Removing Wine Stains From Clothing
Try not to panic when you spill wine over your favorite blouse or new, crisp-white jeans. There are several ways to remove red wine stains from your clothes, so try a few of these methods and your styles will be saved one way or another!
Today’s 2021 A To Z Stain Removal Guide
Whether its the salad dressing splattering your shirt or someone elses glass of red wine hitting your beige couch, stains are inevitable. Before you say goodbye to your favorite piece of clothing or rearrange your living room to hide an ugly spill on the carpet, give our tips on removing stains a go!
Weve created the ultimate stain removal guide with tips and tricks to help you slay any spot or smear. Sweaty pit stains, lipstick stains, ketchup stains? No problem. While some things require professional cleaning, most stains can be treated at home with simple methods that involve soaps, lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda and other stain removers. In some cases, you may also want to use a steam cleaner.
How To Remove Old Dried Red Wine Stains From Clothes
Aside from salt, any of the above methods can also be used on old stains, although youll probably need to allow more time for soaking and repeat treatments. Start by rubbing a little dish or laundry detergent into the stain and giving the garment a 30-minute cold water soak first before moving on to one of the methods listed above.
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Red Wine Stain Removal Tips
No matter what youve spilled your Cabernet or Shiraz on, experts say you should follow these three basic rules for getting a handle on wine stains:
Other Methods For Clothing

- Use hydrogen peroxide. Do you have some hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet? Just how oxygen weakens the bonds in oxidized wine, it helps hydrogen weaken the bonds in a a stain, Mix this in with dish soap in a 3:1 ratio and apply to the stain. After about 15-20 minutes, blot that stain right up.
- Open your refrigerator. In this case, you’re looking for some milk. Don’t drink it all yet, save some for the stain. Pour enough on to cover the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, then blot away.
- Break out the bleach. Is the article of clothing you’re trying to clean naturally a pure white and you’ve tried every other option? It may be time to break out that bleach. Apply just enough to cover the stain, allow the bleach to sit for 10 minutes, and then proceed with step 3.
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Wine Stains Are No More
Red wine stain removal is no fun, but with these steps and a bit of elbow grease, you should find yourself stain-free.
Now get back out there and pick up some more delicious wine. Just make sure to follow proper red wine storage temperature. Maybe even pick up a brand-new aerator and let us teach you how to aerate wine to get the best possible taste out of your wine.
How To Get Red Wine Stains Out Of A Couch Carpet Or Clothes
Were relaxing with a glass of red after a long, hard day or a long, hard dinner with friends. Perhaps were getting just a little too relaxed. The glass tips, the wine spills, and suddenly theres a large red splash thats slowly blooming outwards.
The first thing to remember is dont panic! The last thing you want to do at this stage is start scrubbing at the stain. This might take out some of the colour, but its more likely to spread the stain and actually make the dye penetrate the fibres in the fabric more deeply.
That said, its important to act quickly. He who hesitates is lost, as someone once said , so dont leave the stain to dry.
Heres what you should do:
To make your own pre-wash for a red-wine stain, you can combine dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide in a ratio of 1 part of the former to 3 parts of the latter. Apply it in the same way as the Napisan.
Whichever of these method you use, youll probably want to wash the item as normal afterwards.
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How To Get Red Wine Stains Out Of A Leather Couch Or Clothing
Very similar approaches apply when youre faced with a red-wine spillage on leather or suede. Though its probably best to avoid any chemical applications, such as the oxi approach, as this may affect the finish and colour of the original leather. Its worth testing the surface to ensure its been treated. If not, youll probably need to seek professional cleaning help. The best way is to use the wicking and blotting method, but this can be helped along afterwards by the following:
- Once youve blotted the offending stain, make a frothy solution of mild soap and warm water and apply the foam to the stain with a sponge. You dont want to use any harsh cleaning agents, so pure soap flakes or similar are best. Rinse well using a clean cloth, then gently wipe dry. Its worth finishing the process by polishing it up with some leather conditioner, too .
