How to remove red wine stains, according to a cleaning expert and wine enthusiast
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Red wine has a reputation as a difficult stain to remove, and that reputation is fairly earned. With its tannin base, it’s indeed a tricky stain to get out of clothing, table linens, furniture and carpets — unless you know how to remove red wine stains.
The good news is that whether your wine stain is fresh or dried and set-in, it can likely be removed with the right steps. As a cleaning and fabric-care expert, as well as a wine enthusiast, I’ve spent my career collecting tips and tricks from hostesses, fabric-care experts and fellow wine drinkers on the best way to remove red wine stains.
Ahead, I’ve rounded up all my tricks for treating a red wine stain as it happens, as well as what to do when a red wine stain sets into clothing, furniture or carpeting.
Treating fresh red wine stains and spills
When a red wine spill or splatter happens, the best thing to do is to get to it right away. That isn’t always possible, though, so there will be plenty of tips for dried and set-in red wine stains too.
Blot fresh red wine spills
Any time you have a liquid spill, especially on an item like upholstered furniture or carpeting, the first step is to blot as much of the liquid up using a white or light-colored cloth. This helps prevent dye transfer, which could cause an even bigger stain, and will allow you to see clearly when liquid is no longer being picked up, indicating that you’ve absorbed as much as possible before moving on to treating the residual stain.
Bumble Deluxe Bar Towels
Applying a stain treatment product (even just water) directly to a fresh wine stain can cause it to spread — so blot with a light-colored cloth first please!
Flush red wine stains with running water or club soda
Treat fresh red wine stains on small items (like clothing, table linens, throw pillows, etc.) by picking them up and holding them under cold running water. The force of running water will push the red wine out, sometimes completely eradicating the stain without requiring any other action. However, it’s not always possible (or advised!) to take an item of clothing off, so if you can’t flush it with running water, you can try using club soda or water.
Canada Dry Club Soda
Apply club soda or water to a white or light-colored cloth and dab at the stain to begin lifting the red wine out of the garment.
Use table salt to pull a fresh wine stain out of fabrics, including rugs and carpet
Here’s a handy party trick: Use table salt on a fresh red wine stain to soak up the liquid. Pour a liberal amount of salt on the spill and allow it to absorb the wine.
Morton Iodized Table Salt, 2-Pack
Salt has desiccant properties, meaning it will absorb liquid from fabrics like carpet, upholstered furniture and tablecloths. Once the wine has been absorbed into the salt, vacuum or sweep the salt up and treat any residual staining as needed.
In a pinch, use white wine to remove red wine stains
This is an old hostess trick that’s worth keeping in mind: White wine works to remove red wine stains. Apply the white wine to a light-colored cloth and dab at the red wine stain, which will begin to lighten and lift onto the cloth. Repeat as needed until the red wine stain is gone and then launder the garment when possible to remove the white wine.
Kedem White Cooking Wine
Just make sure you wash the garment as soon as possible to remove the white wine residue so it doesn’t oxidize over time, leaving behind an entirely different stain.
The best stain removers for red wine
Wine Away Red Wine Liquid Stain Remover
Wine Away is a red wine stain remover that actually works. As a bonus, it’s also excellent at removing other stains like cranberry and pomegranate, which is why we recommend it for cleaning up after holiday messes.
American Red Cross 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent stain remover for all types of stains — it can even remove blood stains — including red wine. However, it’s important to know that it can have a bleaching effect, so be sure to spot test it before using it as a stain remover to ensure it doesn’t cause irreversible color loss.
Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid Laundry Detergent
Liquid laundry detergent can be used as a stain pretreatment agent, which is helpful to know when you need to remove a stain but don’t have an entire arsenal of stain-treatment products on hand. Dab a small amount of liquid laundry detergent on the stain and allow it to penetrate for 10 to 15 minutes prior to laundering to break the stain down.
Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray
Just as liquid laundry detergent can be used to pretreat red wine stains, so can dish soap. Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray is especially good for the job because the foaming spray is easy to apply directly to a stain.
The best products for removing set-in red wine stains
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover Brush
When treating set-in stains or stains on items like mattresses or carpeting that cannot be washed, using a laundry brush coupled with a stain remover like Wine Away can be helpful. Introducing mechanical action through the use of a laundry brush helps work stain-removing agents into the fibers.
Bissell Little Green Multipurpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Large red wine stains on carpet or furniture like couches and chairs may call for more than just spot treating by hand. In such cases, a carpet and upholstery cleaning machine, which forces cleaning solution into the fibers and then sucks the liquid back out, will be the best tool for the job.
Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Plus
For homes with limited storage space, this small handheld carpet and upholstery cleaning machine packs a lot of power without taking up a lot of room.
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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