Learning how to properly remove red wine from the carpet can help prevent them from becoming permanent. Red wine stains are difficult to remove due to the presence of tannins in wine. However, the faster you deal with the wine stains, the better the chances of removing the wine stains.
If you have to wait a few hours, you can, but even waiting a day can leave permanent stains on the carpet. Try these six simple ways to remove red wine from your carpet using household ingredients and natural cleaners.
What to Do After the Red Wine Spills
After the wine is spilled on the carpet, blot the stain with a clean cloth as soon as possible, but do not rub it. After blotting it as much as possible, wet it with enough cold water. Wipe again with a new clean cloth before using one of the following cleaning methods.
If you can’t treat the red wine stains on the carpet right away, blot them with a paper towel and sprinkle them with salt. The salt will remove some of the liquor that is not absorbed from the blotting, and then vacuum the salt particles as much as possible.
Use Soda to Remove Red Wine from the Carpet
The carbonated water in sparkling water dilutes red wine and breaks down red pigment, making it easier to absorb dry.
- Suck the wine dry. Blot as much of the wine with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Alternate parts of the cloth, always using a new stain to blot dry.
- Pour in sparkling water and blot dry. Pour a little soda one at a time onto the red wine stains on the carpet and continue to blot dry. Replace the blotting cloth with a dry one when working. Continue to blot until no more wine can be removed.
- Pour in more soda to soak. Once the cloth becomes transparent, pour more soda over the stain and leave overnight.
- Repeat. If there is still staining, repeat the next day.
Tip: Not all carbonated water is created equal. Because of its chemical composition, sparkling water is better at dissolving wine stains than sparkling or tonic water, and some believe that salt content has an effect. However, if you only have soda, tonic water, or tap water, use them. It is imperative to dilute the stain.
Remove Red Wine from Carpet with Dish Soap and Vinegar
The acid in vinegar helps to break down the tannins in red wine and neutralize red and purple pigments.
- Blot up stains. Blot the stain and dip as much red wine as you can.
- Mix the vinegar and soap solution. Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 2 cups of warm water to make a cleaning solution. If you have a spray bottle handy, it disperses the solution well.
- Spray and blotte dry. Use a white cloth or towel so that the dye on the fabric does not seep into the carpet, and spray (or pour a little solution onto) the stain as it blots. Continue to blot until the stain disappears.
Tip: You can substitute a tablespoon of lemon juice for vinegar. However, test any solutions in hidden areas of your carpet to ensure they don’t cause discoloration. This is true for both stained carpets and white carpets. Sometimes, the stained area may become too clean and brighter than the surrounding area, making it stand out.
Remove Red Wine from Carpet with Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleaching agent. Test on a carpet or an inconspicuous part of the rug to make sure it doesn’t discolor the area.
Blot up stains. Wipe off the stain with a clean, dry white cloth.
Make the cleaning mixture. Mix two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap.
Apply the solution and blot dry. Apply the solution to the stain. Blot dry and repeat until the stain disappears.
Use Baking Soda to Remove the Red Wine from the Carpet
Baking soda is alkaline and red wine is acidic. Baking soda reacts with the liquor to neutralize the pigment.
- Blot up stains. Wipe off the stain with a clean, dry white cloth.
- Add water and blot more. Pour some water over the stain to dilute it and blot it until it’s almost dry.
- Mix the baking soda solution. Mix the baking soda paste with water in a 3 to 1 ratio.
- Apply the paste and let it dry. Apply the paste directly to the carpet stain and wait for it to dry completely before vacuuming the dry paste.
Remove the Red Wine from the Carpet with Salt
Salt can remove wet or dry red wine stains. It is best to dilute the stain with water.
- Pour the salt over the stain. If the stain is dry, wet it by applying a small amount of water to the stain. Add a small pile of salt to the stain. Do not scrub or blot the salt.
- Wait a day. Leave the salt on overnight. The next day, the salt should be pink.
- Vacuum and repeat. Crystalline salts are vacuumed. If the stain persists, repeat. Or, try one of the other methods.
Remove Red Wine from the Carpet with White Wine
Using white wine works similarly to water. It’s best to use this method only for new stains when there is no water. White wine dilutes the red pigments, making them easier to absorb dry. Water is preferred as white wine still contains sugar and it is not recommended to introduce it to any surface as sugar attracts dirt.
White wine can also be stained if it is untreated. It may not be as noticeable, but it will leave a ring-like stain.
- Blot up stains. Use a clean, dry white cloth to wipe off the stain as much as possible.
- Remove stains with white wine. Pour the white wine into a small bowl and dip the corner of a clean towel into it, or pour the white wine directly into the wine stain. Don’t oversaturate the area because you don’t want to push the stain further into the carpet fibers.
- Blot the stain again. Gently blot the stain until the cloth dries.
- Follow the stain removal process. Use one of the above methods to remove white wine.
When to Call a Professional
The process of removing stains requires persistence and patience. If all of your attempts don’t get rid of the stain, try using a commercial stain remover and cleaning product to remove stubborn red wine stains from your carpet.
As with any method, start by testing a carpet stain remover on a small section of the carpet to ensure that the carpet will not fade or fade. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results.
If homemade methods and store-bought stain removers don’t work, contact a carpet cleaning expert. Completely dry old red wine stains may require the help of a professional. They can use industrial products to restore your carpet to its pre-dyed state.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can red wine stains be removed?
Wine stains can be removed if treated quickly. After that, be persistent and be patient as it may take some time for the particular method to take effect. Stains that have dried for a long time and solidified may be permanent or leave marks, however, try a variety of methods to remove them.
- Red wine stains washed hot or cold?
Rinse red wine stains with cold water, as hot water tends to solidify stains.
- Can OxiClean remove red wine stains from carpets?
Oxiclean can remove red wine stains by using a carpet stain remover spray and blotting the stain away, or by making a paste of Oxiclean powder and letting it sit for two hours. Regardless of the method, it should be vacuumed after drying.
