How to Remove Wine Stains

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Red wine stains are dreaded for a reason. Wine contains pigments that are tricky to get out of most fabrics, especially if the stains have dried. Fortunately, the faster you treat a wine stain, the easier it will be to remove. Blot the stain and apply a dry material to lift it. If the stain is stubborn, you might need to apply an additional cleaning solution. If the stain has dried, you'll need to moisten it before you treat it with a basic cleaning solution.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Responding Immediately to the Stain

PDF download Download Article
  1. As soon as you notice the red wine stain, blot it using paper towels. Try to soak up as much of the red wine as possible. [1] Take care not to scrub the stain or you will actually make it harder to remove. [2]
  2. Once you've blotted away as much of the red wine as you can, sprinkle a lot of dry material that will pull the stain up and out of your material. Sprinkle enough to completely cover the stain. [3] You can use: [4]
    • Table salt
    • Baking soda
    • Sodium percarbonate (a granulated form of hydrogen peroxide found in laundry boosters)
    • Dry soap powder
    • Talcum powder (such as baby powder)
    • Clay kitty litter
    Advertisement
  3. Avoid rubbing the dry material into the stain. Instead, let it just sit on top of the stain for a couple of minutes so the stain begins to lift. [5]
    • This blotting and drying method works well for carpet. Unlike fabrics, you won't be able to toss the carpet in the washing machine.
  4. Use a vacuum to suck up all of the dry material that you spread on the stain. Don't use any vacuum attachments that might rub the material deeper. Look at the space to see if the stain is gone. If it isn't, you'll need to deep treat the stain. [6]
    • If you responded quickly and the stain wasn't deep, the dry material might easily lift the stain.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Treating a Stubborn Stain

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you're treating a stain on a piece of fabric or clothing, stretch the fabric over a large bowl. Position the stain in the center and wrap a rubber band around the outside of the bowl to hold the fabric in place. Bring a kettle of water to a boil and slowly pour the hot water through the stain and into the bowl. [7]
    • The hot water can loosen the stain and force it out of the fabric.
    • If you're cleaning a fabric stain on a couch, you'll need to remove the cover or cushion to get to the stain.
  2. Get out a small bowl and pour in 1/4 cup (60 ml) of gentle dishwashing liquid. Stir in 1/4 cup (60 ml) of hydrogen peroxide until it's combined. Apply the solution to the stain and let it just soak in for 20 minutes. Once the stain looks like it's lifting, wash the material in the washing machine.
    • Only use the brightening dish soap solution on light fabrics since it can lighten dark fabrics.
  3. Another way to lift stubborn stains is to coat the stain with white vinegar. Take a few spoonfuls of liquid laundry detergent and rub the soap in. This should loosen the stain. Wash the fabric in hot water to completely remove the stain. [8]
  4. If you don't have very many materials to make a deep cleaning solution, just spray club soda mixed with equal parts of white vinegar over the stain. Use paper towels or an old towel to blot up the mixture. [9]
    • You can repeat spraying and blotting until you see the stain lifting.
    5. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Lifting Dried Red Wine Stains

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you're removing the stain from fabric or clothing (not carpet), spread it tightly across a large bowl. Secure the fabric to the bowl with a rubber band and pour lots of boiling water right over the stain and into the bowl. The hot water should loosen the stain. [10]
    • If the stain was light, the water may be enough. If the stain is still there, it should be loosened and easier to treat now.
  2. Pour 2 cups (475 ml) of warm water into a spray bottle. Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of hydrogen peroxide or distilled white vinegar to the bottle along with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dishwashing liquid. Put the lid on the spray bottle and shake the bottle until the ingredients are combined. [11]
  3. Spray the mixture until the stain is completely covered. The area should be damp to the touch. [12]
  4. Use paper towels or an old cloth towel to blot the stained area. The towels will absorb the cleaning solution. Look at the area to see if the stain has lifted. [13]
  5. If the stain is still visible, spray it with the cleaning solution again. Blot the area with dry towels and check it again. Continue spraying and blotting until the stain is gone. [14]
  6. Once the stain isn't visible anymore, take a spray bottle with cold water and spray it over the area. Blot the area with a clean, dry towel or paper towels. Let the area dry. [15]
    • The water will rinse away any of the cleaning solution that's still in the fibers of the material.
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Will baking soda work to remove stains?
    Susan Stocker
    Professional Cleaner
    Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
    Susan Stocker
    Professional Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    If you have a fresh stain, you can try spreading baking soda or table salt on top of it to help absorb it from the fabric.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If the stain is on a dry-clean only fabric, just blot the wine and take it to the dry cleaners for professional cleaning.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      For Immediate Removal

