How to Remove Red Wine Stains

A spilled glass of red wine looks like a disaster, but fresh stains are very treatable if you act quickly. The basic rule for any surface is the same: blot, don’t rub, and keep heat away until the stain is completely gone.

Act Fast and Blot

1. Grab a clean white cloth or paper towels so no dye transfers onto the fabric.
2. Blot from the outside edge toward the center so the stain doesn’t spread.
3. Pour a little cool water over the spot and keep blotting to dilute the wine.
4. Avoid hot water, irons, and the dryer, all of which can set the stain.

Treat Washable Fabrics

1. Stretch the stained area over a bowl and pour cool water through the back of the fabric to push wine out the way it came in.
2. Sprinkle salt or baking soda on the damp stain to absorb more liquid. Wait several minutes, then brush it off.
3. Work a little liquid dish soap into the spot, or apply an enzyme-based laundry stain remover, and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
4. For white or colorfast fabrics, a mix of one part dish soap and two parts 3% hydrogen peroxide can lift remaining color. Test it on a hidden seam first, since peroxide can lighten dyes.
5. Rinse well and wash according to the care label, using the warmest water the fabric allows.
6. Air dry and check the spot in good light. If any stain remains, repeat the treatment before machine drying.

Clean Carpet and Upholstery

1. Blot up as much wine as you can with a dry cloth.
2. Mix about a tablespoon of dish soap and a tablespoon of white vinegar into two cups of warm water.
3. Sponge the solution onto the stain a little at a time, blotting frequently with a dry cloth.
4. Rinse by sponging with plain cool water, then blot dry.
5. Lay a dry towel over the spot with something heavy on top to wick out remaining moisture.

Check the cleaning code on upholstery tags first. A “W” means water-based cleaners are fine, an “S” means solvent cleaners only, and an “X” means vacuum only, so call a professional for those.

Older or Dried Stains

Dried wine is tougher but not hopeless. Rehydrate the stain with cool water, then treat it with an enzyme or oxygen-based stain remover. For washable items, soaking for several hours in an oxygen bleach solution made according to the package directions often helps. You may need two or three rounds for a stain that sat overnight.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Do test any cleaner on a hidden area first.
• Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored fabrics, wool, or silk.
• Don’t mix cleaning products. Combining bleach with vinegar or ammonia can release harmful gases.
• Do take silk, wool, and dry-clean-only items to a cleaner promptly, and point out the stain.
• Don’t rely on pouring white wine over red to cancel it out. It mostly just adds more liquid.