Removing Red Wine Stains: We Put Two Methods to the Test

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning, Cleaning

When it comes to removing red wine stains, what works best: The old school method or the new?

Sure, now the home-care market is permeated with cleaning solutions. But there was a time, before technology took over, that we relied simply on good ol' fashioned elbow grease and know-how (plus a little help from Mother Nature) for removing red wine stains. We may have newer, more advanced options, but there's something to be said about the methods that have stood the test of time.

So, we've decided to put old-school cleaning techniques to the ultimate test -- pitting them against high-tech, modern-day cleaning solutions. First up: how to clean spilled red wine.


The Problem: Red Wine Stains
It happens to everyone -- even the least clumsy of us: Red wine splatters on the carpet or a hard-to-clean upholstery. For some, the solution is a strict white-wine-only policy at dinner parties. But for those of us red-wine lovers, there's another option: Take the risk that spills might happen, and if they do, have a stain removal technique that works.

Old Solution: The most commonly discussed remedy for removing red wine stains is club soda. And for good reason: On a fresh wine stain, all I had to do was quickly blot the wine-splattered area with a cloth until it was dry, pour on some club soda, blot and voila -- the stain was gone.

If you don't have club soda on hand, other old wives tales recommend removing red wine stains by covering the fresh stain with salt, which serves as a sponge-like agent, soaking up the stain. (FYI: This is a great option when you're in the middle of a party -- just cover the stain and deal with it later.)

The process is as follows: Douse the wet stain with table salt, and get back to your party. You can let the salt sit overnight (common lore recommends a minimum of six hours) and then vacuum. In my trial run, nearly all of the stain vanished, with the exception of a slight pinkish tinge. To tackle that, I did one round of the club soda-blotting technique (above), then added a bit more salt, let it dry and vacuumed again to find no resemblance of the stain.

For the tougher, set-in stains, you can also try an ammonia-water mixture. If the stain is still wet, blot as much liquid as you can. Mix one tablespoon of ammonia in a cup of warm water, then pour enough onto the stain to cover it (no need to douse it with the full cup if it's a small stain). Let it sit for five to ten minutes, depending on the size of the stain, then blot with a clean towel until the stain is absorbed. You can repeat if necessary -- but one round of this stain-fighter worked miracles on my two-day-old Cabernet catastrophe. Of course, I was left with the stink of ammonia permeating my living room. So I'd only recommend this option as a last resort.

New Solution: One of the most popular red-wine stain removers on the market today is Wine Away, a solution specifically designed for (you guessed it) removing wine stains: Both fresh and set-in. (FYI: It also works on blood.) It can be found at nearly all large grocery chains, as well as Sur la Table and World Market.

Thanks to intense stain-fighting ingredients, the stain-removing process is fairly simple. I tried Wine Away both on a fresh stain and one that had set in over night. On the fresh stain, it worked like a magic eraser -- simply blot excess wine with a towel, then spray the stain with Wine Away, let it sit for a few minutes as the stain literally fades before your eyes, then blot with a damp, clean towel.

If the stain has set in, simply spray the area with Wine Away, let it sit for about five minutes and then blot with an absorbent paper towel or old clean rag. I found it best to place the towel over the stain and stand on it with one foot for 30 seconds (the pressure absorbs better than pushing with one hand). Next, switch to a clean area of the towel and repeat until all the solution -- and the stain -- is absorbed. Never rub or scrub the area. Simply repeat the spray-and-blot process until the stain is gone. (You may have to do this a few times depending on the fibers in the material.) Finally, remove any excess cleaning product by gently blotting with a damp rag.

The winner: This one comes down to preference. If you're anti-fuss, opt for Wine Away. It's the easiest solution. But if you prefer the natural way of doing things (and have 10 minutes to spare), the alternative works just as well.

Verdict: We're calling this one a tie.

Looking for more about removing wine stains? Our sister sites have it covered:
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