Party Rescue Remedy! Will White Wine Remove Red Wine Stains?
Ah, the question of the ages. Settling a deep-seated debate with your mates? Or are you the one in the room frantically flapping your arms just now to prove a point?
I’ll cut to the chase if there’s no time to scroll; those tannins are bleaching further into your carpet fibres as we speak, and your friends are frantically screaming in your ear….
YES! Do it!!! Throw that white wine on!
OK. Are you calm? Deep collective breath that the worst of the damage is fixed. Your mate who was drinking the white is probably still flapping their arms because you’ve wasted their drink, but don’t worry, you’ve done the right thing. But there’s more to it.
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How do I remove red wine stains from carpet?
Now, let’s dive into the details of red wine stain removal. I’ve had far more experience at this than I’d care to admit, so time to share our collective wisdom with you.
The vital thing is to act quickly. The sooner you deal with carpet stains, the higher the possibility of completely removing them.
Use a paper towel to absorb the red wine spill
Step one should always be to grab some paper towels and place them on top of the spill. Apply some pressure, but DO NOT rub. When the paper towel is soaked, discard it and repeat until the spill is fully absorbed.
Do not rub or wipe the red wine, as you will spread it over a larger surface area and risk damaging the carpet fibre.
Once the wine is extracted from the carpet, it’s time to work on the stain itself.
Removing wine with more wine
So, proving my point, this is not just an old wives’ tale, it’s the enzymes from white wine that can neutralize the stain caused by red wine and make the stain easier to remove.
How exactly do you do it? Not just set-and-forget; after the red wine has been absorbed, pour the white wine over the stain and gently blot with a damp cloth.
After most of the stain has been lifted, you may use some mild dishwashing detergent, using a new damp cloth. Dry with cool air, then brush the fibres to lift moisture and flatten the carpet.
Pour soda water on to the red wine stain
Perhaps not nearly as dramatic as grabbing someone’s white wine (and not AS effective), but a little cheaper. The effervescence and saltiness of soda water help to lift the stain in the same way.
Use the same method as above to blot the stain, then apply a mild detergent, then dry and brush the carpet.
Salt on red wine stains
The next step in your emergency arsenal is salt. Salt has a natural ability to absorb fluid, so you can pour it over the red wine spill and let it settle whilst you are gathering other tools. You must vacuum up the salt before you begin the removal process. You could also use baking soda.
Vinegar & detergent to remove red wine stains
A very simple recipe of 1/3 of a cup white vinegar and 2/3 a cup of water is a great basic stain remover. Pour the vinegar solution on the red wine stain and blot with a clean cloth. When the stain starts to lighten, use a mild dishwashing detergent and water to blot the stain. Rinse by spraying water over the soaped carpet, then blot dry again.
Blow-dry and brush the carpet to prevent it from flattening as it dries.
Purpose-made red wine stain removal spray
Containing no bleach, toxic substances or phosphates, these products are a wonderful companion to keep in your kitchen for exact occasions like this. They work in the same way as white wine, but might be a cheaper investment in the long run!
Spray the stain remover onto the carpet, then start blotting after 1-5 minutes. I love my Wine Away, which also works on coffee, tea, and even blood stains.
Get in the professionals
Do you have a really stubborn stain? It’s time to get professional help. Call a professional cleaning service as soon as it’s apparent the stain won’t lift to reduce the chances of a permanent stain.
You should still work on blotting to remove as much of the fluid as possible.
Hydrogen Peroxide?
Don’t even think of heading to the chemicals cupboard (lesson learnt the hard way). Whilst hydrogen peroxide might be effective in lifting the stain, it is a powerful oxidizing agent that can also remove carpet dye. You could well end up with a bigger, uglier mess than the original red wine stain.
Have you tried any of these red wine stain removal techniques? Let me know in the comments how you get on!
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