I confessed last week that I’m a messy eater. It’s probably because I eat evening meals in front of the TV during sport or comedyprogrammes.
Consequently, I tend to spill food down my front when Manchester United score a goal or the brilliant David Mitchell goes on a comedy rant on Would I Lie To You. Which gives you a clue as to my viewing habits.
Add in foreign language detective series, Ripper Street and the 24 hour news channels and that’s me sorted.
Mind you, I am not alone in watching TV whilst eating. A survey said 60% of us eat meals at home in front of the box.
But I’m a bloke, so attempting to do two things at the same time often turns out to be a messy culinary experience. Hence, the stains.
As always, readers have been helpful on suggesting ways to get rid of them. Sheila suggested rubbing the offending marks with Vanish or Astonish soap before washing.
Rosie Hinchliff says: “My husband eats curry every Friday night after he has had a few beers so I am used to dealing with curry stains. Wash your clothes as usual and then hang outside in daylight, facing the light and the stain will completely disappear.
“It sometimes takes two or three days, but that means the shirt is not just spotless, it is lovely and fresh as well. Never fails.”
Irene from Newsome suggests: “Spray it. Give it a good dose of hairspray. Works wonders.”
And Christine Blackburn recommends Swarfega, which may sound like a disease you could catch whilst canoeing down the Amazon, but is actually a heavy duty hand cleaner used by tradesmen with dirtyhands.
Rub it on the stain and pop it in the washer, she says.
You would think that, considering we spend so much time in front of the television – another survey says it’s an average of nine and a half years of our lives – that producers might find space in schedules packed with cookery programmes for a series devoted to stain removal.
I mean, all that time watching and eating is bound to lead to spillage and who hasn’t dropped chocolate gateau down their front after hyper-ventilating at Gordon Ramsey’s language or Nigella’s glorious muffins?
