It is difficult to remove red wine stains because red wine contains tannins, which give the liquid a rich, vibrant color. Cotton, polyester and other fabrics easily absorb these tannins and, once absorbed, they bond to these materials. This property is the reason that red wine spills stain. In order to remove the stains, you need to break or weaken the bond between the tannins in the red wine and the material.
There are several easy ways to do this, most of which involve applying harsh chemicals, but these methods destroy the fabric. In order to remove red wine stains but keep the material intact, there are specific steps that you need to follow.
Remove as much of the red wine from the material as quickly as possible by blotting the spot with any absorbent material — paper or cotton towels work best. Place a piece of the towel on the front and back of the material and press down quite hard. Hold it for two to three minutes to absorb the wine. Remove and replace the towels and then repeat the process.
Place a clean towel at the back of the material. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon (5 ml) liquid laundry detergent with 1 cup (240 ml) hydrogen peroxide. Wearing gloves, take a clean towel and dip it into this mixture. Use the wet towel to blot the stain, which will break the bond of the tannins. The towel at the back will absorb the excess liquid, so that the material is not ruined.
To remove red wine stains, repeat these steps two or three times. Rinse the spot thoroughly with cold water to remove the hydrogen peroxide. Wash the entire item with liquid laundry detergent. The stain should now be gone. If not, apply a concentrated detergent paste to the stain and let it sit for one to two hours before rewashing.
If the red wine stain is in carpet, it is important to treat it as soon as possible. Blot the spot to remove the excess liquid. Use the suction function on your vacuum cleaner, if available, to pull up the liquid that has moved below the surface level.
Place an absorbent towel on the spot and place a heavy book on top of it so that the pressure will help to move the liquid into the towel. Apply the detergent and peroxide mix to the carpet, then remove it after two to three minutes using a moist towel. When removing stain from a carpet, be careful to restrict the amount of liquids used, as it may increase the size of the stain.
There are two types of red wine teeth stains: temporary and permanent. To remove the temporary stains that appear immediately after drinking wine, it is best to rinse your mouth with fresh water and eat bread. These two steps reduce the acidity in your mouth and remove the purple stains.
For permanent stains, see your dentist and ask about teeth whitening products. Do not use any home-based products, as wine can erode the enamel from your teeth. Your dentist is the best person to advise you on the options available to you.
