The Bane of Stains: Red Wine

Whether you’re dealing with penned in children, financial stress, employment difficulties, or Pandemic Fatigue (yes, it’s a thing), you might need help easing out of the day’s stresses. For many people, one way to decompress after a difficult day is with a glass of wine – perhaps even two, but never enough so that it becomes difficult to pronounce “cabernet sauvignon”. Even so, enjoying that relaxing elixir could result in a spill on the carpet.

Don’t Hesitate

Red wine has pigments, tannins and other staining agents that add to its color, flavor and texture. Those ingredients are also in white wines, but nowhere near as much. Still, those staining agents get to work rather quickly once they meet your carpet fibers.

It’s important to remove as much of the spill as possible, as soon as possible. Grab some paper towels, napkins, a white cloth – whatever you have nearby to soak up the wine. Dab the stain from the outside edge inward to remove as much wine as you can manage. NOTE: Some individuals have had success by sprinkling salt on the spill. The salt absorbs the wine and can then be vacuumed up. However, Preferred Carpet Care does not recommend using salt as it can do further damage to your carpet and vacuum.

Instead, there are other diluting agents available. For instance, pour a little water on the spill to dilute the wine as you are blotting it up. Just don’t use too much, so it doesn’t soak the carpet backing. If water doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, you can try club soda or vinegar. Again, don’t use too much – perhaps half as much volume as the spill itself, and make sure to watch for any liquid trying to spread. Blot it up before it spreads, and then continue blotting until there is no more transference.

On to the Next Step

Mix 3 parts water to 1 part baking soda to make a paste. Spread the paste onto the spill and let sit there until it is dry, then vacuum the area, but this might not get rid of the entire stain. You can attempt another round of spreading the paste to be thorough.

If the issue persists, combine 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. As always, for your carpet’s sake, make sure the dishwashing liquid does not contain bleach or lanolin. Use a sponge to apply the solution onto the wine stain. Using clean white paper or cloth towels, dab and blot the area from the outside edge inward until there is no more color transference.

If the stain continues to be stubborn, you can also attempt the following. Combine 1 part hand dishwashing liquid with 2 parts hydrogen peroxide and apply to the stain with a sponge. After letting it work for several minutes, dab and blot the stain with a clean cloth. If there is any soapy residue, dab and blot the area with a damp clean cloth.

No Need to Whine About It

Honestly, these procedures might get rid of some or most of the stain, but you will often have a discoloration left behind. Preferred Carpet Care in Redding is your best option for removing red wine stains – or any other stains, for that matter. We have proven methods using powerful equipment and eco-friendly solvents, along with decades of skill and experience, to fully remove blemishes to your carpet and help keep it fresh and clean. For more information, give us a call or schedule an appointment online. We’d love to talk about keeping your carpets clean – and hear about your favorite wines, as well!