Quick Tips for Cleaning Red Wine Spills

By Stacy Slinkard

It’s one thing to not cry over spilled milk, but it’s an entirely different thing to hold back tears when a full glass of red wine leaves its mark on your white carpet! What can you do to remove red wine stains from your carpet, area rugs or clothing?

The First Response

When red wine is spilled onto your carpet or clothes, white wine can be your true companion. White wine will neutralize red wine and will make it easier to lift the color off of your carpet or clothing. Simply pour white wine over the stained area and very gently blot the liquid up with a thick towel (be very careful not to rub as this will force the stain into the carpet or clothing fibers). Once you have the majority of the spill blotted up, take your favorite carpet shampoo or clothing stain remover, whichever the case may be, and clean as you would if the wine stain were a bit of dirt on the carpet or clothing.

A Host of Tried and True Stain Removers

A few other red wine stain removers include: club soda, salt, Scotchgard’s Oxy Carpet Cleaner and a must-have product called “Wine Away.”

Club Soda

Club soda can be poured on the stain and the carbonation will help to lift the stain from the carpet fibers while the salt acts as a buffer to keep the stain from setting.

Oxy Carpet Cleaner

Scotchgard’s Oxy Carpet Cleaner works well to lift stains and provide a stain protector to the area of the carpet it was used to clean. It is available at places like Target or Walmart for about $6.

Salt - who knew?

Salt can be poured on the spill to keep the wine from setting until you figure out which method of clean up you would like to go with.

Wine Away - Stain Remover

Wine Away has been tested and recommended by the Good Housekeeping Institute and is even endorsed by Gourmet magazine. It is truly a wine world wonder that every red wine lover should have stowed in their cleaning cabinet.

Finally, whatever you do, don't let the spill sit for long before taking action, the longer it sits the more difficult it will be to lift the stain from your carpet or clothing.