A bump or slip can cause red wine to tip, splash, or spill on clothing, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Due to the drink's high pigment and tannin content, these stains are notoriously stubborn and difficult to remove. However, if you know how to properly treat wine stains on various surfaces, you can effectively eliminate the stain without a trace. Below you will learn how to treat dried or fresh red wine stains on common household materials. With these practical tips and natural remedies, you can be confident that you can remove red wine stains no matter where they appear.
The basic rules for removing red wine stains
Regardless of what you spilled your Cabernet or Merlot on, experts say you should follow these three basic rules for wine stains on fabrics:
- Act quickly:Once the wine gets on your couch, carpet, or blazer, it begins to spread outward and down into the fabric or upholstery. That's why the best chance of completely removing a red wine stain is to tackle it while it's still fresh.
- Do not scrub:Rubbing and scrubbing can cause the wine to penetrate deeper into the fabric or upholstery and even spread.
- Take the salt shaker:Liquids like wine move toward something dry and powdery like salt, baking soda, or baby powder. Apply salt generously.
Remove stubborn red wine stains from carpet
Tip: With the exception of salt cleaning, any of the following methods can work on old and set-in stains.
Use salt
Once you have stained your carpet with red wine, you should try to blot up as much of it as possible. A tip for carpet cleaning is that it is better to blot rather than rub the stain so it doesn't get worse. You can use a paper towel or absorbent cloth to soak up as much of the wine as possible. The next step is to cover the stained area with salt until the red wine stain is no longer visible. Give the salt enough time to absorb into the wet wine and then allow it to dry. The salt should then absorb the wine as it dries. Once the salt has dried, simply vacuum it all up.
Remove dried red wine stains with baking soda
Using a clean cloth, blot as much of the red wine stain as possible. When you're done blotting, pour some cold water onto the stained area. This will dilute what remains of the stain and make blotting a little easier. Keep blotting until you notice that the stain won't come out.Now prepare a pasteby mixing one part water with three parts baking soda and apply to the affected area. Finally, wait for the paste to dry and then vacuum the carpet.
Vinegar helps against fresh or old stains on the carpet
As with most stains, you should first remove any wine that has not yet been absorbed into the carpet fibers. You can use a clean cloth or paper towels to do this. Then add two cups of warm water to a small bowl. Mix a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent anda tablespoon of vinegar. Apply the solution directly to the stain using a sponge dipped in the bowl. Blot the stain until it dissolves.
If red wine is spilled on clothing rather than surfaces in the home, speed is also important. Red wine stains contain tannins and they usually cannot be removed immediately in the machine and must be pretreated. Protein and tannin stains can be pretreated with a homemade stain remover. Mix half a teaspoon of your favorite laundry detergent with 60ml white vinegar and 60ml cold water.
Then follow the instructions on the label of the clothing that you will then wash. Only garments that need to be dry cleaned really need to be left in the hands of professionals.
How to get a couch clean again
Upholstery fabrics are not much different from the fabrics used for clothing. However, the fabric of the sofa is usually thicker than the fabric of the clothing, so you may need to clean deeper to remove the red wine stain.
Use sparkling mineral water for dried stains
- Pour cold mineral water into a clean, empty spray bottle.
- Spray it on the red wine stain on your sofa, but don't drench the area.
- Allow the water to soak into the red wine fibers for a few minutes, then blot with paper towels.
- Continue removing stains until the paper towels stop absorbing paint.
- Allow your couch to air dry and check the stain.
- If you can still see the red wine stain, move on to the next method.
Remove red wine stains with home remedies – baking soda
- Mix 4 tablespoonsbaking soda with as much cold waterthat a paste is created.
- Massage the stain remover into the stain with your fingers and wait for the baking soda to absorb the red wine.
- Use a soft-bristled brush to dissolve the dried baking soda.
- Vacuum everything up with the vacuum cleaner.
Hydrogen peroxide for stains
If mineral water and baking soda don't work, you can use hydrogen peroxide for red wine stains on your sofa.
- Test an inconspicuous area first to make sure the colors are solid, then pour enough hydrogen peroxide tothe stain is covered.
- Allow the stain remover to work for about three minutes and then blot the stained area until the color no longer transfers.
- Finally, blot the area with a damp cloth to remove excess hydrogen peroxide.