After all this, were going to settle down and open a bottle of something Redman. But well be sure to clean our teeth at least half an hour beforehand. Cheers!
Use An Alternative To Water
You might think its time to use some water to rinse the rest out. Wrong! Youre better off using an alternative such as club soda, white vinegar, or milk.
All of these options do a much better job at absorbing the leftover chemicals and separating them from your fabric. Water is too runny, simply passing through instead of collecting the stain.
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How To Remove Red Wine Stains
There are many ways to remove red wine stains, depending on what you have on hand. Whichever method you choose, start by blotting the stain with a clean, dry, light-colored paper towel or microfiber cloth. Some stains may require multiple treatments so dont let them dry completely between treatments. Make sure you check laundry labels before attempting any treatment on clothing. Red wine isnt the only thing that spills, which is why youll also want to know how to remove coffee stains.
Removing Wine Stains From The Countertop
Wine glass rims can leave stubborn stains on your granite countertops, and big spills are just as common on these stable surfaces. Using soap and water to scrub out the stain may help with removing any initial layers, but you may realize a need for a stronger solution this time. To remove red wine stains from your countertop, youll need baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and plastic wrap.
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Effective Stain Removal For A Variety Of Stains
Liquids have the annoying habit of dripping everywhere, and the next thing you know, you’ve just spilled your glass of wine down your shirt. Luckily, Tide has you covered when it comes to stain removal, from wine stains to other liquid stains like beer, coffee and tea.
Tide can help you with the cleaning by managing tough stain removal and making your whites whiter.
Products to treat wine stains
How To Remove Wine Stains From Carpet

If someone manages to drop their glass of red or kick someone elses off the coffee table and onto your carpet, begin with dabbing the stain with a clean paper towel. Do not rub the stain, as this will further spread and deepen the liquid.
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Red Wine Stains On Upholstery
If the spill on your mattress, couch or upholstered chair is fresh, start by covering the area with salt or baking powder, says Smallin Kuper. After letting it sit for a few minutes, vacuum the powder up. Next, treat the remaining color residue. The domestic experts at Good Housekeeping recommend mixing a tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of cool water and sponging it onto the area. Blot with paper towels or a dry cloth to absorb the liquid, then sponge with plain cold water and blot dry again. If its an older, dried wine stain, Smallin Kuper recommends mixing three parts of hydrogen peroxide with one part of blue liquid dish soap such as Dawn. Apply to the stain with a clean cloth and allow it to sit for 20 minutes to an hour. Then use another clean, wet cloth to gently rinse by gently blotting, she says.
Washing Red Wine Out Of Polyester
To remove a wine stain from polyester, rinse the affected area in cold water as soon as possible this will dilute the stain and prevent the wine from setting. Following the guidelines on the garment care label, wash in the warmest water recommended. Inspect the stain if any wine remains, wash in color-safe bleach or liquid chlorine bleach , if the garment label says it’s OK. Air-dry, inspect, and repeat as needed before drying as directed on the garment label.
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Instant Action For Wine Stain Removal
So, keep calm and follow the following guidelines:
- To absorb as much wine as possible, dab and wipe the afflicted area with paper towels or a clean cloth. The more you absorb, the less discoloration you will have to erase afterwards.
- Avoid scrubbing at first avoid the impulse to scrape the stain forcefully since this may further embed the red wine in the cloth.
- To break up the wine molecules, apply moisture to the discolored region as soon as feasible.
- Do not use bleach at least not right now. While bleach will help remove red wine stains off a white shirt, other white clothing, or bedding, it will discolor everything else.
Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen
Grabbing your handy-dandy Tide pen might not be the first thing that pops into your mind after spilling a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon all over yourself, but the products website does claim its a powerful solution for fighting tomato, ketchup, coffee, and wine stains.
How to use:
Results:
The almighty Tide To Go Pen may save your favorite T-shirt from a small mustard stain or a coffee drop, but its no match for red wine. The stain was still visible after the first scrub, although it did lighten up after repeating the steps twice more. After giving the sheet a final and thorough wash, the stain was significantly lighter than before, though it was still there.
