To remove a red wine stain, act fast: blot without rubbing, rinse with cold water from the back of the fabric, then apply a wine stain remover such as Wine Away or a little dish soap. Avoid hot water and the dryer until the stain is completely gone: heat sets it in the fibres.
What should you do in the first few minutes?
A fresh stain almost always comes out; a dried one takes more work. The first few minutes matter more than the product you use.
- Blot, don't rub. Press a clean cloth or paper towel on the stain, working from the edge towards the centre so it does not spread.
- Rinse with cold water. On clothing or a tablecloth, run cold water through the back of the fabric to push the wine out of the fibres.
- Apply a stain remover. A wine stain remover such as Wine Away, or a few drops of dish soap in cold water. Let it work for a few minutes.
- Blot again, then rinse. Repeat until the cloth no longer picks up colour.
- Wash in cold water and air-dry. Check that the stain is gone before anything goes in the dryer.
How do you get red wine out of clothes or a tablecloth?
On cotton, linen and most synthetics, rinse with cold water from the back first, then treat the stain with a stain remover or dish soap before washing in cold water. If a mark remains, soak the fabric for a few hours in cold water with an oxygen-based detergent.
| Fabric | Method | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| White cotton and linen | Cold water, dish soap, then 3% hydrogen peroxide if a mark remains | Bleach on a stain still full of wine |
| Coloured cotton and linen | Cold water, wine stain remover or dish soap, soak in oxygen-based detergent | Peroxide, which can fade the colour |
| Synthetics (polyester, nylon) | Cold water, stain remover, cold wash | Hot water and the dryer |
| Silk, wool, cashmere | Blot with cold water only, then take it to a dry cleaner | Rubbing, home remedies |
Always test a product on a hidden part of the fabric before using it on the stain, especially hydrogen peroxide, which can bleach.
How do you get red wine out of carpet?
Water cannot run through a carpet, so you work by absorbing. Blot up as much wine as you can, pour on a little cold water, blot again, then apply a wine stain remover and let it work before a final blot.
- Blot with a dry white cloth, without rubbing or brushing.
- Pour a little cold water on the stain and blot. Repeat two or three times.
- Spray a wine stain remover (Wine Away is made for carpets and fabrics), following the directions on the label.
- Blot until the cloth stays clean, then let it air-dry.
Salt or baking soda can soak up part of a fresh spill while you get a stain remover. Leave it a few minutes, vacuum, then treat the stain.
How do you get red wine out of a couch?
Start with the care label on the couch or cushion: it tells you what the fabric can take. Then blot up the wine and clean it with the allowed method, using as little liquid as possible so the padding does not get soaked.
| Code on the label | Meaning | How to clean |
|---|---|---|
| W | Water-based cleaning | Cold water and mild soap or a wine stain remover, dabbing |
| S | Solvent only | No water: blot, then a dry fabric cleaner or a professional |
| WS or SW | Water or solvent | Cold water and mild soap first |
| X | Vacuum only | Blot and leave the cleaning to a professional |
On leather, wipe right away with a damp cloth and dry it, without stain remover: fabric products can damage leather.
How do you remove a dried or already washed red wine stain?
A dried stain is not lost. Rehydrate it with cold water, apply a stain remover or dish soap, then soak the fabric for several hours, or overnight, in cold water with an oxygen-based detergent. If the stain went through the dryer, it can take two or three soaks.
- On whites, equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and dish soap removes most marks.
- Do not iron or machine-dry until the stain is gone.
- For delicate fabric or a valuable piece, a dry cleaner remains the best option.
Home remedies: which ones work?
| Remedy | What it really does |
|---|---|
| Salt | Soaks up the wine from a fresh stain. Useful as a first step, but it does not remove the colour. |
| Baking soda | Absorbs, especially on carpet. Vacuum it before treating the stain. |
| White wine | Dilutes the red wine the way water would, without lifting it. Cold water works just as well. |
| Club soda | Rinses like cold water. The bubbles add nothing special. |
| Boiling water | Can work on sturdy white cotton, but may set the stain on other fabrics. |
Which stain remover works on red wine?
A remover made for wine works on red wine pigments without heat or bleach. Wine Away lifts most red wine stains from carpets and fabrics. It is made from fruit and vegetable concentrates and has a light citrus scent. Keep a bottle near the bar or the table: it works best in the first few minutes.
- Wine AwayWine Away stain remover spray, 12 oz $21.95Made for red wine stains on carpets, fabrics and clothing, with no bleach.
How do you prevent wine stains?
Most stains come from the drop that runs down the bottle or decanter as you pour. A drip stop in the neck cuts the drop, and a felt collar around the neck of the decanter catches the ones that run.
- PulltexFelt drip collar $14.99Wraps around the decanter neck and catches drips, with two magnets to adjust it.
Frequently asked questions
Does white wine remove red wine stains?
No. It dilutes them the way water would, without removing the pigments. Cold water works just as well and does not add sugar to the fibres. Rinse, then use a stain remover or dish soap.
Hot water or cold water?
Cold water. Hot water can set the wine pigments in the fibres, especially on synthetic and coloured fabrics.
Can a stained garment go in the dryer?
Not until the stain is completely gone. Dryer heat sets the stain and makes it much harder to remove. Air-dry and check.
How do you get red wine out of white clothes?
Rinse with cold water, then apply equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Let it work, rinse and wash in cold water. Keep peroxide for white fabrics or ones you have tested first.
What about silk or wool?
Blot gently with cold water, without rubbing or using home remedies, then take the piece to a dry cleaner as soon as you can.
