Of all the common spots and stains we come across, one of the most difficult to remedy is red wine. Everyone knows how tricky grape juice can be; red wine is its stubborn cousin. Between the natural dyes found in red grapes and the synthetic ones placed in wine to give it that deep color, the formula for complete extraction is not easily reached.
Most of us know of a few home remedies for wine stains. I’ve heard quite a few, some are fairly outlandish. One popular method is salt, which works by absorption. Another is to loosen the red stain with a white wine, hoping to re-activate the stain for extraction. I have yet to see either of these as 100% effective, most often they will release some of the stain and leave you with a bluish remainder. A tactic that has some scientific basis is to keep the spot moist until you have a chance to work on it. Once a stain dries, or is worked on then dries, it is usually set in to a point it can’t be removed. I can remember a client who had four small wine spots after a party and tried her home remedies on one of them. Half of a bottle of white wine and pound of salt later she saw zero improvement, she called to have one of our techs come out. We were able to remove all the stains except for the one that was worked on. The moral of that story is to let the spot alone unless you’re sure you can remove it, any other action runs the risk of setting the stain.
The professional approach to wine stains is extremely prompt action. Blotting up any excess liquid clears the way to work on the stained fibers. If you have the chance to work on it right when it happens you may be able to simply rinse with luke-warm water and dry with white towels or wet/dry vacuum. If water doesn’t completely remove all the color, the use of a chemical solution is warranted. Most over-the-counter coffee stain removers will also work on red wine. The tannin removers do a remarkable job releasing the dyes from wine. Again, action without delay is a must. One product we’ve just discovered is called Wine-Away. It’s getting rave reviews from Better Homes and Gardens as a miracle stain remover. From what I can see it’s an enzyme based product that digests the color away. We’re in the process of testing this product, stay tuned for further development.
While the best remedy for a red wine stain is prevention, that isn’t always possible. And as much as you would like to have your guests drink from sippy-cups, that may not leave you as the most popular host in the neighborhood. Accidents happen, and with quick response time you can hope for the best. Otherwise, I’ve always told clients to only drink red wine over concrete.
Spotting Tips
You may need the following items for spot cleaning. The numbers are keyed to the stain, and all should be used in the recommended sequence. Some stains may require professional cleaning based on the age of the stain.
- Cold water.
- Detergent solution.
Mix one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water. - Ammonia solution.
Mix one tablespoon of clear household ammonia (3% solution) with 1/2 cup of water. - Solvent.
A dry cleaning solvent (available at grocery, drug and hardware stores) such as Carbona or Energine. - Ice.
Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Shatter residue, pick or scrape off and vacuum. - Vinegar solution.
Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water. - Warm Water.
Not hot water. - Clear nail polish remover.
Preferably Acetone. - Alcohol or methylated spirits mineral turpentine.
- Rust remover.
- Absorbent powder.
e.g., salt, talc or proprietary absorbent powders. - Absorbent cleaner.
e.g., Host®.
Treatment Guide
One of the most essential aspects of carpet maintenance is removal of spots and spills. Make sure you always have the necessary cleaning materials in stock so that you can act quickly in the event of spills or stains. Doing so will extend the life of your carpet. Refer to the above guide for the steps to take when removing a stain from your carpet or rug.
| STAIN |
TREATMENT |
STAIN |
TREATMENT |
|||||
| Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | |||
| Alcoholic Beverages | 1 | 2 | - | Ketchup | 7 | 2 | - | |
| Bleach | 1 | 3 | - | Lipstick | 4 | 2 | - | |
| Blood | 1 | 2 | - | Mercurochrome | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| Butter | 4 | 2 | - | Milk | 7 | 4 | 2 | |
| Candle Wax | 5 | 4 | - | Mustard | 2 | - | - | |
| Chewing Gum | 5 | 4 | - | Nail Polish | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| Chocolate | 2 | 3 | 6 | Oil and Grease | 4 | 2 | - | |
| Coffee | 1 | 2 | 4 | Paint (Latex) | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Colas and Soft Drinks | 7 | 2 | Paint (Oil) | 9 | 4 | 2 | ||
| Cooking Oils | 4 | 2 | - | Rust | 4 | 2 | 10 | |
| Cream | 2 | 4 | - | Salad Dressing | 2 | 4 | - | |
| Egg | 2 | - | - | Shoe Polish | 4 | 2 | - | |
| Floor Wax | 4 | - | - | Soot | 4 | 2 | 3 | |
| Fruit Juice | 1 | 2 | - | Tar | 4 | - | - | |
| Furniture Polish | 4 | 2 | 3 | Tea | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| Gravy and Sauces | 7 | 2 | - | Urine (Fresh) | 1 | 2 | - | |
| Ink (Fountain Pen) | 1 | 2 | - | Urine (Old) | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| Ink (Ball Point Pen) | 4 | 9 | 2 | Vomit | 2 | - | - | |
| Ink (Felt Tip) | 7 | 2 | 8 | Wine | 11 | 1 | 2 | |
| Unknown Material | 4 | 12 | 2 | |||||
