6 Ways to Get Rid of Red Wine Stains with Ingredients You Have at Home
Nothing can bring a dinner party or relaxing evening to a screeching halt quite like spilling red wine. You’re enjoying a nice meal, or unwinding with a book, and suddenly your clean couch or carpet is marred by a dark red stain.
Give These Home Remedies a Try
Even if you only occasionally enjoy red wine at home, spills are all too common. If they aren’t treated properly, you may be stuck with a faint stain or ugly red splotch forever.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to effectively remove red wine spills using ingredients you already have at home. Six to be exact. Next time you have a heart-stopping spill, try one of these six home remedies for red wine stains — and let us know how it works out!
First Things First: What To Do Immediately After a Red Wine Spill
The most critical time for treating a red wine stain is immediately after it has occurred. Every passing minute allows the wine to soak deeper into the fibers of your rug or upholstery, making it harder to remove.
Even something as simple as blotting the spill with a paper towel right away can make a huge difference in the long run.
Here are the top dos and don’ts to keep in mind after a red wine spill:
- No matter what, do not rub the stain. Rubbing with a cloth or towel will only force the stain deeper into the fibers. Blotting, however, is a different matter.
- Blot the stain with a clean cloth. Blotting means to gently press directly down on the stained area, rather scrubbing in a back and forth motion. This serves to absorb the excess liquid and keep it from spreading before it is absorbed by your carpet or furniture.
- Keep the stained area wet. If you can’t deal with the red wine stain right away, use a little water, club soda, or white wine to keep the stain damp. This will prevent it from permanently setting.
- When in doubt, spot test. If the red wine spilled onto a special, delicate, or antique rug, upholstery, or linens, spot test before treating the stain. Don’t use anything other than water or club soda on the stain until you have tested other products on an inconspicuous part of the fabric. If you see that the cleaning product causes discoloration or deterioration, stop and call a cleaning professional.
Try These 6 Home Remedies on Your Next Red Wine Stain
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap
This combo is one to spot test first because hydrogen peroxide can bleach some fabrics and fibers. For white carpets and linens, however, this method is sworn by.
Make a mixture of one part dish soap to two parts hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the spill. A small amount is all you need; oversaturating can spread the stain and make it harder to clean up.
Gently and repeatedly dab at the stain with a sponge or cloth until the area is dry. If you’re seeing good results but the stain isn’t completely removed, repeat until you’re satisfied.
- White Vinegar and Dish Soap
Combine one part white vinegar to two parts water and apply to the stained area. Blot with a clean sponge or towel until it is mostly absorbed, then apply a small amount of watered down dish soap. Continue blotting to lift the rest of the stain from the fibers.
- Club Soda and Dish Soap
The combination of carbonation and sodium in club soda can work wonders on many types of stains. After blotting the spill to remove as much wine as possible, pour club soda onto the stain. Blot until dry, then repeat as many times as necessary.
If the club soda alone doesn’t do the trick, follow it up with watered-down dish soap and blot until the stain is completely removed.
- White Wine
You may be noticing a theme to these stain removal methods: saturate, blot, repeat. The white wine method is no difference. Pour white wine over the red wine and blot until the stain is gone.
White wine is said to dissolve the anthrocyanin compounds (aka the red pigment) in red wine and prevent the stain from spreading further. Vodka may work equally well. Either way, this treatment is most effective immediately after a spill.
- Baking Soda
Baking soda is recommended for stains that have set overnight because you couldn’t treat them right away or didn’t notice them. It’s particularly effective combined with one of the above methods.
For example, first soak the stain with club soda and blot. Then apply a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water and allow it to sit for several hours. Don’t let the paste dry out while it’s setting; You may need to dampen it periodically with more water or club soda. Remove the paste with water and a clean cloth, blotting until it is completely clean. Alternatively, you can now allow the paste to dry, then vacuum it up.
- Borax
Follow the same steps as the baking soda method, only swap the baking soda for borax. First, gently soak and blot the stain using club soda or plain water. Then apply a paste of three parts borax to one part water and let it sit for a few hours, but don’t allow it to dry out. Remove the borax paste by blotting with water, or let it dry and vacuum.
Borax can be particularly effective for linens. If you have a red wine stain on your tablecloth or napkins, drape the fabric over a bowl, apply a thick borax paste, then pour very hot water over the fabric. Repeat until the stain is rinsed away.
Don’t Risk Ruining Carpet or Upholstery. Call the Professionals.
These six home remedies for red wine stains are endorsed by many DIY cleaners, but that doesn’t mean they will work on all types of fibers or the toughest stains. Chances are you’ve invested a significant amount of money in your rugs, carpets, linens, and furniture, or they may be valuable antiques or family heirlooms.
When you need to remove a red wine stain and restore your furnishings to their optimal condition, don’t take any chances. Hire a trusted metro-Atlanta cleaning professional to properly treat the stain without causing further damage or discoloration.
The Lily’s Cleaning experts have dealt with red wine spills on a wide variety of fabrics and fibers. Contact us today to safely and effectively remove your red wine stain using our proven eco-friendly methods.
