Wine Stain Solutions (That Actually Work!)
We've all witnessed that moment. You know, the one where the world suddenly goes in slow motion as you watch a glass of red wine begin to tip, the threatening scarlet liquid swirling towards the rim. Surrounding faces transform into looks of horror while a few gasps escape. In a lightning-like moment, a delicious and elegant glass of red wine becomes the massive burgundy puddle in the middle of your tablecloth, rug, carpet, or couch. Or in a really awful spill, all of the above, plus your new blouse. Your dinner party just went from pleasant conversation to a Merlot crime scene, and your beloved home decor will pay the price.
Your first course of action: Smile. While your friends may be freaking out, you know you've got some excellent wine stain solutions up your sleeve thanks to your friends at Wine Country Gift Baskets, so there's nothing to worry about — and as the gracious host, you should tell them as much.
Grape juice (especially the fermented kind) contains chromegens, the colorful elements in many types of plants that make excellent dyes. To make matters worse, the tannins that we find so delicious act as 'stain enhancers' since tannins are used in ink production. Combine this with your porous, absorbent fabric, and it's a recipe for disaster. As such, there are some very important "Do Not's" when it comes to wine stain clean-up:
• DO NOT scrub the area, as it will only spread the stain. Do blot it instead - blotting will remove the excess liquid that hasn't soaked in yet, without running the risk of spreading it.
• DO NOT apply dry heat, as it will make the stain permanent. If you're going to use heat, a wet heat is best; more on that later.
• DO NOT procrastinate on the cleanup! The longer it sits, the more it sets!
• DO NOT use white wine. We don't know who started that ridiculous rumor, but it's false!
With that said, here are some tried-and-true methods for removing red wine from almost any fabric. Sometimes, the powder method is enough if you act quickly enough, but if not, using a combination of the below may be best.
1. Boiling Water
Recommended for clothing and tablecloths, and older/dried stains.
This trick only works on certain sturdy kinds of fabrics, like cotton. Stretch the fabric over a bowl or pot, centering the stain. Pour boiling hot water over the top of the stain in small batches. Hot water may cause the dye agents in red wine to loosen up their hold on the fabric, as well as dilute the stain.
2. Powder
Recommended for all fabrics/surfaces and on fresh spills as a first step.
Blot any excess liquid with paper towels. Then lay down a thick layer of some kind of absorbent powder. Salt seems to work best, but you can also use baking soda, dry soap powder, sodium percarbonate (granulated hydrogen peroxide), kitty litter, or talcum. Let the powder sit for 5-10 minutes, then remove it. If you can't simply pour it off into the trash or sink, vacuuming it or blotting it up is best.
3. Club Soda
Recommended for furniture and fabrics.
Club soda (unflavored) is bubbly, which will help work the wine color out of the fabric. Sometimes, it may even work better to pour club soda on the area before applying the salt. Simply pour a little club soda, let the bubbles work for a bit, and blot. Repeat this until your blotting paper is no longer turning pink from the wine. If there is still a stain in the fabric, move on to the heavier-duty methods below.
4. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Recommended for furniture, carpets, and fabrics.
After blotting excess up, apply a good layer of baking soda and allow to sit for a bit; you may see it turn gray as it absorbs the wine. Then, gently pour some vinegar over the top. The bubbling reaction helps lift the stains out of the fibers. Repeat this as much as needed, blotting only minimally.
5. Oxygen Cleaners
Recommended for all surfaces.
Grab some Oxi cleaner and follow the directions for stain removal. For the folks who don't have
any on hand, you can DIY a decent substitute with Hydrogen Peroxide and dish soap. Mix up the solution with 3 parts Hydrogen Peroxide and 1 part dish soap, pour some on, and let it bubble. Once it's done bubbling, pour more on. Repeat this until you don't see any more coloring in your fabric. The trick to this one is NOT to blot, but to continue adding the mixture until the stain disappears.
6. Enzyme-based Stain Removers
Recommended for all surfaces.
Enzyme-based cleaners are fantastic for everything from pet stains to food stains, and for a good reason. The enzymes in the cleaner will 'eat up' the components of the stain, leaving no trace. The effectiveness of the cleaner will be completely dependent on the one you have, however, so do your research before buying and trying.
Do you have any tried-and-true methods that we missed? Please share using the social buttons below - we're always on the hunt for more!
