SANTA’S already visited the town, but if you’re still in the festive spirit you can find the jolly man in a new brainteaser.

A festive image shows cars surrounded by decorated fir, snowflakes and prezzies.

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Struggling to find Santa in this festive brainteaser? Scroll down to find where he’s hiding[/caption]

But somewhere in the colourful brainteaser is St Nick waiting to be discovered.

Car retailer Motorpoint created the image that features hundreds of cars driving home for Christmas alongside other seasonal items.

Discussing what motorists need to be aware of when travelling to see their loved ones on high-traffic days, Tim Rodie, Motorpoint’s resident driving expert, said: ”It’s no secret that driving during the festive season can be stressful. 

”This is particularly true for drivers who aren’t used to making long journeys or spending lots of time in their vehicles.

”For anyone planning longer journeys to visit friends and family this Christmas, my biggest piece of advice would be to do as much as possible to reduce stress on the day you are travelling. 

”For example, filling your car with fuel a couple of days before you travel might seem simple, but it can mean you start your journey much more relaxed.”

However the main goal of the image is to test how good your vision is.

If you struggle to locate Santa amongst the traffic, fear not, as you are not alone.

Just a mere nine percent of people can beat this brainteaser in under 17 seconds – which might seem like enough time but is actually more challenging than you’d imagine.

Try to focus your attention on the bottom right of the brainteaser, but do not worry if you cannot see Santa right away – only 68 percent of people could see Santa hidden within the festive scene.

”It takes most people almost a minute to solve this tricky brainteaser, so don’t worry if you didn’t crack it this time,” Motorpoint shared.

As an early Christmas present, Motorpoint has revealed exactly where Santa was hiding within the image.

Seeing as time is already up, you should’ve found St Nick by now.

If not, scroll down to the bottom of the article to find the answer, as we’re about to spoil it.

Keep practicing and you’re sure to become a better problem solver over time and soon you’ll be able to spot the odd one out in no time.

Regularly solving brain teasers will help keep your mind sharp, enhance your ability to tackle complex tasks and provide a satisfying mental workout.

What’s more, the enjoyable nature of these puzzles can also act as a form of relaxation and stress relief – what better way to enjoy the weekend before returning to work?

Have a go at these brainteasers to test your ability to spot things at speed.

Try figuring out what’s wrong with this image of smiling women as you count their legs in 11 seconds.

Or you might want to prove you have a 20/20 vision as you search for a strawberry in this carnival scene.

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Just a mere nine percent of people can beat this brainteaser in under 17 seconds[/caption]

CELEBRATING Christmas is a joyous experience, but it is often a recipe for mess.

Unfortunately, accidents happen, and spillages such as candle wax, wine, and various foods can sometimes be inevitable.

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To help Brits with any pesky spillages across the home cleaning experts at Online Carpets have revealed how to combat some of the most common Christmas stains from candle wax to chocolate.

Candle Wax

The key to getting wax off is to act quickly. The longer you let the wax set into the fibres of the fabric, the tougher the stain will become to remove.

Let the wax cool 

It might be tempting to whip out a stain remover spray and clean the wax up while it’s still hot, but it’s actually much easier to remove the wax once it hardens. 

You can wait until the wax cools naturally, or grab some ice from the fridge and place it in a zip-lock bag to apply to the spill. If you don’t have any ice in the freezer, pretty much anything frozen will do the trick – whether it’s a bag of frozen peas or a frozen microwave curry! 

Scrape off as much as you can 

Once the wax has solidified (you’ll know it’s solid when the colour becomes lighter), scrape off as much of the hardened wax as you can. 

You can do this using something like a butter knife or bank card. If using a butter knife and you have a berber loop carpet, just be careful not to cause any hooks or pulls with the ribbed part of the knife. 

Once you’ve scraped off as much wax as you can, bin the larger chunks before vacuuming up the remaining smaller bits.

Absorb the remaining wax 

While scraping the wax should get rid of the top layer, there will still be wax left in the lower fibres of your carpet or upholstery. 

To get rid of this, you’ll need to heat and transfer the wax onto something else. 

To do this, cover the wax with a paper towel and then a slightly damp fabric towel that you’re not too attached to and don’t mind ruining. 

Then, grab your iron and steam the spot through the damp fabric towel for around 10 to 15 seconds. The wax will begin to lift through and transfer onto your towels. You may need to do this several times. 

Just be careful not to have the iron up too hot or keep it on the spot for too long, as this could potentially damage the upholstery or carpet – especially if it’s a synthetic material. 

If you’re trying to remove wax from a more sensitive fabric, such as a velvet couch, and you’re not confident about using your iron on it, then you can also use a hair dryer. 

Clean the area

Once you’ve got as much of the wax off as you can with your towel, you’ll want to clean the area. A simple, unscented dish soap and water mixture, or white vinegar and water mix should do the trick.

Repeat! 

Depending on how deep the wax has gone into your fabric, or how big of a stain you had, you might need to rinse and repeat the above steps for best results. 

Just be careful about over-treating your carpet or upholstery on any given day. If it’s starting to look a little tired from the cleaning, leave it to fully dry out again before cleaning up any more. 

