Many people love the idea of curling up on the couch on a Sunday night, a glass of red wine in hand and a romantic comedy on television. What no one wants is to deal with the inevitable aftermath of a red wine spill. Whether it’s on your couch, the carpet or your clothes, red wine stains put up a good fight. In case you’re struggling with how to remove old and new stains, here are some tips for wine stain removal to try on your own.
The Chemical Spine of Red Wine
Red wine consists of chromogens, the primary substance found in many types of plants that’s responsible for dyes. Tannins are also found in the wine — organic materials that contribute to many ink products. Think of red wine as a dyed ink blot, and you’ll begin to see how stubborn its stains are.
When you spill wine, the liquid moves in two ways — down and out. Couch cushions are a little slower in absorbing the liquid than your carpet, which is why it’s crucial to act fast.
Red Wine Stain Removal: The Do-Nots
There are a few key reminders of things you should not do when trying to treat red wine stains. The big ones include:
- Don’t scrub.
- Don’t wait.
- Don’t apply heat.
By scrubbing the stain, you’re spreading the liquid out while using pressure to push it down. You should blot the area instead, using dry fabrics to lift the stain. If you wait too long, you won’t be able to blot out any liquid — while it’s possible to remove old red wine stains, it becomes nearly impossible the more you wait.
You also don’t want to apply any heat to the area. High temperatures will change the chemical processes of the wine, making it easier for it to bond to the porous material instead of lifting from it.
How to Remove Red Wine Stains From the Carpet
If you’re in need of a list of tactics to attack and remove your old red wine stains, here are some items you should keep stocked in your house:
- Table salt
- Club soda
- White vinegar
- Oxi cleaner
In some instances, if the stain is fresh, directly pouring boiling water on the area and blotting it with a dry paper towel can lift most — if not all — of the stain. After that, your next go-to is to add a dry powder or material to the spot. Table salt works the best — pour a small pile onto the heart of the stain, let it sit for a few minutes up to an hour, then use a towel or cloth to blot the area.
The next step in treating a red wine stain is to use a combination of club soda and white vinegar. This mixture will break up the molecules of the wine. If everything else has failed, invest in an oxi cleaner. Oxi cleaners are your best bet in treating and removing old red wine stains.
Whether you’re struggling to remove a red wine stain or would rather leave it all to the professionals, contact Thai Cleaning Service today to treat your carpet and avoid a disaster that becomes irreparable.