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The Best Ways to Get Red Wine Stains Out of Carpet

June 2, 2020

What is the worst thing that can happen at a party? Running out of wine. What is the second-worst thing that can happen? Spilling red wine all over someone’s clean, white, carpeting.

But don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world.

We’ve all been to a party where, after a few hours, people start to loosen up a bit and arm motions tend to become more animated, and there’s always that one person who accidentally spills their drink on the floor.

This wouldn’t be a problem if the spill landed on a hardwood or tile floor. But you know if red wine is going to spill, it’s going to spill on to a spotless white carpet.

Don’t worry though, spilling red wine on to carpet is not the end of the world, even if that carpet is white. There are plenty of ways to remove the wine from the floor before it leaves a permanent stain.

Even if it took you a little bit of time to notice that some red wine had spilled on the carpet, and now the stain has started to set and dry, there are still things you can do to clean up the spot.

Red wine doesn’t have to be a death sentence for your carpeting, and it certainly doesn’t have to ruin the party.

What to Do When Someone Spills Red Wine on Carpet

Unfortunately, if you are having a party with red wine, there is bound to be an accident. But no matter whose fault it is, it’s not the end of the world.

Regardless of the methods you choose to use to help remove red wine stains from carpet, there is one important thing you must do as soon as possible…

Blot the Area with Dry Paper Towels or Cloth

The first thing you want to do is to blot the red wine spill with paper towels to absorb as much of the liquid as possible and to prevent the stain from setting.

Do not want to scrub the carpet, as this will just rub the liquid further into the fibers of the carpet. Dabbing, or blotting is the best way to absorb as much of the liquid as you possibly can while ensuring you don’t make the situation worse than it already is.

Once you have as much liquid removed from the carpet as possible, you can begin to clean the remaining stain from the area.

Traditional Carpet Cleaners

If you have a carpet cleaner in your home, you can try this method before relying on other household chemicals or liquids.

The first thing you want to do is spray enough carpet cleaner on to the stain so that it is fully covered and damp. Wait a couple of minutes for the cleaner to soak into the carpet and then proceed to blot the stain with a clean, dry towel (or paper towels).

Over the counter carpet cleaners tend to do a pretty good job at cleaning up red wine stains, but not everyone always has those in their homes, or you may not have a carpet that works well with carpet cleaners.

Be sure to always test your carpet cleaner in an inconspicuous area of your carpet before spraying a heavily traveled area. Some carpet cleaners can cause discoloration.

If you don’t have carpet cleaner in the house, or you don’t want to use the carpet cleaner in the area of the spill, there are also a few ways to clean up the spill using common household chemicals and cleaners that you may not necessarily think of when it comes to cleaning up red wine stains.

Using Club Soda to Clean Up Red Wine Stains

Club soda is a great way to help rid your carpet of red wine stains without the use of chemicals and without having to worry about the chemicals harming your carpet.

After you have blotted the spill to absorb as much of the liquid as possible, pour some club soda over the stain and wait a few seconds, then begin to blot the area again.

Once the spot is dry, repeat the process by adding more club soda and blotting until the stain is completely removed.

While there is no chemical reason why club soda helps to remove wine stains from carpet, some believe that the bubbles within the liquid help release the stain from the fibers of the carpet, making it easier to lift the stain out.

And while this method tends to work on carpet, it may not work on other materials such as a tablecloth or clothing.

Using Milk to Remove Red Wine Stains

Did you know that milk may be able to help lift those red wine stains out of your carpet, and your clothing?

If you don’t have any carpet cleaner around, and you’re fresh out of club soda, milk may be your next best bet.

Milk works as an excellent solvent because it is both an acid and a base. Due to the fat content in the milk, it absorbs the red wine into it, instead of letting it be absorbed by your fabric.

In order to use this method, you’ll want to blot the stain completely dry, as we’ve mentioned previously, and then pour your milk on to the stain. Let the milk sit on the wine for a minute or so, and then blot up the liquid. Repeat the steps as necessary until the stain has been removed.

This method can work on carpet but is usually used on clothing and other fabrics that you can throw in the washing machine after treating it. Because you are using milk, there can be an odor left behind after the stain has been removed. So if you do plan to use this method on carpet, make sure to clean or deodorize the affected area after the stain has been removed so you ensure that all of the milk has been cleaned up.

These three methods listed above are great for cleaning up spills if you notice them immediately, but what about stains that have already set and dried?

but don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world.

How to Remove Dry Red Wine Stains

The party is over and you recently learned how wine helps you fall asleep, so you decide to  tackle the mess in the morning.

Little did you know that someone spilled a little bit of red wine on the carpet and nobody noticed it until it was too late. Now you’re stuck with a completely dry stain that seems impossible to clean up.

Don’t worry, the methods we listed above can still work even if the stain has already set and is completely dry. It just may take a little bit more effort, and possibly a combination of methods to fully remove the stain.

Since each of the previous methods involves some sort of dampening liquid, you’re going to want to let that liquid sit on the stain a little longer than you may have if the stain was fresh.

This will give the chemicals, or liquids, time to soak up as much of the stain as possible before you begin to blot and dab the affected area with a dry paper towel or cloth.

Remember, no matter how much you want to, do not scrub at the stain unless you have run out of options. Scrubbing forces the stain deeper into the fibers of the carpet and will make things much harder for you.

Things to Remember When Cleaning Red Wine Stains

Spilling red wine on your carpet is not the end of the world. The methods and techniques we listed in this post are great ways to tackle these types of stains, as well as other types of spills that may seem like a death sentence to your carpet.

As long as you act as quickly as possible, blot (not scrub) the area to soak up as much liquid as possible, and then treat the carpet using these tips, you should have no problem cleaning up the mess and the party will not be ruined.

Do you have a technique or method that you have used to clean up red wine stains that you think people should know? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram!

We would love to hear the creative ways that our readers have found to clean up after wine-tasting party mishap.