How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Fabrics

Red wine is a popular drink at parties, and accidental spills do happen from time to time. The faster this case is treated, the easier the stain will be to remove. This wikiHow article will give you tips and tricks for removing red wine stains from fabrics.

Table of Contents

Remove wet stains

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Act as quickly as possible! Immediately find some solution around. See the items listed below to find one available. More detailed instructions for each solution will be covered in the next steps.

Table salt (best instant choice!)
Carbonated soft drinks (soda)
Milk
Soap and hydrogen peroxide
Cat litter
Hot water

If there is a salt shaker nearby, sprinkle a thick layer of salt over the stain. Make sure to cover the stain completely and let it sit for 1 hour. The salt will suck up the wine and be easy to brush off afterwards.

Salt is a great stain remover, but works best if you use it within 2 minutes of pouring the wine. If the alcohol has not fully penetrated the fabric, the salt crystals will be easily absorbed. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Natural fabrics like cotton, denim, and linen tend to absorb faster than synthetics, so you need to be more responsive to stains on natural fibers. ^{[2] X Research Source}

With the soda water solution, pour soda over the stain. Let the liquid bubble. Continue pouring soda until the color of the wine fades. Let the fabric dry when the stain is gone. Use a paper towel to absorb the remaining soda water.

Therapy using soda water to remove alcohol color is controversial. Some people claim that tap water is equally effective. But it is generally agreed that the carbonates in soda water work to remove stains. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Soda also has a lower pH than regular tap water. Weak acids (with low pH) are known to be effective at removing stains and this property is also a factor to consider.
Note, do not use any flavored soda water to remove stains, even if they are not colored. Color, sugar, and additives can contribute to an existing stain that deepens. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Use a combination of soda water and salt if both are available. Quickly sprinkle a thick layer of salt over the stain and pour soda water on top. Let it sit for about 1 hour, then brush off the salt and pat dry.

Both are effective when used alone, but the chances of stain removal are doubled if you use the two together. The salt will attract the wine and the soda water will remove the stain as you blot dry.

If using milk, pour plenty of milk over the stain. Let the milk soak into the cloth, then pat dry with a dish towel or paper towel. Do not rub as this may cause the stain to adhere to the fabric. Stains will clear in up to 1 hour. Wash as usual to clean the milk and its smell.

Another option is to soak the fabric completely in a bowl or bucket of milk for about an hour, depending on the size of the stain. If the fabric is easy to clean and the stain is quite large, this is a more effective and thorough method.
Milk works similarly to soda, but the consistency and white color of the milk can overcome the red.
Milk is not the preferred method for removing red wine stains, but some people prefer it to salt and soda water.

If soap and hydrogen peroxide are available, mix the two in equal proportions into one container. Pour, spray or use a sponge to soak up a lot of the solution on the stain. Use paper towels to pat dry.

Many argue that Dawn is the best and most effective hydrogenated soap. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Use a spray bottle if available. The foam that comes out during the spray will help remove stains on fabrics, similar to the carbonate in soda water.
If the stain only penetrates through one layer of a double-layered garment, place a towel between the two layers of fabric. This will help prevent the solution from seeping through during the application and penetration process.

Use cat litter by sprinkling a layer of sand about 1 inch thick over the entire stain. Gently press down with your hand to absorb the alcohol. Once the stain is clean, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the sand from the fabric.

Cat litter contains highly absorbent chemicals that absorb liquids quickly, similar to salt but more effective.
Like salt, time is an important factor when using cat litter to remove stains. You need to act quickly – preferably within 2 minutes of the spill.
Vacuuming is the easiest way to clean your cat’s litter, as small particles can clog drains or cause litter boxes to smell extra.

If the above solutions are not available, use boiling water. When the water is really boiling, spread the stained fabric in the pan and place it in the sink. Stand on a chair and pour boiling water over the fabric from a height of about 0.9 -1.2 meters. Pour plenty of water over the stain until the wine color fades. Blot the fabric dry with a paper towel. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Although hot water often makes some stains stronger, this method has proven effective on red wine stains, due to the composition of the wine is fruit.
Do not use this method for wool or silk because hot water will damage these materials. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Dry stain remover

If the stain has dried, look in your home for one of the following. More detailed instructions are described below.

Shaving cream
Vodka
White wine and baking soda

With the shaving cream solution, spray the shaving cream foam to cover the stain completely. Use a spatula to smooth the shaving cream onto the fabric before washing as usual. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

The thick foam of the shaving cream combined with the cleaning ingredients in it works wonders for stubborn stains. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If you have vodka, pour it over the stain. Use a cloth to blot the stain and continue pouring. Let the vodka soak in and wait for the stain to fade. Wash as usual.

Red wine contains anthocyanins, a colorant that is soluble in alcohol. So vodka, gin or any colorless alcohol with a higher alcohol content than red wine can remove stains. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Use white wine with baking soda if available. First, use white wine to soak the stain. Some people believe that white wine fades the stain and prevents the stain from sticking to the fabric (see warnings listed below).

Make a paste with baking soda with a ratio of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Mix until it becomes a paste. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Spread a thick layer of baking soda over the stain and let it sit for 1 hour. Spray occasionally with water to keep the stain from sticking to the fabric. Wash as usual after the stain has faded.
The white wine solution is one of the most controversial. Some people claim that it can fade stains, others say that using alcohol to remove alcohol is like adding fuel to a fire, it will only make it worse. You can use tap water instead if you have doubts about this solution.

Remove stains with cleaning products

Determine if the fabric to be bleached can withstand the strength of the detergents. Check the fabric’s ingredient label, cleaning instructions, and warnings.

Silk and wool are fragile materials, less resistant to water and not resistant to chlorine bleach. In contrast, linen and synthetics are generally more durable, and cotton is average.
If there is no warning on the label of the fabric product, try searching online to make sure the fabric to be removed can withstand the cleaning product you choose.
Materials that are only dry cleaned should be laundered as soon as possible, preferably within the first day or two of spills. Do not try to wash it yourself.

Advice

Act as quickly as possible. The longer the stain stays, the harder it is to remove.
Always use blotting, not rubbing. Rubbing will make the stain penetrate deeper into the fabric and stick better.

Warning

Hydrogen peroxide is a bleach, so you should not use it on colored fabrics.
Do not use heat (dryer, iron) on the stained area until the stain has faded.

Steps

Remove wet stains

Dry stain remover

Remove stains with cleaning products

Advice

Warning

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