It is not uncommon to spill a glass or cup during the Christmas party and then have to remove mulled wine stains. If this happens on home textiles, carpets, upholstered furniture or favorite clothes, cleaning them might seem impossible at first glance. Fortunately, such wine stains can be easily removed using simple but effective cleaning methods and tricks. Here are some common home remedies and hacks that you can use at home.
What can remove stubborn mulled wine stains?
Mulled wine is a popular drink around the holidays. Heated and spiced wine can be traced back to Roman times nearly 2,000 years ago. However, it is also a dark drink that is alcoholic and is often enjoyed with friends. This can lead to unwanted accidents during the Christmas seasonHome furnishings such as sofasand carpets or clothing. The trick with mulled wine or other wine stains is to blot up as much of the spilled wine as quickly as possible.
It is preferable to use a paper towel. You should carefully and quickly blot the wine spill, but not scrub it. This will help prevent the stain from spreading. One thing you must avoid at all costs is rubbing. Otherwise, this will allow the spilled wine to penetrate even deeper into the clothing or carpet fibers. This creates aStain even more stubbornand more difficult to remove.
Additionally, there are a few things you could do if you find your mulled wine is everywhere but in your glass. First of all, of course, you shouldn't panic. Even if red wine is all over your favorite shirt, you can still save it. The second thing you could do is try to get rid of the stain straight away, fail miserably and walk away in frustration, saving it for the next day. Known to arisedifficult to clean red wine stainsoften when you are far too tired or distracted to think about how to correct them correctly or immediately. However, it is in your best interest to confront the stain immediately, which brings you to the third point: use proven cleaning techniques. So instead of stressing over it, take a few deep breaths and follow some simple but effective steps.
What to do if a spill occurs?
Everyone swears by their own cleaning tricks, but the most important asset in the event of a mulled wine accident is speed. The sooner you address the stain, the easier it will be to remove. However, it's important not to go all guns blazing on the floor! If you rub the stain in a fixated manner, you will make it virtually impossible for yourself to get rid of it. Here's what to do instead:
- Blot with a clean, damp cotton cloth to absorb excess liquid.
- Blot from the edges inward to avoid spreading the stain.
- Sparkling water can help remove the stain, but use it sparingly. Some experts recommend using sparkling water on the affected areas. The idea is that the bubbles in the water will help push the stain out of the fabric. However, if you don't have sparkling water on hand, you can also use tap water.
- Diluted white vinegar is another useful cleaning product to have in your own household supplies.
How can you remove a dried mulled wine stain?
If the mulled wine has been spilled on the carpet for a while, you can use talcum powder. Treat the affected area with this and then cover it with some fresh paper towels. Wrap a large and heavy book in plastic wrap and then place it on the paper towels. This must then be left for 12 hours. If you're lucky, the stuff will soak up the mulled wine and make it easier to remove afterwards. Here are some other remedies that can help:
- Boiling water:In contrast to dry heat, moist heat differs in its effectiveness on stains. Additionally, hot water is a wonderful substance, especially when applied to other materials as a cleaning agent. It may dilute and spread the red wine somewhat, but this also causes the molecules it contains, such as chromogens and tannins, to lose some of their cohesion with the fabric, which in turn makes cleaning easier. If this doesn't work, you can try other methods.
- Apply milk to the fabric:Milk also has absorption properties. You can therefore try pouring milk generously on the stain, letting it sit for a few minutes and then blotting the area with a sponge or dry cloth.
- Dried wine stainswithDishwashing liquid or hydrogen peroxideTreat: Mix about 3 parts hydrogen peroxide and 1 part dishwashing detergent, then apply to the red wine stain. Allow the cleaning solution to work for a while.
If these methods and tricks don't work, store-bought cleaning products can also be used. No matter how bad the wine stain looks, you can use it to remove it and get your carpet or sofa sparkling clean again. Not only do commercial cleaners provide long-term protection against stains, but they are also the first line of defense when it comes to tackling spills. This prevents spills from penetrating the deeper fibers of the carpet and makes it easier to remove ingrained wine stains. Typically, you can use these safely around your family members and your pets, making mulled wine mishaps a breeze. This way you can make the cleaning process easier and focus on being the perfect party host.
Which home remedies can remove mulled wine stains from a stained sofa or carpet?
So you have a carpet stained with mulled wine or a “nice” splash of red wine on your couch. Apply a dry material that can lift the red wine. Like any liquid, red wine moves toward anything dry it comes into contact with. Immediately after a red wine stain, it is best to take a dry, powdered material and apply it liberally to the affected area. This can be table salt, baking soda, a granulated form of hydrogen peroxide, dry soap powder, talcum powder, baby powder or even cat litter.
