Red wine stains can be a fact of life at even the most meticulously planned events. Choosing a removal method depends on the type of clothing fabric, furniture or carpet that has been stained. You can use everything from salt, water, and club soda to commercial cleaning chemicals as red wine stain removers.
When this type of spill occurs, it can seem disastrous as you take in the rapidly spreading red mark, especially if it is on a white shirt or tablecloth. Fortunately, red wine stains are not difficult to remove, especially when caught early on. Assess the situation and the type of surface that the spill has occurred on to determine the best red wine stain remover for the occasion.
In the event of any red wine stain, your first action should be to soak up as much of the liquid as possible. Use a rag or paper towel and dab the area until wine no longer comes up. Never rub the stain as this will only cause it to spread. Once you have soaked up as much of the wine as possible, you can proceed to apply a red wine stain remover.
A nice piece of clothing is often the recipient of an errant splash of wine. If this is the case, check the tag to determine the type of fabric you are dealing with before you proceed. If it is a colorfast cotton or linen, you can treat the stain with boiling water. Set the garment on a flat surface, dab a small amount of salt onto the stain, and pour boiling water over it. The salt and water will act as a natural red wine stain remover without the use of harsher chemicals.
For more delicate fabrics, apply salt to the stain and soak in cold water. If the fabric is non-washable, treat the stain by gently blotting it with a sponge soaked in club soda until the stain comes out. Once the stain has come out, you can launder the garment as normal. Avoid using the dryer unless you are completely sure that there is no remaining stain from the wine, as the heat will set the stain.
If the red wine stain has occurred on your carpet rather than a piece of clothing or linen, you should use a different type of red wine stain remover. After blotting up as much of the liquid as possible, pour club soda onto the stained area. Blot at the club soda with a cloth or paper towel until the area is only slightly damp. If the stain persists, repeat this process with more club soda.
Treat red wine stains on the carpet with a commercial carpet cleaner after the majority of the stain has been removed. This ensures that there will be no lingering spots or discoloration as the area dries.
