soaked, discard and repeat until the liquid from the spill is fully absorbed.
Do not rub or wipe the red wine as you will spread it onto a bigger surface area and risk damaging the carpet fiber.
Once the wine is extracted from the carpet, it’s time to work on the stain itself.
Removing wine with more wine
So, proving our point, this is not just an old wives tale; it’s the enzymes from white wine that can neutralize the stain caused by red wine and make the stain easier to remove.
How exactly do you do it? Not just set and forget, after the red wine has been absorbed, pour the white wine over the stain and gently blot with a damp cloth.
After most of the stain has been lifted, you may use some mild dishwashing detergent and a new damp cloth. Dry with cool air and brush the fibres to lift the dampness and flatten the carpet.
Pour soda water onto the red wine stain
Perhaps not nearly as dramatic as grabbing someone’s white wine (and not as effective), but a little cheaper. The effervescence and saltiness of soda water help to lift the stain in the same method.
Use the same method as above to blot the stain then use a mild detergent before drying and brushing the carpet.
Salt on red wine stains
The next step in your emergency arsenal is salt. Salt has a natural ability to absorb fluid, so you can pour it over the red wine spill and let it settle while you gather other tools. You must vacuum up the salt before you begin the removal process. You could also use baking soda.
Vinegar & detergent to remove red wine stains
A very simple recipe of 1/3 of a cup of white vinegar and 2/3 a cup of water is a great basic stain remover. Pour the vinegar solution on the red wine stain and blot with a clean cloth. When the stain starts to lighter, use a mild dishwashing detergent and water to blot the stain. Rinse by spraying some water on the soaped carpet and blot dry again.
Blow dry and brush the carpet to prevent flattening the carpet when it dries
Purpose-made red wine stain removal spray
Containing no bleach, toxic substances or phosphates, this is a wonderful companion to keep in your kitchen for exactly occasions like this It works in the same way as white wine but might be a cheaper investment in the long run!
Simply spray the stain remover on the carpet and start blotting after 1-5 minutes. Wine Away also works on coffee stains, tea stains, and even blood stains.
Get in the professionals
Got a really stubborn stain? It’s time to get professional help. Call a professional cleaning service as soon as it’s apparent the stain won’t lift to reduce the chances of a permanent stain.
You should still work on blotting in the meantime to remove as much as possible of the fluid.
Hydrogen Peroxide?
Don’t even think of heading to the chemicals cupboard (lesson learned the hard way). Whilst hydrogen peroxide might be effective in lifting the stain, it is a powerful oxidizing agent that can also remove carpet dye. You could well end up with a bigger, uglier mess than the original red wine stain.
Have you tried any of these red wine stain removal techniques? Let us know in the comments how you get on!