      • Paper towels
      • Dry material (such as kitty litter, talc, salt, or baking soda)
      • Vacuum

      For Stubborn Stains

      • Large bowl
      • Rubber band
      • Water kettle
      • Gentle dishwashing liquid
      • Hydrogen peroxide
      • Small bowl
      • Spoon
      • Liquid laundry detergent
      • White vinegar
      • Club soda
      • Spray bottle
      • Measuring cups

      For Dried Stains

      • Large bowl
      • Rubber band
      • Water kettle
      • Measuring cups and spoons
      • Spray bottle
      • Dishwashing liquid
      • Distilled white vinegar
      • Hydrogen peroxide
      • Spray bottles
      • Paper towels or cloth towels

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Get Rid of Red Wine Stains on Clothing & Other Surfaces
      How to
      Remove Dry Red Wine Stains from Cotton
      How to
      Get Red Wine Out of a Couch
      How to
      Remove a Red Wine Stain from Jeans
      How to
      Remove a Coffee Stain from Carpet
      How to
      Remove Tea Stains from Teeth
      How to
      Remove a Red Wine Stain from a Hardwood Floor or Table
      How to
      Remove Red Wine Stains from Leather
      How to
      Clean Tea Stains from Cups
      How to
      Remove Coffee Stains from a Stainless Steel Pot
      How to
      Remove Milk Stains
      How to
      Remove Tea Stains
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ Susan Stocker. Cleaning Guru. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
      2. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/cleaning-stain-removal/remove-red-wine-stain
      3. ↑ Susan Stocker. Cleaning Guru. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
      4. ↑ http://www.lacrema.com/remove-red-wine-stains/
      5. ↑ http://www.lacrema.com/remove-red-wine-stains/
      6. ↑ https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/5-ways-remove-red-wine-stain/
      7. ↑ http://www.lacrema.com/remove-red-wine-stains/
      8. ↑ https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/5-ways-remove-red-wine-stain/
      9. ↑ http://www.lacrema.com/remove-red-wine-stains/
      1. ↑ http://www.lacrema.com/remove-red-wine-stains/
      2. ↑ https://www.merrymaids.com/blog/quick-tips/remove-wine-stains/
      3. ↑ https://www.merrymaids.com/blog/quick-tips/remove-wine-stains/
      4. ↑ https://www.merrymaids.com/blog/quick-tips/remove-wine-stains/
      5. ↑ https://www.merrymaids.com/blog/quick-tips/remove-wine-stains/
      6. ↑ https://www.merrymaids.com/blog/quick-tips/remove-wine-stains/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you need to remove wine stains from clothing or carpet, blot the stain with paper towels as soon as you notice the spill. Try to act quickly, since the stain will be harder to remove once it’s set in. Once you’ve blotted away as much of the wine as you can, cover the area with table salt, baking soda, or talcum powder to help lift the remaining wine out of the fabric. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then vacuum or rinse the area to see if the stain is gone. If not, you’ll have to deep-treat the stain. Keep reading to learn how you can use boiling water to get rid of a stubborn wine stain.

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 45,452 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Brenda

        Jan 16, 2018

        "I used salt and then hydrogen peroxide and mild soap, Dawn. Let it sit then poured boiling water over the stain ..." more
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement