You’re having a nice shindig with a few friends over at your place. It’s a special occasion so you decide to bring out the Cabernet. While reaching for the bread, you accidentally knock the entire bottle over! Luckily (or not so luckily), there was only a quarter of wine left in the bottle so you only had to sacrifice your table cloth and your brand new white trousers. Also luckily, we’re here to help you with a guide to get you out of any red-wine-related mess while impressing your dinner guests with some stain-busting talents!
Before you whip out the hydrogen peroxide, keep in mind that the first line of defense is to act immediately! The longer the stain is allowed to set in, the more difficult it will be to remove.
Next time you have a spill, follow these guidelines:
For this method, first flush the affected area with cold water while blotting with a cloth. Next, evenly sprinkle salt OR baking soda on the stain and wait several minutes before rinsing the fabric stain again with cold water. Blot it dry and repeat the entire process until you’ve lifted as much of the stain off the fabric.
Before you proceed with using hydrogen peroxide, test out a part of the fabric to see whether it reacts appropriately. As a mild bleach, certain fabrics might be too sensitive to be treated with it.
If it doesn’t damage the fabric, apply a mixture of dishwasher detergent and hydrogen peroxide to the stain so that it slowly fades.
Begin by wiping the stained area with liquid laundry detergent. Thereafter, soak the clothing for 30 minutes in a bowl or pail of cold water. Apply a stain remover to the stain and wash the item on a regular cycle. Keep doing this until the stain is gone or until there is no change.
This method for removing red wine stains is only suitable for durable, colorfast garments or other materials that can be held in your hand and stretched.
To begin, bring a few cups of water to a boil. Tip: adding some salt will give your mixture an added boost! Drape the stained fabric over a basin or across your kitchen sink, or any safe surface where you can pour hot water.
Pour the hot water slowly over the affected region to dilute and release the red coloration. If the stain is still visible, use one of the other procedures on this list until it is entirely removed.
After rinsing the stain with cold water and blotting it, use some rubbing alcohol in a dabbing motion to remove the stain.
For commercial suggestions, Wine Away is effective on a wide range of stains. It's also non-toxic because it's made up entirely of fruit and vegetable extracts. In addition to Wine Away, Good Housekeeping Institute suggests Wine B' Gone and Gonzo Wine Out for stains fabric and carpets. Chateau Spill, a chlorine-free, biodegradable stain spray, is also effective if you prefer something more environmentally friendly.
Lastly, after using any of the stain removing methods above, the very last step is to send your item(s) to be professionally cleaned at your laundry service for maximum effectiveness.
As you can see, red wine stains are nothing to worry about as you can easily mediate the splotchy situation with some common household items, while using our red wine stain removal tips above!