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Dishwashing Liquid And Hydrogen Peroxide
This do-it-yourself stain-removing combination is often successful. The proportions can vary from a ratio of 1-to-1 to a ratio of 3-to-1 , but the process is basically the same. Combine the twoDawn brand of dishwashing soap is recommendedand test it on an inconspicuous area as hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent. If all goes well, pour the mixture onto the stain and let sit, checking every once in a while to see if the stain has disappeared if it has not, add more mixture until it does. Once the red wine is gone, wash the garment immediately.
Tips For Treating Red Wine Stains On Corduroy
Dab the wine stain with warm, soapy water, then blot with a dry cloth. Dab with a 50-50 vinegar-water solution blot dry. Dab with warm, soapy water again, then blot dry. Dab with clear water, then blot dry. Repeat as necessary.
To treat a wine stain on washable corduroy, mix together 1 quart lukewarm water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid hand-dishwashing soap, and 1 tablespoon vinegar, and soak the garment for 15 minutes. Rinse. If the stain is gone, wash according to the garment’s label. If the stain remains, lightly sponge the stain with rubbing alcohol , blotting from the edge to the center. Rinse and air-dry. If the stain is gone, wash according to the garment’s label. If not, mix a solution of 1 quart warm water with 1 tablespoon of an enzyme presoak product. Let the clothing soak for 30 minutes, and if the stain is now gone, wash according to the garment’s label. Check to make sure the stain is gone before drying as directed.
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Red Wine Stains And Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can leave its own stain on fabrics so it isnt ideal, Tran points out. She suggests using pure isopropyl or denatured alcohol on a cotton ball instead of directly applying it to the clothing. Gently dab at the stain until the wine begins to lift out. Then rinse it before throwing it in the laundry. Rubbing alcohol actually works well for many other household chores.
How To Get Red Wine Out Of Clothes

A glass of wine in the evening is a great way to wind down after a busy day, but a wine stain can completely ruin a relaxed atmosphere! This article gives top methods and solutions that can help to lift those stubborn red wine stains. Even if youâre at a dinner party or a busy restaurant, you can follow a few of these tips for easier red wine stain removal when you get home.
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Removing Red Wine Stains From Clothing With Baking Soda
In some situations, a mixture of water and baking soda can eliminate red wine from the fabric.
If the stain covers a large area, you can increase the ingredients proportionally to create the quantity necessary to cover the affected area.
Removing Wine Stains On Spandex/lycra
To remove a wine stain from spandex/Lycra, rinse the affected area in cold water as soon as possible this will dilute the stain and prevent the wine from setting. Following the guidelines on the garment care label, wash in the warmest water recommended. Inspect the stain if any wine remains, wash in color-safe bleach or liquid chlorine bleach , if the garment label says it’s OK. Air-dry, inspect, and repeat as needed before drying as directed on the garment label.
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General Red Wine Stain Removal Tips
We’ll go into more specific instructions below, but here are a few tips for removing wine stains from any material.
- Get a move on. Time is of the essence when tackling a wine stain, no matter the surface. The longer you wait the more time wine has to work its way deep into the fibers and latch on. Just as time can fix bottle shock in wine, it can let wine sink into the deepest of fibers.
- Different fabrics call for different products. We’ll cover this more below, but don’t assume that there’s a one-size-fits-all solution for wine stains. Save the bleach for white clothes and worst-case scenarios only. We’ve also made it easier for you to pick the best tool for the job with our list of the best wine stain removers.
- Dab, dab, dab. We’re not talking about the dance craze from 2015, we’re talking about making sure not to scrub a wine stain. This may feel counter-intuitive, but scrubbing a stain only sets it in more and spreads it. Dabbing, or gently pressing against a stain with a cloth, will pull the liquid out and away from the fabric.
- Check for stains regularly. Whether you’re drinking wine at home or you run a restaurant, you don’t want to find a stain days after a spill. This is particularly easy at home, but restaurateurs and managers can add a stain check to their normal restaurant cleaning checklist.