How to Remove Red Wine Stains

It always manages to happen: when red wine is in the room, gravity decides to wreak its havoc on your clothes, your furniture, your carpet, or all of the above. Sometimes, one wishes Newton had never sat under the apple tree. Ignorance, after all, is bliss. But the deed is already done, and you’re staring at a splash of vibrant red in the middle of your new white carpet. (It is always new when it happens, after all.)

There is a solution other than carpeting the room again, or purchasing a rug you’d rather not have to lay over the splotch. It is possible to remove the red wine stain, and doing so is not quite so dramatic as the realization that the red wine is soaking into something you’d rather it not. The key to salvaging your possession is to act quickly and wisely. Just remember, if it’s something you wouldn’t normally wash at home, don’t try to remove the stain yourself, either.

The Tools For the Homemade Rescue

• dish soap
• hydrogen peroxide
• warm water
• white vinegar

1. The specific method you select will affect which ingredients you need, so bear that in mind while reading the instructions. Always test a small area first to ensure your fabric will not discolor, which would undermine your goal.
2. If you elect to use the soap and hydrogen peroxide, mix a little of each together. Blot the stain with the mixture.
3. If you choose to use the vinegar and soap, mix a teaspoon of soap with a cup of water; then add one part vinegar to two parts water.
4. First dab the stain with the the soap, then with the vinegar solution.
5. Blot the stain with water, then dab it again with the soap.

Red wine can also be removed with strong cleaners. While these are more expensive since they are not commonly stocked household items, they are often proven to remove such stains. Remedies created from household items are not always effective.

Still, the choice is yours. If your stain is fresh and time is of the essence, try one of the homemade methods. So long as you bear in mind that success is not certain, it is always worth it to try. If you have the time, it’s always worth it to do something to the best of your ability. Using a well designed wine cleaner or simply taking a garment to a dry cleaner’s will give you the best chance of success.

Tagged as: How to Remove Red Wine Stains, Red Wine Stains, Remove Red Wine Stains, Wine Stains