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Best Way To Get Red Wine Out of Carpet

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Red wine is a popular drink, but it can also be a disaster if spilled on carpet. The good news is that there are ways to get rid of the wine and prevent any lasting damage. This article will provide instructions on how to clean red wine from carpet, as well as some tips on preventing spills in the first place.

scrubbing wine stain out of carpet.

It’s the end of a long day and you’ve finally got your hands on a bottle of red wine. You can’t wait to pop it open and enjoy a relaxing evening with friends. But when you go to pour, you end up with a spill instead. Now what?

Red wine can stain carpeting in the same way that it stains clothing. The good news is that you can remove most of the stains by following a few simple steps. Unfortunately, some stains may be permanent. Fret not! We gathered some of the best ways to get red wine out of carpet so don’t lose hope yet!

Tips

If you’ve ever spilled red wine on your carpet, you know that a single drop can cause a big stain. BUT, there’s no need to panic. In most cases, a wine spill on carpet will be absorbed by the carpet fibers and will eventually disappear.

If you act quickly and have the right tools on hand, you can clean red wine from carpet in no time! Here are some of the best ways to get red wine out of carpet: 

  • The sooner you clean up spills, the better. It’ll be much easier to remove the stain if you clean up the wine straight away. Otherwise, it can soak through to the carpet padding and flooring underneath.
  • Eliminate the stain by blotting it; don’t rub! Rubbing will only worsen a wine spill on carpet. To remove a stain from your carpet, simply pat the liquid around the edges and then work your way into the middle of the spill.
  • Dilute with water. When the carpet feels dry under your cloth, pour a small amount of cold water onto the stain and blot again with a white cloth or paper towel. This will dilute what’s left of the wine in the carpet fibers.
  • Don’t expose the carpet to heat. Never use hot water to clean red wine from carpet — the heat will set the stain and make it permanent. Never use a hairdryer to dry carpet, either.
  • Put some common household products to work. In your kitchen, you have all the ingredients needed to conquer carpet stain woes. Just pair common household products with tenacious blotting and determination. You’re going to need either white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, salt, and even — surprise — white wine!

Best way to get red wine out of carpet

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply enjoying a glass at the end of a long day, a wine spill on carpet can be a real headache.

Keep these common household items on hand, and you’ll always be prepared to tackle any wine spill on carpet that comes your way!

Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural cleaner — the acid will help to break down the enzymes in the wine and  neutralize the red and purple pigments. Spray vinegar on the stain as soon as possible after using a cloth or towel to blot up the liquid. 

Another method is to create a vinegar solution where you can dip a rag and blot the wine spill on the carpet. It’s actually one of the best ways to get red wine out of carpet.

  • Blot the stain. To clean red wine from carpet, blot the spill with a clean, dry rag to soak up the excess liquid.
  • Create the vinegar solution. Mix 2 cups of warm water with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. While we said not to use warm water, it’s best to do so when diluting vinegar. The acidic vinegar will neutralize the water’s temperature, so it won’t be warm anymore after the mix. The vinegar will inhibit the wine’s pigments from appearing because of its own acidic nature.
  • Dip and blot. Soak your rag in the water/vinegar solution and get to work blotting. Keep blotting until the red wine stain has disappeared.
  • Remove the vinegar odor. After the stain is gone, blot the spot with a rag soaked in dish soap and water to remove any lingering vinegar odor.
  • Dry the spot. When you’re done, blot the spot with a clean, damp rag to remove soap residue. Avoid the area until it can air-dry completely.
spraying vinegar cleaner on carpet.

Baking soda

Baking soda mixed with water is effective when it comes to removing wine stains. This is because it’s slightly alkaline, which makes it abrasive enough to lift stains. You can safely use baking soda on both carpet and clothing.

  • Blot the stain. Always start by blotting the area with a dry cloth to absorb any excess wine.
  • Dilute the stain. Pour some cold water onto the stain, wetting it thoroughly to dilute the wine. Then, blot with a paper towel until the stain appears to fade.
  • Make the paste. Mix together 1 part water with 3 parts baking soda. The result should be a thick, pasty substance similar to cake batter.
  • Apply the baking soda paste to the stain. Spread a thick layer of the baking soda paste onto the carpet. Allow to set for about 20 minutes to dry out and absorb the stain.
  • Finish with a vacuum. Ensure the carpet is now clean by vacuuming up the baking soda mixture until all of the residue is gone. 
baking soda cleaner on carpet.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the best ways to clean red wine from carpet. It breaks down the color-causing chemical parts of stains, removing their appearance. However, hydrogen peroxide can cause carpet discoloration, so be sure to test it in a discreet area before trying this method.

Once you have tested your carpet, use the following steps to remove any red wine spill on the carpet:

  • Blot the stain immediately. To start, remove excess wine from the stain with a clean, dry rag.
  • Put hydrogen peroxide and baking soda on the stain. Spray hydrogen peroxide on the red-wine stain. You can also carefully pour the hydrogen peroxide. Then, use a spoon to sprinkle baking soda on top of the stain.
  • Allow the mixture to dry and clean up. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to dry. Then clean up any residue with a vacuum or brush.
  • Finish. Blot the spot with a clean, damp rag and let it air dry. 
cleaning carpet with hydrogen peroxide.

White wine

It’s great to keep a bottle of white around for the times when you need it — except this one’s not a celebration. White wine is a surprisingly effective stain remover for red wine. It has an enzyme that can neutralize anthocyanin, a pigment in red wine that gives it its color.

To clean red wine stains from your carpet, simply follow these steps:

  • Pour the white wine onto the red wine stain. Use enough white wine to completely cover the stain, but don’t drown it.
  • Blot, not rub. With a clean rag, blot the stain to fade the stain away.
  • Add baking soda or salt if needed. If the stain still remains, place salt or baking soda on the surface of the stain and let it sit for about five minutes.
  • Remove the residue. To remove salt or baking soda residue, vacuum up the spot and blot with a rag soaked in dish soap and water.
  • Finish. Clean the spot with a damp rag to remove any soapy residue, then blot with a dry rag and let the area air-dry.
wine glass spill on carpet.

FAQs on how to clean red wine from carpet 

If you don’t see your question answered below, don’t be afraid to let us know in the comments!

How do you get old red wine stains out of carpet?

red wine stains. To combine them, spray the vinegar on the stain and sprinkle baking soda on top. Blot until the stain fades away.

Can red wine stains be removed?

Yes, red wine stains can be removed. Act fast and blot the stain immediately. Don’t rub it! Use any of the methods mentioned above to clean up the stain. The best ways to get red wine out of your carpet are white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and even white wine. 

Will baking soda remove red wine from carpet?

You can use baking soda to remove red wine stains. Baking soda is effective for removing red wine spills from carpet because it’s slightly alkaline and acts like an abrasive, lifting the stain right out of the fibers.

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