Many of us love a glass of red wine – but it’s less enjoyable when some of it spills on our carpet. A red wine spill can feel like a crisis, especially on a light-coloured rug. It’s as if all you can do is watch in horror as the wine spreads and stains the fibres.
But with a red wine carpet stain, you need to act fast. The sooner you treat the stain, the easier it’ll be to get red wine out of the carpet.
How to get red wine out of carpet? Start by blotting the excess wine with paper towels or a clean cloth. Keep going until no more wine transfers onto the paper towel. You can also sprinkle salt to absorb more liquid, or dilute the wine with water. Then make a baking soda paste and apply it directly to the stain. Let it dry before vacuuming the residue. If any stain remains, use a carpet stain remover.
Whether someone had an accident at a party or you were clumsy during “me time,” the trick to remove wine stains is to act fast and not panic. You can clean things up easy-peasy – then go back to sipping your Merlot in peace.
How to Get Red Wine Out of Carpet
Before using any cleaning solution, you’ll need to blot the stain immediately using paper towels or clean cloths. Change to a fresh patch each time you dab at the mess. You can dilute the wine stain with cold water to make things easier, but be careful not to pour too much.
If you can’t work on removing red wine stains right away, the next best thing is to blot, then sprinkle some salt. The salt will absorb the liquid and limit the amount that seeps into the carpet fibres.
Also, before using any of these wine stain removers, test them on an inconspicuous area of your carpet! This way you can see whether it will damage the colour or the fibres.
Remove red wine stains with baking soda
Once you’ve finished blotting, mix a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part warm water. Apply the paste directly onto the stained area and let it absorb the red wine. Once the paste has dried completely, vacuum up the residue.
Reapply as necessary until the stain has fully lifted.
Remove red wine stains with club soda
After blotting up as much red wine as possible, pour club soda over the entire stain and let it soak overnight. Rinse the area with a clean sponge dipped in fresh water in the morning, then let the carpet dry.
Remove red wine stains with white vinegar
White vinegar can neutralise colours and stains, so it might work to clean your carpet. Saturate the fibres with a mixture of white vinegar and dish soap. Continue blotting the area to lift the stain. Reapply as needed.
How to Remove a Red Wine Stain from White Carpet
If your carpet is white or otherwise light-coloured, you can use hydrogen peroxide to lift the stain. Do not use this on coloured rugs as it could bleach the fibres.
After you’ve blotted and diluted the stain, mix one part dishwashing liquid to two parts hydrogen peroxide. Use a sponge to apply the solution to the affected area, then let it sit for 20–60 minutes (until you see the stain has lightened).
Blot it clean with a damp cloth or sponge to remove any soapy residue. Then repeat as necessary until the stain has lifted. Let the carpet dry completely, then vacuum to fluff up the fibres.
How to Remove a Dry Red Wine Stain from Carpet
Sometimes we can’t clean a red wine stain immediately, but don’t worry. The carpet stain isn’t necessarily permanent!
If the red wine stain has dried and set into the carpet, you’ll need to “rehydrate” the stain with hot water. This will help “loosen” the dried red wine so it can be cleaned off. Try using baking soda, club soda, or white vinegar first to lift the stain.
Should none of those options work, you can use an oxygen-based cleaner or a commercial carpet stain remover. Be patient as you work.
When you’ve tried all the tips mentioned and still can’t remove the stain, it may be time to leave your carpet to a professional carpet cleaner.
Enough Wining – Get Cleaning!
How to get red wine out of carpet? Act ASAP, while you still have “wet” wine. Use an absorbent cloth so you lift as much wine as possible out of the carpet – the less wine sets in, the less cleaning you’ll need to do.
These tricks will also work for getting white wine out of carpet, although since it has no colour, you’ll have more leeway for cleaning.
If you’re hosting a party, leave the clean-up to professional home cleaners! Then you can use the leftover red wine to make some sangria, kick back, and relax in your clean home – just don’t spill it!
