How to Remove Wine Stains

Red wine stains are dreaded for a reason. Wine contains pigments that are tricky to get out of most fabrics, especially if the stains have dried. Fortunately, the faster you treat a wine stain, the easier it will be to remove. Blot the stain and apply a dry material to lift it. If the stain is stubborn, you might need to apply an additional cleaning solution. If the stain has dried, you'll need to moisten it before you treat it with a basic cleaning solution.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Responding Immediately to the Stain

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As soon as you notice the red wine stain, blot it using paper towels. Try to soak up as much of the red wine as possible.^{[1]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Cleaning GuruExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} Take care not to scrub the stain or you will actually make it harder to remove.^{[2]XResearch source}
2
Apply a dry material that will lift the stain. Once you've blotted away as much of the red wine as you can, sprinkle a lot of dry material that will pull the stain up and out of your material. Sprinkle enough to completely cover the stain.^{[3]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Cleaning GuruExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} You can use:^{[4]XResearch source}
- Table salt
- Baking soda
- Sodium percarbonate (a granulated form of hydrogen peroxide found in laundry boosters)
- Dry soap powder
- Talcum powder (such as baby powder)
- Clay kitty litter
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3
Let the dry material sit for 2 minutes. Avoid rubbing the dry material into the stain. Instead, let it just sit on top of the stain for a couple of minutes so the stain begins to lift.^{[5]XResearch source}
- This blotting and drying method works well for carpet. Unlike fabrics, you won't be able to toss the carpet in the washing machine.
4
Vacuum up the dry material and check the stain. Use a vacuum to suck up all of the dry material that you spread on the stain. Don't use any vacuum attachments that might rub the material deeper. Look at the space to see if the stain is gone. If it isn't, you'll need to deep treat the stain.^{[6]XResearch source}
- If you responded quickly and the stain wasn't deep, the dry material might easily lift the stain.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating a Stubborn Stain

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1
Pour boiling water through the material. If you're treating a stain on a piece of fabric or clothing, stretch the fabric over a large bowl. Position the stain in the center and wrap a rubber band around the outside of the bowl to hold the fabric in place. Bring a kettle of water to a boil and slowly pour the hot water through the stain and into the bowl.^{[7]XResearch source}
- The hot water can loosen the stain and force it out of the fabric.
- If you're cleaning a fabric stain on a couch, you'll need to remove the cover or cushion to get to the stain.
2
Apply a brightening dish soap solution. Get out a small bowl and pour in 1/4 cup (60 ml) of gentle dishwashing liquid. Stir in 1/4 cup (60 ml) of hydrogen peroxide until it's combined. Apply the solution to the stain and let it just soak in for 20 minutes. Once the stain looks like it's lifting, wash the material in the washing machine.
- Only use the brightening dish soap solution on light fabrics since it can lighten dark fabrics.
Another way to lift stubborn stains is to coat the stain with white vinegar. Take a few spoonfuls of liquid laundry detergent and rub the soap in. This should loosen the stain. Wash the fabric in hot water to completely remove the stain.^{[8]XResearch source}
4
Spray and blot up a club soda and white vinegar mixture. If you don't have very many materials to make a deep cleaning solution, just spray club soda mixed with equal parts of white vinegar over the stain. Use paper towels or an old towel to blot up the mixture.^{[9]XResearch source}
- You can repeat spraying and blotting until you see the stain lifting.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Lifting Dried Red Wine Stains

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1
Pour boiling water over the stain. If you're removing the stain from fabric or clothing (not carpet), spread it tightly across a large bowl. Secure the fabric to the bowl with a rubber band and pour lots of boiling water right over the stain and into the bowl. The hot water should loosen the stain.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If the stain was light, the water may be enough. If the stain is still there, it should be loosened and easier to treat now.
Pour 2 cups (475 ml) of warm water into a spray bottle. Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of hydrogen peroxide or distilled white vinegar to the bottle along with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dishwashing liquid. Put the lid on the spray bottle and shake the bottle until the ingredients are combined.^{[11]XResearch source}
Spray the mixture until the stain is completely covered. The area should be damp to the touch.^{[12]XResearch source}
Use paper towels or an old cloth towel to blot the stained area. The towels will absorb the cleaning solution. Look at the area to see if the stain has lifted.^{[13]XResearch source}
If the stain is still visible, spray it with the cleaning solution again. Blot the area with dry towels and check it again. Continue spraying and blotting until the stain is gone.^{[14]XResearch source}
6
Blot the area with cold water. Once the stain isn't visible anymore, take a spray bottle with cold water and spray it over the area. Blot the area with a clean, dry towel or paper towels. Let the area dry.^{[15]XResearch source}
- The water will rinse away any of the cleaning solution that's still in the fibers of the material.

Expert Q&A

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Will baking soda work to remove stains?
Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Expert Answer
If you have a fresh stain, you can try spreading baking soda or table salt on top of it to help absorb it from the fabric.
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If the stain is on a dry-clean only fabric, just blot the wine and take it to the dry cleaners for professional cleaning.
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