Nothing hits the spot like a nice glass of red wine at the end of the day. Life happens, however, as do spills.
What can you do if you spill red wine on your carpet? Is it permanently stained?
We want to share the most effective tips and methods for removing red wine stains from your carpet.
Can Red Wine Stains Be Removed?
Yes, they can, although to be honest, some stains are more easily removed than others.
Your success rate will depend on how much wine was spilled, how quickly you treated or blotted up the stain, and exactly how light-coloured carpet you have.
The Basics
Removing wet wine stains from the carpet is much easier than removing a dried red wine stain.
This means that it is imperative that you address that spilled glass of wine ASAP! While this isn’t always practical, you should at the very least blot up the spill the moment you see it.
Does White Vinegar Remove Red Wine Stains?
White vinegar easily removes red wine stains if the stain is fresh and wet. Find out how below.
A Step-by-Step Approach for Removing Fresh, Wet Wine Stains
1. Using a paper towel or rag, blot up as much of the wine out of the carpet. Don’t scrub! Simply place the towels over the spill and step on it. Fold the towel or get a new set of paper towels and keep blotting the red wine out of the carpet. When no more red wine appears on the towel, move on to step two.
2. In a spray bottle, mix 75 ml of white vinegar with 150 ml of lukewarm water. Set the nozzle to mist and spray the area. Wait about 10 minutes, then blot with paper towels, a rag, or a regular towel. Repeat this process until no more red wine is transferred to your towel. This might take several tries, but if you want that stain out, you’ll need to be persistent.
3. Once you no longer see any red wine stain on your carpet, and no more stain is being transferred to your towel, you’ll want to remove that vinegar smell. Add about 6 drops of dish soap to 250 ml of water. Using a sponge, soak the area, then blot again. Repeat if necessary. Avoid stepping on the carpet if it is wet.
If you weren’t fortunate enough to get to that red wine stain before it dried, don’t worry. You still have some options available to you.
What Removes Dried Red Wine from Carpet?
Believe it or not, salt can remove dried red wine stain from your carpet. You might think that all hope is lost if the red wine stain has dried or is old, but there is an old-fashioned trick that often works with old stains set into the carpet fibres.
A Step-by-Step Approach for Removing Old or Dried Red Wine Stains Using Salt
1. Apply some water to the stain. You want the area wet, but not sopping.
2. Apply a generous (perhaps one cup, depending on the size of the stain) of plain salt over the now-wet stain.
3. Let this mixture sit overnight. As the salt dries, it naturally pulls the wine out of the carpet fibres. If you see the salt turning pinkish or purplish, you know the salt is doing the job.
4. Use a small broom and sweep up as much of the surface salt as possible, then vacuum.
You can repeat this process several times. Even if it doesn’t completely remove the red wine stain, it should at least have made it less noticeable.
Will Bicarb Soda Remove Red Wine Stains Out of Carpet?
Like salt, bicarbonate soda, known as baking soda, is another old-fashioned remedy you can try, however, in our experience, salt has been more effective in removing red wine stains.
It’s certainly worth a try, especially if the red wine stain is not very old.
You can use the same method as above, only substitute baking soda for salt.
One Last Tip
Believe it or not, one of the best DIY methods for removing a red wine stain is using white wine.
If you happen to have a bottle of white wine, you can pour it over the stain and then gently blot the area with a paper towel or other absorbent cloth.
It sounds counterintuitive, but this is a tried and true method for removing stubborn red wine stains.
The Best and Fastest Method for Removing Red Wine Stains from Carpet Fibres
If you’ve tried the salt, baking soda, and vinegar route but that stubborn red wine stain simply won’t come out of the carpet, or if this process sounds far too time-consuming for your taste, you can always call the expert stain removal team at Crystal Carpet Cleaners.
Our technicians use cutting-edge technology that removes all types of stains from carpet fibres, including red wine, pet urine, and odours, ground-in mud and much, much more.
We Use Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Products!
If you’re concerned that professional cleaning means harsh chemicals or heavily scented soaps to remove that red wine carpet stain, rest assured that our state-of-the-art technology uses a natural carbonation process that is completely non-toxic.
You can make that red wine spill a thing of the past, and enjoy fresh clean carpets in one day!
Read that Again! Clean Dry Carpets in Hours, Not Days!
Our cutting-edge carpet cleaning process means your carpet is pristine and ready to walk on in 2-3 hours, not 2-3 days like traditional steam cleaning.
That’s because we use 80 percent less water than other carpet cleaning methods.
Save yourself the time and effort that goes into removing red wine stains and call the professionals who offer the fastest drying time in the industry.
You have nothing to lose but that ugly wine stain! Call today for a free quote.
FAQs
Q: Does hydrogen peroxide remove red wine stains?
A: Hydrogen peroxide can remove stains, but it can also remove the colour from your carpet. You might want to test this first in a small, inconspicuous area. If your carpet retains its colour, you can add two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part of water. Wet the stain and then cover it with baking soda or salt. Allow to sit overnight and then vacuum the area.
Q: Does toothpaste remove wine out of carpet?
A: Sometimes, toothpaste can remove wine out of carpet. Using an old rag or toothbrush, gently scrub some toothpaste into the stain (don’t scrub too hard) and then let it dry. When the toothpaste is completely dry, vacuum and inspect the area.
Q: Does club soda remove a red wine spill from carpet?
A: Sometimes, yes. If the stain is fresh, pour club soda over the stain and blot the stain until no more red appears on your paper towel.