How to Remove Red Wine Stains

For all you wine enthusiast out there, it’s almost impossible not to have a slip-of-the hand at some point in time and accidentally spill a glass of wine. It may be that cheap stuff or the high-end brand on that expensive blouse, your grandmother’s heirloom, beautiful, white linen tablecloth, or the special order carpet that you just had installed. Regardless of the cost or location, the spill needs to be taken care of FAST before it leaves a permanent stain!

When removing red wine stains several things need to be taken into consideration. What type of fabric the stain is in, the amount of time the stain has set in, and will a stain remover be needed. The type of fabric or location of a red wine stain is very important because of the resilience and durability of the material.

If the stain is in a delicate clothing fabric such as a silk blouse dry cleaning instructions need to be followed as no pretreatment should be used. If the stain is in a white linen tablecloth a quick blot of white wine can be a fast and temporary pretreatment. A red wine stain in carpets can easily end up being a complete disaster if it’s not taken care of properly. There are a variety of different commercial stain remover’s available. Dri Clean, Resolve and Wine Away are said to be the most popular three brands. Of these three brands, Wine Away is at the top of the list. Originally developed for the paint industry, Wine Away can be used specifically to remove red wine spills. It is a combination of fruit and vegetable extracts that can be used around children and pets. You can purchase this type of stain remover from a wine manufacture.

There are several steps that can be taken to accomplish the goal of getting that dreadful spot out before it runs your item. Remember one thing – NEVER RUB A STAIN because doing this you risk setting the stain into the fabric and ruining it.

Here is a list of items you will need:
1. Clean white cloth
2. Small bowl/Wash Machine
3. Mild dish soap/laundry detergent
4. Salt/hydrogen peroxide/soda water
5. Stain remover (Dri Clean, Wine Away, Resolve)

Steps to follow when removing stains:
1. IMMEDIATELY blot the stain with a dry clean cloth (DO NOT RUB)
2. Combine 1 teaspoon of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl
3. Lightly blot area with mixture
4. Allow area to absorb the mixture and dry

The removal of red wine stains is no mystical secret. In actuality, all that is being done by these treatments is making the red coloring in the wine invisible. Coffee, tea and Kool-Aid can be removed by using the same technique.