The last thing you want at a dinner party is to worry about the red wine stains that are certain to ensue.
But here’s the thing: If you have a few key ingredients on hand, you can get rid of those annoying stains before they even set in—no emergency laundry trip required.
Before we look at the steps to remove the stains from your apparel, let us look at the fast responses you will need to take so that the tips and tricks we share with you work effectively.
Do NOT scrub the stain!
Scrubbing will help pull some of the red wine out, but actually negatively impacts the stain as it causes it to spread even more. And, if you’re applying too much pressure, you’re actually pushing more red wine down into the fabric. This is especially true if you’re dealing with a red wine stain on the couch or on the carpet.
Don’t wait too long
While it’s tedious to deal with a red wine stain immediately, we wouldn’t recommend waiting until the next day to take care of it. Red wine will sink and settle into those fibers the longer they’re there. Eventually, they’ll “set” and become more difficult to remove. Not forgetting, of course, that red wine is basically a dye waiting to happen.
Do NOT apply heat
The last thing you want is for the stain to dry, but even worse is if the stain dries when hot air is applied. Heat will actually change the chemical process the stain undergoes when it dries. If you apply heat, you can expect a permanent or nearly permanent stain. So, put the hairdryer down, and for goodness sake, don’t put any stained clothes in the dryer before you apply any pre-wash cleaning methods.
Here are some simple methods you can use to remove wine stains right away in the comfort of your home:
Use vinegar and water.
Mix 1 cup water with 1/2 cup white vinegar, then scrub the stain with a sponge or towel until it lifts. Afterward, rinse out the item and launder as normal.
Put salt on red wine spills immediately.
This will soak up and absorb the wine, preventing any stains from setting in; just make sure the item is wool-free (saltwater can shrink wool). Once you’re done with your salt sprinkling, blot out as much moisture as possible from your fabric and launder as usual.
Use club sodva instead of white wine to counteract red wine stains.
You’ve probably heard of using white wine to remove red wine stains, but club soda is also a great option for getting rid of those pesky spots; just blot at the stain until it disappears completely, then launder as normal.
If your stain has already dried, it could be a tough task. This is because it becomes difficult to remove the stains after they have already set in. You could try some bleach but may still notice that the stain does not go away completely.
