How to remove confetti: 5 tricks for your flat, clothes and car after Fasnacht

On 11 November at 11:11, carnival clubs in Lucerne and many other Swiss towns mark the official start of the Fasnacht season. If you're new to Switzerland, you may be surprised how much colour comes with it: Guggenmusik bands, costumes and, above all, confetti – called "Räppli" in Basel. It ends up in coat pockets, hoods, hair, the car and every corner of your flat. Here's how to remove confetti quickly without damaging carpets, fabrics or your washing machine.

These five tricks work just as well after birthday parties, weddings and New Year's Eve.

Why confetti is so stubborn

Paper confetti is light, flat and slightly static. It clings to fabrics, slips into carpet pile, hides in sofa joints and gets trapped in the folds of hoods and scarves. In rain or snow, it becomes soggy, sticks to floors and shoes, and coloured confetti can leave dye marks on light surfaces.

That's why the order matters: dry and loose pieces first, then anything stuck or wet, then any colour marks.

1. Stop confetti at the front door

The easiest confetti is the one that never enters your flat.

• Undress outside: Shake out coats, hats, scarves and costumes on the balcony or outside the building entrance.
• Empty pockets and hoods into a bag straight away.
• Leave shoes at the door on a mat or tray.
• Brush your hair over the bathroom sink or outside rather than in the living room.

2. Remove confetti from carpets and floors

On hard floors, a soft broom or a vacuum cleaner is enough. Carpets need a bit more care.

1. Pick up large clusters by hand or with a dustpan.
2. Vacuum slowly, in several directions, so the brush lifts the pieces out of the pile.
3. For stubborn pieces, use a slightly damp rubber glove: run your hand over the carpet and the confetti gathers into small balls.
4. Clean the vacuum afterwards: confetti can block the nozzle and hose.

If confetti was trodden into the carpet while wet, let it dry completely first. Wet paper smears and may transfer colour when rubbed. Our guide to cleaning a rug at home helps if marks remain.

3. Sofa, cushions and clothes: the lint roller trick

For fabrics, sticky rollers beat vacuums.

• Lint roller: Roll in one direction with light pressure, tearing off used sheets often.
• Wide packing tape: Wrap it around your hand, sticky side out.
• Sofa joints: Use the crevice nozzle, then the lint roller along the seams.
• Wool coats: Brush gently with a clothes brush in the direction of the fibres.

The same tools help against pet hair too. Our article on removing dog hair has more tricks for upholstery.

4. Confetti in the washing machine

Confetti that slips through into the wash turns into paper pulp that sticks to all your laundry and can end up in the drain pump filter.

1. Turn every pocket inside out and shake out hoods, cuffs and trouser turn-ups before washing.
2. If it happened anyway: let the laundry dry completely, then shake it out outdoors and brush or roll off the paper residue. Dry paper comes off far more easily than wet paper.
3. Clean the machine: wipe the drum and door seal, and check and clean the drain pump filter according to the manual.
4. Run a short rinse without laundry.

A normal low-temperature programme is fine for washing costumes afterwards. EnergieSchweiz recommends low temperatures and full loads for most everyday laundry. In a shared laundry room, leave the machine free of paper for the next household.

5. Car, hair and outdoor areas

• Car: Take out the floor mats and shake them out outdoors. Vacuum seats, the gaps between seats and the boot with the crevice nozzle. A soft brush helps along the door seals.
• Hair: Brush it out thoroughly over a sink or outside before washing. Wet confetti sticks to hair.
• Balcony and entrance: Sweep up confetti promptly, before rain turns it into a sticky layer and colours stain the floor.

How to dispose of confetti

Confetti usually contains dyes and is mixed with dirt, grit and sometimes glitter, so it rarely belongs with clean paper recycling. Put it with household waste unless your commune says otherwise. The overview at Swiss Recycling and your commune's waste calendar show what's collected where.

Common mistakes

• Washing clothes with confetti in the pockets: The paper ends up everywhere, including the machine filter.
• Wiping wet confetti: It smears and can leave colour marks.
• Vacuuming with a full bag: Suction drops and light pieces stay behind.
• Using strong cleaners on colour stains straight away: Start with water and mild soap, as the consumer organisation recommends simple household remedies for most jobs.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.