If you happen to spill red wine on your carpet, rug or clothes, you should act quickly. This is what you should do first:
Try to absorb all the excess liquid that has not yet penetrated through the fabric fibers. Use a clean white cloth or paper towel to blot the area without rubbing. Then, rinse the stain with plain water.
Keep the stain wet and do not apply heat as it will set the stain permanently.
Then choose a cleaning method to get rid of the stain. You could use some of the below mentioned ways to remove red wine stains from fabrics. See which one works well for you:
– using club soda
Pour club soda on the stain and let it bubble up. The carbonation will help lift the stain. Repeat until color is removed. Use a white cloth or paper towel to blot the spot and surrounding areas. Let fabric dry.
– using salt
Pour salt on the spill to keep the wine away from setting. The salt will absorb the wine and it can be brushed off in about an hour.
– using club soda + salt
Pour club soda on the stain. Then cover the area with salt until it covers the spot. The salt acts as a buffer to keep the stain from setting. Wait for the salt to absorb the liquid and let it dry before you scrape it off the fabric.
– using hydrogen peroxide + baking soda (dish soap)
Spray hydrogen peroxide (or a mix of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap) on the stain. Then, sprinkle baking soda to fully cover the stained area and let it sit for several minutes. Finally, rinse with water.
Do not use hydrogen peroxide on colored fabrics.
– using stain removers
If you are a red wine lover, it’s best to keep such products in your cleaning cabinet. Follow the manufacturer instructions to properly apply it.
– using white wine + salt (baking soda)
Soak the stained area with white wine and gently blot the liquid up with a thick towel without rubbing. White wine will help neutralize red wine and will make it easier to lift the color off. If the stain is still visible, you can add salt or baking soda to continue lifting out pigment.
– using vinegar + soap (soda)
Vinegar neutralizes the purple pigments and can be combined with soap or soda. Give it a few minutes to soak in, then rinse and wash.
Other cleaning solutions include using milk, hot water, and even vodka.
