Red wine is powerful! It is packed full with antioxidants, but if spilled, it also has the power to stain anything and everything. Don’t worry though, because even the most powerful of red wine is no match for these tips and tricks on how to remove red wine stains.

Quick note: remember to NEVER rub the stain, only blot it. Also, never put a stained item into the dryer. The heat will make the stain set and you may never be able to remove it.

Clothes

Clothes can mean a lot of different things here – your favorite shirt, a nice pair of jeans, or even your snazzy new shoes. Here are some simple at-home ways you can remove red wine stains from your clothes:

Since these two items are often lying around the house they are perfect for urgent stains that cannot wait. This mixture can also be used on stains that have set and dried.

All you need to do is mix the two together in equal parts. Then, pour the mixture onto the stain directly. Let the mixture sit for around 30 minutes and keep adding more until the stain has been removed – DO NOT SCRUB!

Once you believe the stain has disappeared, put the item in hot water to help remove the stain more and then rinse in cold water.

Club soda can also help you remove wine stains right when they happen. Simply blot the club soda over the stain and then let it soak overnight. Club soda has the ability to dissolve the wine color from the item and, hopefully, remove the stain.

However, club soda and seltzer are not the same chemically, so leave the club soda for the stains and the seltzer for the wine spritzer.

You can also remove red wine stains from your clothes using a product like Wine Away. Take the garment and thoroughly spray it with the stain-removing product. Let it sit for around 5 minutes. If the stain can still be seen apply laundry stain remover and soak in cold water for 15 minutes.

Tablecloths

Tablecloths or similar fabrics are all prone to get red wine stains. Removing red wine stains from tablecloths is similar to removing stains from clothing items. Try using items like Wine Away or dishwashing soap and hydrogen peroxide to remove those pesky red wine stains.

Carpet

You’re always careful to never spill on your carpet. But somehow it happened and now you have a red wine stain the size of Greenland on your carpet. Don’t panic! Use these tips:

This method is great for stains that just happened.

First, use towels to absorb as much of the wine as you can.

Then, after dabbing for several minutes, add a little bit of cold water to the stain and dab some more with a clean towel.

Next, make a mixture of three parts water and one part baking soda. Apply the mixture to the stain and then let it dry. Once dried, vacuum up the remaining mix.

For the cleaning vinegar follow all the same steps but use a mixture of 2 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar and 1/4 cup salt or baking soda.

You’re probably thinking...wait what? But yup, remove wine with...more wine. The enzymes in white wine help break down the color of red wine, which in turn, makes the stain easier to remove.

First pour yourself a glass of the white wine...it will make the stain-removing process a little less stressful. Then pour some of the white wine onto the stain and blot it with the damp cloth. After doing this use a stain-removing product like Wine Away and let sit for around 5 minutes. Then use a damp rag to remove the detergent and stain.

Sometimes you just have to leave it to the professionals! Carpet cleaning services are the best of the best at removing red wine stains. If your at-home methods are not working or are making the stain worse, make sure you give them a call.

Furniture

Here are some easy at-home methods to remove red wine stains from your furniture or upholstery:

When you first notice the stain dab and blot it with a rag to absorb as much of the stain as possible. Then mix one tablespoon liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn, with two cups of cold water. Take a clean cloth or sponge and dab at the stain. Continue to do this until the liquid is absorbed and then blot dry. Note: Instead of water you can also use hydrogen peroxide. Just make sure to test it somewhere else on the item first to make sure it doesn’t ruin your furniture.

The same baking soda method we talked about when cleaning up your carpet can be used on furniture as well! Follow the same procedure as the carpet cleaning method.

The white wine method can also be used in this situation, just with a few different steps. Start by blotting up the excess red wine. Then pour some of the white wine and a little bit of club soda onto the red wine stain. Let sit and then blot up the excess. If the stain is still there try using the baking soda method.

Kitchen Countertops

Sometimes a wine glass can leave a small ring on your nice countertops or when opening a bottle you may get some on the counter. Here are some tips and tricks on how to remove red wine stains from countertops:

This method is great for getting red wine stains out of wooden surfaces like a cutting board. Just pour a little salt on the stain and scrub the surface with half a lemon. Then wash and dry like normal.

This method is great for removing red wine stains from granite and laminate countertops. First mix two tablespoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Then put this paste onto the stain in a thick layer. Put plastic wrap over the stain/mixture and let it sit for 24 hours. After the allotted time remove the wrap and clean the paste off with a rag and soapy water.

Walls

There are times when a little bit of wine can splash up on the walls when cooking or opening the bottle. Here are some ways to make sure your painted walls stay stain free:

Start with the hydrogen peroxide method. Dab some of the hydrogen peroxide onto a towel or rag and dab at the stains until they have been removed.

If the stain is still on the wall try mixing 1 part bleach with 4 parts water. Then wash the painted wall with the water and bleach solution. After the stain has been removed wipe the area down with cold water.

In Vino Finito