onto an antique chair the day before a Christmas party, I have had my share of mishaps to deal with. How about you?
My darling daughter, Caroline, shared how to rectify this "wax" calamity. I placed the chair out in the winter cold for a few hours, which allowed the wax to harden. Then, with a butter knife, I scraped the wax off. The slight remaining residue was then removed by Stanley Steemer. Voila, like new… just in time for the guests to arrive for the party!
I hope you enjoy your guests, and forget about the accidental messes at your parties. There is always tomorrow to clean it up!
Xx
Holly
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