5 Ways to Clean Red Wine Stains

No matter how careful we are, there is something about nice furniture, carpet, and clothing that seems to attract red wine stains. If you prefer to avoid using harsh chemicals to clean in your house or are simply looking for a cheap and simple home remedy, there are options for you that will effectively clean your stain. Though you may have had difficulty removing these stains before, you shouldn’t give up! With these tips, you should be able to remove even the most difficult red wine stains with ease.

1. Club Soda and Salt

If the stain is fresh and still damp, you should start by blotting the stain with a paper towel. Once the moisture is mostly gone, sprinkle on a layer of salt. Don’t be afraid to use a lot of salt–you can always remove the extra when you’re done. Next, pour the club soda over the salt. Let the mix sit on the stain for several hours. Once the red has disappeared from the fabric or carpet, use another paper towel to soak up any remaining moisture. There will be salt left over, so you can use your vacuum or washing machine to remove any excess.

2. Milk

You can use milk to remove wine stains as well. All that you need to do for this method is dab up the initial stain with a paper towel, and then pour the milk directly onto the leftover red. Use as much milk as you can, and try to get the milk to absorb directly into the stain. After about an hour, wash the area with water to remove both the milk and the wine stain.

This method is advisable mostly for stains on clothing because you are able to fully wash these in a washing machine afterwards. Using milk on your carpet might remove the stain, but if you don’t get all of the milk up at the end of the cleaning process, you run the risk of creating mold and foul odors in your living space.

3. White Wine and Baking Soda

Cleaning red wine with white wine might seem counter intuitive, but this method is about fighting fire with fire. All you need to do to remove the red wine stain is pour a little white wine on top of it and then rub a thick layer of baking soda on top. You should let this sit for a couple of hours. You need to make sure that the baking soda stays moist, so return to the stain every once in a while to lightly spray the stain with water. Once the stain has been lifted, wash the spot with soap and water to remove all traces of wine and baking soda.

4. Vodka

On the same note as red wine, try using any vodka you may have around the kitchen to remove these red wine stains. This potent alcohol is very effective when it comes to lifting discoloration from fabrics. Simply pour the vodka onto the carpet or fabric where the stain is and watch as the red disappears. After, you’ll want to soak up any remaining vodka. This is a good alternative to milk if you are looking to clean a carpet, as the vodka wont spoil and create foul odors if you don’t soak it all up.

5. Cat Litter

If you have a couple of cats running around your home, chances are you have some spare cat litter. Cat litter has proven to be effective in many areas around the house, including cleaning red wine stains.

When a stain happens, try liberally layering some clay cat litter on top of the spot. Press down on top of the litter so it can soak up as much wine as possible. You’ll need to bust out the vacuum to get every piece of the cat litter up off the floor or your clothes.

Avoid rinsing your clothes off in the sink or bathtub if they are still heavily coated in the litter, as these clay pieces can lead to clogs. This is a method that you would need to use immediately–kitty litter is not effective against dry stains.

Extra Tips

Now that you know a couple of unique ways to remove red wine stains without the use of harsh chemicals, you’re well on your way to purging your house of these unwanted messes. However, there are a couple of helpful tips we can share with you to help make the cleaning even more simple. Consider these tips:

• Clean the mess as soon as it happens
• Blot–don’t rub–the stain
• Try a combination of the tips above
• Don’t put the stained fabric in the dryer until the stain is fully gone–the heat will set the redness

We’ve all been there. Whether you’re naturally a bit clumsy or you’ve simply had too much to drink, red wine stains happen. You don’t have to cry over spilled wine anymore. These 5 tips will save the day–and your carpet!