A glass of wine makes you smile and shine, but it can also make you whine, particularly if you spill it on your white clothing or brightly colored clothes. No matter how careful you are, wine spills happen. From colored clothing to carpets and other common household items such as furniture and tablecloths, red wine stains can be brutal.
To help you address the splotchy situations associated with red wine stains, we have created a comprehensive guide for you.
Red wine stain removal tips
While you can take care of wine stains later, attending to them immediately is the most effective wine stain removal solution. Once red wine spill on clothing, it begins to sink into the fabric’s fibers, moving into its pores wherever it can find space. Here are wine removal tips you should know.
1. Don’t scrub the stain.
Although scrubbing can help remove some red wine color, it can negatively impact the stain and cause it to spread outwards. If you are applying too much pressure, there is a chance you’ll be pushing more red wine into the fabric. This is particularly true if you are dealing with a wine stain on a carpet, couch, or heavy clothing.
2. Don’t wait for too long.
Sure, it is tedious to deal with wine stains immediately. However, it’s not recommended to wait until the next day to take care of the stain. The red one is likely to sink and settle into those fibers. Eventually, the stain will ‘set’ and become more challenging to remove. So, don’t forget that red wine is like a dye waiting to happen.
3. Don’t apply heat
You don’t want the wine stain to dry, particularly through the application of heat. The high temperature often changes the basic chemical process the stain often undergoes as it dries. The moment you apply heat to red wine stains, you can expect stubborn stains or permanent stains. So, put your hairdryer down and don’t put stained clothes in a dryer before applying pre-washing cleaning techniques.
4. Apply a dry material that can lift the stain
Just like other liquids, red wine moves towards any dry material that comes into contact with it. Immediately after getting a wine stain, your best move is to get a dry, powdery material and apply it to the stain. These include baking soda, table salt, sodium percarbonate (granulated hydrogen peroxide), kitty litter, dry soap powder, and talcum powder.
These dry materials often pull the red wine out of the fabric (especially carpet), but you shouldn’t rub it in. In case your salt treatment doesn’t work, you will need to use other stain removal methods.
5. Don’t apply white wine as a cleaning solution.
We are not sure who started the rumor that you can apply white wine on red wine stains, but we don’t believe it. This is because white wine isn’t a cleaning agent and won’t counteract the dyeing properties of red wine. Also, it will make the stain spread further.
6. Apply hot water and blot the red wine stains
Dry heat isn’t the same as wet heat (hot water), which is a wonderful cleaning agent when applied to other materials. It dilutes the red wine stains and spreads out a bit, and causes the molecules to lose cohesion with the fabric, making it easy to clean. If this method doesn’t work, try other methods.
7. Use club soda and white vinegar
The specific minerals found in club soda make it a better alternative compared to water. They break up and absorb the red wine molecules, which means you can blot them up easily. Also, you can apply club soda and white vinegar to improve the results.
8. Oxi cleaner is also a great option.
Oxi cleaners are a magical way to remove red wine stains. They use sodium percarbonate – when combined with water, this compound breaks down to form hydrogen peroxide. It is excellent when it comes to breaking up stains.
9. Use hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid.
Even if you don’t have an oxi cleaner, you probably have liquid dish soap and hydrogen peroxide. Mix 1 part dishwasher detergent and 3 parts hydrogen peroxide and apply to the red wine stains. Let it sit for about 20 minutes to one hour. Be sure to blot clean before fully washing out the mixture or throwing the piece of clothing into a washing machine.
Final thoughts
Every stain is unique. You might find yourself with fresh stains on clothing or dried red wine stains on your carpet or couch. You will find success with one stain removal method over another for different stain types and materials.
Sometimes, it’s better to consult with professional laundry service providers in Toronto to get reliable red wine stain removal services at affordable costs. These professionals use a commercial stain remover and can effectively handle different stains.