Such dry materials will remove the stain from the carpet, but don't just start rubbing them. Remember, never scrub the stain, no matter what you put on it. Always use the blotting cleaning method, even when it comes to removing the salt or powder. As the best option, let the salt or whatever dry, powdered material you use sit for a few minutes. In some cases, this may be enough to actually completely remove the stain, especially if you acted quickly enough. Otherwise, you may need to use additional methods.
DIY stain removers and cleaning tricks for fabrics and clothing
Older wine stains on clothing or textiles are often difficult to remove, so be prepared to try several times. Start with whatever cleaner you have on hand. It helps to know what can remove mulled wine stains and why they are so difficult to remove. Red wine contains tannins, natural substances found in plants like red grapes that can color anything they touch, including absorbent fibers. Additionally, spilled wine can permanently stain clothing if the garment is placed in a dryer afterwards. For best results, try one of the following methods to remove as much pigment as possible before washing and drying. Here are the most common materials you can use for homemade cleaning solutions:
- Paper towels or clean kitchen towels
- Blunt plastic knife or credit card
- Kosher salt
- Sparkling water
- White wine vinegar
- Waschmittel
- Dishwashing detergent
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Commercial stain remover (optional)
- baking powder
- White distilled vinegar
This is how you can remove fresh mulled wine stains from clothing
Start by blotting the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel. Press gently and blot the wine without rubbing the stain. Scrubbing will only further set the stain. Once the stain is blotted, you can treat it with one of the following non-toxic household cleaning solutions.
- Kosher salt:Sprinkle salt generously on the stain. Kosher salt has larger, flatter grains than table salt, with more surface area for absorption. Then try letting the salt sit overnight so it can absorb as much of the wine pigment as possible.
- If the fabric of your clothing is tough, such as jeans or heavy linen, you can wash the garment using a bowl so that the stain is centered. If necessary, secure the fabric with an elastic band. Then carefully and slowly pour boiling water over the wine stain from a height of about 20cm so that the force of the water helps push it out. When the stain is gone, you can wash the clothes as usual.
- Sparkling water:Pour a generous amount of soda water over the mulled wine stain and again leave it on overnight. However, do not replace it with other carbonated drinks. Although there is no solid scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of sparkling water, many personal experiences insist that it works in such cases.
- White vinegar and detergent:This method can be equally effective for getting red wine out of white clothing and other fabric items. Cover the stain completely with distilled white vinegar and as many drops of liquid detergent as necessary. The vinegar neutralizes the red and purple pigments in the wine, while the detergent helps clean the fabric. In this case, too, let the fabric sit overnight.
- Dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide:As with the carpet and sofa method above, mix hydrogen peroxide and dish soap (3 parts peroxide to 1 part dish soap). Since hydrogen peroxide is a bleach, test a small amount of the solution on an inconspicuous area and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash the garment immediately or rinse with cold water.
How baking soda can remove mulled wine stains
As mentioned, a dry ingredient like baking soda used on a fresh wine stain can draw the liquid out of the fabric. It should naturally soak, which is why you can spread a generous amount of baking soda on the stain and let it sit for some time to absorb the wine.
- Once the baking soda becomes wet or soggy from the wine, you can remove it with a dull knife or the edge of a credit card.
- Then replace it again with a generous portion of fresh, dry baking soda to further soak up the wine.
- Another method is to combine baking soda with white vinegar to treat the stain. The fizzy action of the baking soda and white vinegar can loosen the wine stain from the fibers. Then, after the bubbling has stopped, blot or rinse with cold water and repeat the cleaning process if necessary.
How to remove older mulled wine stains
If you have a red wine stain that you didn't treat immediately, you might still have luck getting rid of or reducing it. However, you need to soak an old mulled wine stain in cold water for a long time for the cleaning process to be successful.
- Rub the stain with dish soap or laundry detergent: Begin by rubbing a generous amount of liquid laundry detergent or dish soap onto the stained area.
- Next, submerge the clothing in a bowl or bucket of cold water to soak for 30 minutes or overnight.
- Then, if possible, apply stain remover to the wet stain according to label instructions and wash the garment on a normal cycle.
If your results are not satisfactory, try another of these cleaning techniques. Because wine stains are stubborn and fabrics vary in fiber type and permeability, multiple methods and repeated steps may prove more successful than just one attempt. After washing, do not machine dry your garment until the stain is gone or greatly reduced. Otherwise, after drying, such a stain will harden and may not fade.
English version:How to remove mulled wine stains – proven methods and home remedies for cleaning clothes, sofas or carpets.
