Catastrophe, a glass of red wine has just spilled!
We have all been faced with this problem at one time or another.
But then, concretely, faced with an encrusted wine stain, what do we do?
How to successfully remove a red wine stain from clothing, a tablecloth, a rug or a sofa?
To remove a wine stain red, follow these 10 magic tricks . Watch the easy guide:
Click here to easily print this guide in PDF.
To have the best chance of removing a wine stain, you must act as quickly as possible .
Why ? Because with a few exceptions, the fabrics are very porous and therefore very absorbent.
When a liquid penetrates the fibers of a textile, it leaves colored deposits there, which form a stain.
Wine and other grape-based beverages contain chromogens .
One of the main components of many colored plants, the chromogen, is also used in industrial dyes.
Yes, you read that right:in dyes .
Basically, a bottle of red wine is basically a huge vial of coloring molecules!
One of the other main components of red wine is tannin .
This organic substance is used to make ink.
Tannin, chromogens... that makes them natural dyes!
In a way, a port wine stain is a bit like a DIY dye experiment gone wrong.
This is why port-wine stains are so hard to remove.
As soon as red wine comes into contact with a fabric, it begins to penetrate the fibers.
The liquid moves quickly through the interstices and micropores of the fibres, wherever it can find space.
Know that red wine, like all liquids, moves in two directions:down and out .
That's it, you know why and how red wine penetrates and stains the fibers of the fabric.
Now you will find out how to make them go away!
Here are the pros' tips and methods for effectively cleaning a red wine stain from a fabric.
It seems logical, to remove the stain, you have to rub it, right?
Well no:with a stain of red wine, especially not!
Yes, rubbing the stain will remove a lot of the wine.
BUT… there is also a negative consequence.
Indeed, because by rubbing the fabric, you will mainly spread the wine stain !
And because of the pressure on the stain, you'll also push more wine into the fabric.
As a result, the wine will permeate the fabric and become even more embedded.
Rubbing the stain is a technique to avoid, especially for wine stains on a carpet or sofa.
Instead, always blot your stain by patting lightly .
Nobody wants to stop everything to clean a stain of red wine.
It's a long and downright boring process.
But we can never repeat enough...
To have the best chance of removing a wine stain, you must act as quickly as possible .
If you wait until the next day to take care of it, the red wine may become embedded in the fibers of the fabric.
Remember, red wine is essentially a natural colorant.
So, to save yourself a real obstacle course, it is better to act quickly.
The drier the stain, the harder it will be to remove.
But what you should avoid at all costs is drying a red wine stain with hot air.
Why ? Because heat will disrupt the chemical process of drying a red wine stain.
If you decide to dry the stain with a hair dryer, you're just going to get a permanent stain.
So, especially no hair dryer on a wine stain !
Like any liquid, red wine adheres to anything that is dry.
Is the red wine stain still fresh?
So your first instinct should be to find a dry, powdered material.
Then apply this powder generously on the red wine stain, so that the liquid is absorbed by the powder .
In particular, you can use the following products:
- baking soda
- sodium percarbonate, i.e. a solid form of hydrogen peroxide (also called hydrogen peroxide)
- talc
- or even cat litter.
All of these dry materials will naturally absorb the red wine from your carpet or sofa.
Let baking soda (this is the best choice) or powder of your choice work its magic for a few minutes.
Often this can be enough to completely remove the stain, especially if you acted quickly.
But remember:you should NEVER scrub the stain. And this, regardless of the material you have deposited on it.
Instead, take a towel and lay it over the stain without rubbing it, like a blotter.
Even if it is to remove the baking soda or the powder used to absorb the wine.
If that doesn't work, try using one of the methods below.
Some claim that white wine can "neutralize" red wine.
Does the idea seem implausible to you? You are right!
No, white wine is not a cleaning agent.
And no, white wine cannot neutralize the natural pigments of red wine.
In fact, if you put white wine on a red wine stain, it will make things worse.
You will just spread the stain !
Instead of wasting your time (and wasting white wine), try one of the following proven methods.
Earlier you learned why you should never apply dry heat to a port wine stain.
But be aware that dry heat is very different from moist heat.
Indeed, hot water works wonders when you use it as a cleansing agent.
In contact with hot water, the red wine will be diluted and your stain may spread slightly.
But hot water will also reduce the adhesion power of the molecules of red wine with the fabric.
Therefore, red wine becomes much easier to gently mop up.
Hot water didn't completely remove your port wine stain?
Then try one of the following methods.
Milk has powerful absorption properties .
Pour milk directly on the stain to completely soak the fabric.
Leave for a few minutes until the stain disappears.
Then, use a towel or dry paper towel to lightly blot the stain.
And again, don't scrub the stain!
Sparkling water is even more effective than plain water because it contains minerals.
And indeed, these minerals make it possible to absorb and break down the molecules of red wine .
After soaking the area with sparkling water, all you have to do is gently blot the stain.
For even more cleaning power, you can also add a little white vinegar to your sparkling water.
Do you know the active oxygen stain remover?
This miracle product helps remove stubborn stains, whether they are still damp or already dried.
Without chlorine, these powder stain removers contain sodium percarbonate.
Once mixed with water, oxygen is released and lifts stubborn stains , without damaging the fabric.
Just wet the stain, sprinkle it with enough product and moisten it again.
Let the powder work its magic for 20-60 minutes, then gently blot.
Don't have an active oxygen stain remover?
Then you probably have dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide somewhere in the house.
It's not complicated, just mix 3 volumes of hydrogen peroxide with 1 part washing-up liquid .
Apply this mixture to your red wine stain and let it work its magic between 20 and 60 minutes.
Then, sponge the stain gently (but don't rub, huh!), then wash the fabric in the washing machine or rinse it with water.
Every red wine stain is different .
Maybe you need to remove a wet stain from a piece of clothing.
Or an already dried red wine stain on a sofa or other upholstery.
Depending on the type of stain and surface, some methods are more effective than others.
Here are the best methods for removing a red wine stain depending on the type of surface:
👉 Before applying a method, pull the fabric to loosen the fibers.
👉 Use the dry and powder method on stains that are still damp.
👉 Use hot water on wet stains, especially tablecloths.
👉 On dried stains, use an active oxygen stain remover then machine wash.
👉 For white shirts or other white clothing, use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar. Click here to find out how.
Try the following methods:
👉 Use the baking soda method whenever possible.
👉 Be sure to always blot the stain with light touches; NEVER rub it.
👉 If you don't have baking soda, use flour or another dry powder.
👉 Use an active oxygen stain remover, if available.
Try the following methods:
👉 Pull the fabric of the sofa to loosen the fibers, if possible.
👉 Use the bicarbonate method.
👉 Use an active oxygen stain remover, if available.
👉 Use sparkling water and white vinegar.
👉 Use a mixture of dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide.
Try the following methods:
👉 Soak the stain with boiling water.
👉 Use an active oxygen stain remover.
👉 Use a mixture of dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide.
Nothing to do, your red wine stain does not want to disappear? At least not entirely...
Sometimes getting rid of a wine stain is a real obstacle course.
This is particularly the case if you have tried to machine wash a garment before to detach it.
This is also the case of a red wine stain on a carpet that has dried too long.
Getting it out could be very complicated! Even using hot water and an entire bottle of active oxygen stain remover.
Remember:to have the best chance of removing a wine stain, you must act as soon as possible.
The longer you wait, the more likely a red wine stain will be impossible to remove.
Therefore, act without delay .
Make sure you have at least 2 of the above solutions handy, and get to work. Good luck!
