Community Corner
New Year's Eve: Champagne Cork Disasters And Stain Removal
See how fast a champagne cork can break a glass. And if it spills, here are some stain removal tips.
If you're going to be opening a bottle of bubbly on New Year's Eve, here's some advice from the nation's eye doctors: beware of flying corks.
Warm bottles of champagne and improper cork-removal techniques cause serious, potentially blinding eye injuries each year, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
For a safe celebration, follow these simple tips for opening champagne:
- Chill sparkling wine and champagne to 45 degrees Fahrenheit or colder before opening. The cork of a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly.
- Don't shake the bottle. Shaking increases the speed at which the cork leaves the bottle thereby increasing your chances of severe eye injury.
- Point the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and any bystanders and hold down the cork with the palm of your hand while removing the wire hood on the bottle.
- Place a towel over the entire top of the bottle and grasp the cork.
- Twist the bottle while holding the cork at a 45 degree angle to break the seal. Counter the force of the cork using downward pressure as the cork breaks free from the bottle.
And if you spill some of that bubbly, Good Housekeeping magazine has you covered with stain removal tips.
Good Housekeeping recommends mixing a solution of lukewarm water with mild liquid dish soap. With a white cloth, dab the champagne stain with the cleaning solution. Thoroughly rinse the area with warm water to remove the residue.
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