Chocolate

Scrape it and spray it

We all love an advent calendar – but they can prove problematic if you find some chocolate stains in your carpet or on a sofa.

Start by taking a plastic, or butter knife, and carefully scrape as much as you can off of the surface.

It’s handy to keep some paper towels next to you for this, so you can transfer the chocolate from the knife onto the paper towel to avoid applying more to the surface during scraping.

After this, apply some surface cleaner to the area, and gently swipe to lift away any residue.

If the stain is on a carpet, however, use some carpet cleaner to help remove any chocolate stains from the fibres.

Or, try a hydrogen peroxide solution

If the stain is a tough one to remove, try applying some hydrogen peroxide solution – look for a 3% mixture. 

To do this, simply dampen the stain with the solution, cover it with a paper towel, and let it sit for 1 hour. After this time, blot the stain, again working from the outside first.

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective stain remover, but it can sometimes take a few goes. If the stain doesn’t disappear after the first application, repeat the process until the stain starts to vanish.

Red Wine

Use baking soda

An easy way to remove red wine stains from carpets is to use baking soda, and this is a common ingredient you may already find in the kitchen cupboards.

To do this, mix three parts baking soda with one part water to form a thickish paste, and apply it over the area with the spillage. Wait a few hours, and once it has dried, vacuum the paste off the carpet and the red colouring should come with it.

Or, use a steam cleaner

Another way to remove red wine stains from carpets is to use a steam cleaner, and Online Carpets have previously tried this red wine removal hack themselves.

To do this, spritz carpet cleaner over the stain and cover it with a cloth. Then, grab a steamer and steam over the top of the cloth for a few minutes. Afterwards, remove the cloth and clean away any leftover residue.

Whether it’s an unflattering item of clothing, a bottle of booze you just can’t stomach or a book you’ve already read, it’s always awkward to receive an unwanted gift.

You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but you’re also not keen on the thought of said gift haunting your house like the ghost of Christmas past.

Thankfully consumer champion Which? is on hand to help you out with 8 ideas for avoiding any awkwardness.

1. Return it

Research by Which? showed one in seven people exchanged their unwanted gift last year, while fewer than one in 10 made a return

If you’ve been given the receipt too, you can probably assume the gifter won’t take offense. 

If not, and you feel comfortable doing so, you will need to ask for the receipt to be able to return the gift in-store. 

Online returns usually require the purchaser to initiate the return process, so you will need to liaise with whoever has given you the item.

Most returns periods are extended over the Christmas holidays, so check to ensure you are within time.

2. Give it to a charity, shelter or foodbank

If the item is in good condition and you think there is a better owner for it out there, consider donating it to a charity, shelter or foodbank.

Most charity shops accept clothes, footwear, small items for the home, books and toys.

But do make sure to check that your chosen cause is accepting donations and they are happy to take your item before making the trip down there.

Which? says one in four people who received an unwanted gift last Christmas gave it to a charity shop or friends and family.

3. Sell it online

We are now spoilt for choice when it comes to selling our unwanted belongings online.

You can list your items on eBay, Vinted, Depop, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark, to name just a few.

Some websites charge a small fee to list your items, so it’s always worth checking the small print and comparing options first. 

4. Regift it

If the gift isn’t right for you but you know just the person who would love it, consider regifting your item to a friend or family member.

Which? Said: “One participant told us they regularly rehome toiletries sets to others: ‘I can’t use them as I have very sensitive skin, so whenever I get given one I regift it.’

You might want to tell the new owner where the gift came from, to ensure full transparency of your philanthropy.

5. Sell your giftcard

If you’ve been given a giftcard you don’t use, you can try to sell it for the cash equivalent.

It’s worth asking friends and family first, for a quicker resolution.

Otherwise, websites like Cards2Cash and Cardyard.

Whatever your decision, make sure you don’t take too long to move the card on. If the company goes bankrupt, you may lose out on the value of the card completely.

6. Rent it out

Some gifts might even be able to make you some quick cash, by renting them out.

Which? lists some websites you might be able to use: “Websites such as FatLlama allow you to rent out pretty much anything, helping you reap the rewards of your unwanted gift throughout 2023.

“For clothes or accessories, you could try By Rotation, Hurr or Rotaro.”

7. Take it to a car bootsale

Consider a car bootsale very, very far away from the home of the gift-giver.

But really, check what time the bootsale opens and how much it costs to pitch up.

This is also a great opportunity to get rid of any other junk you may have around the house.

And who knows? You might even rehome someone else’s unwanted gift.

8. Recycle it 

And if the thought of your unwanted item ending up in landfill fills you with dread, take the green route and find somewhere to recycle it.

Which? Says: “Retailers including H&M and Adidas have recycling schemes that allow you to exchange unwanted clothes and trainers for a voucher.

“Marks and Spencer has partnered with Oxfam to give you a £5 M&S voucher when you hand in old clothes. 

“Your donation must include at least one M&S item, and the voucher can only be used on clothing, homeware, and beauty products worth £35 or more.”

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