Red wine is certainly delicious, but it is an absolute pain to get out of anything if it is spilled! Luckily, over time people have come up with a few tricks that will help you out if you happen to have a run-in with red wine.
Below are six quick steps on how to remove wine stains from around the house. By following these tips, you’ll still be able to enjoy a glass of wine without the worry of cleaning up after an accident.
1. Step #1: Get the wine stain out immediately
The worst thing you can do is to wait to try to get that stain out. Deal with it immediately to give yourself a better chance of getting the stain out. If the stain has dried already and it has been there a while, you still have a chance getting it out. Before putting the item into the washing machine, use an oxi cleaner on it. This will help to loosen out the stain, and the washing machine will do the rest of the work.
2. Step #2: Dab and don’t scrub the stain
If you scrub the stain, you are helping to ingrain it further into the fabric. You want to do whatever you can to pull out the stain, which is why dabbing allows the stain to transfer onto your dry cloth, instead of pushing it further into the fabric.
When working with fabric, one of the best things to do when trying to remove the stain is to pull it tight. This helps to loosen the threads from one another, essentially allowing you to access the tiny spaces in between. It will make whatever method you use much more effective.
3. Step #3: Use boiling water
A good solution for getting rid of stains is to use boiling water, especially if the stain is fresh. Just make sure you take the item of clothing off first! The boiling water will help to pull out the stain.
However, make sure you don’t apply dry heat onto the wine stain. Heat makes a stain permanent. Whatever you do, don’t apply hot air to the stain. Doing so will cause the stain to dry out, and bind it to the fabric.
4. Step #4: Add soda water & vinegar
The carbonation in soda water is an absolute saviour when it comes to red wine stains. Whether it is on your clothes or your carpet, this is a great trick. Also, it is a great solution when you are out at a bar or restaurant, because most places should have some soda water on hand.
Although the soda water option works well on its own, an even better option is if you can add some vinegar to it as well. These two ingredients work together to create a pretty great natural stain remover.
5. Step #5: Add hydrogen peroxide and dish soap
By mixing the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap 3:1, you can create a fantastic little wine-stain removing mixture with things you probably already have. Put the mixture on the item of clothing or fabric and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Once you’re done, blot at the stain until you have removed everything. After that you can put the item in the washing machine to clean it properly.
6. Step #6: Add table salt & other dry powders
Because salt is a dry substance, it will actually work to pull the liquid (and the colour associated with it) out of fabric. This is a really good option on carpets or couches. Pour some on and then let it sit and do its work. After a while, vacuum it up and blot at it. Do not scrub.
Although table salt is considered one of the best, you can use many different powdery and dry substances for the same method. Baking soda, cat litter, and talcum powder are a few other options that will give you similar results to the salt method.
