The most important rule with wine stains: act quickly. Fresh stains are significantly easier to remove than dried ones.
Fabric and Clothing
- Blot, do not rub. Use a clean white cloth or paper towels to blot the stain, absorbing as much wine as possible. Rubbing spreads the stain and pushes it deeper into the fibers.
- Flush with cold water. Pour cold water through the back of the fabric to push the stain out from the inside. Hot water can set the stain, so always use cold.
- Salt. For a fresh stain, pour table salt generously over the wet stain to absorb the remaining moisture. Let it sit for a few minutes, then brush off and rinse with cold water.
- Club soda. Pour club soda gently over the stain. The carbonation helps lift the wine to the surface, making it easier to blot away.
- Commercial stain remover. Apply a commercial stain remover or pre-wash treatment according to the product instructions. Many work well on wine stains when applied before washing.
- Wash as normal. Check the garment care label and wash accordingly. Check that the stain is gone before putting the item in the dryer — heat from the dryer will set any remaining stain permanently.
Important: Never put a stained item in the dryer until you are certain the stain has been fully removed.
Carpet and Upholstery
- Blot immediately. Use a clean white cloth or paper towels to absorb as much wine as possible. Work from the outer edge of the stain toward the center to avoid spreading it.
- Cold water and mild dish soap. Mix a small amount of clear, unscented dish soap into cold water. Dampen a clean cloth with the solution and blot — do not scrub — the stained area. Rinse the cloth and repeat as needed.
- Rinse and dry. Blot with a clean cloth dampened with plain cold water to remove soap residue, then blot dry. Press a dry cloth firmly onto the area and weight it if needed to draw moisture out of the carpet fibers.
- Baking soda paste (for dried stains). For a stain that has already dried, mix baking soda with just enough water to form a thick paste. Apply it over the stain and allow it to dry completely. Vacuum up the dried paste, then treat the area with the soap-and-water method above.
Hard Surfaces (Tables, Countertops)
Wipe promptly with a damp cloth. Most hard surfaces clean up easily if you act quickly. For porous materials such as marble, untreated wood, or unsealed stone, wine can permanently stain if it soaks in — clean immediately and consider applying a surface sealant if staining is a recurring concern.