A red wine spill is often seen as the end of fabric, whether it’s clothing, a tablecloth, a sofa or carpet. But this doesn’t have to be the case, as you can usually remove a red wine stain if you’re prepared.
So, how do you do this? Read on to find out some of the best solutions for various fabrics.
How Do I Get Red Wine Stains Out of Fabric?
1. Deal with It Quickly
You’ll want to deal with a red wine stain while it’s still wet, as this gives you a much better chance of washing it out. Where possible, jump straight into the relevant cleaning method below. But if you can’t clean the stain for whatever reason, here are a few options:
· For carpet or upholstery, put a damp cloth over the stain to keep it moist.
· For clothes, flush the stain with water to keep it damp (rather than letting it soak).
2. Pre-Treat Washables
How you pre-treat the fabric depends on its colour and material. For whites, bleach is arguably the best product to use. Lighter colours of cotton can handle hydrogen peroxide instead, or oxygen-based bleach if you’re confident it won’t affect the colour.
Of course, none of these options works on silk or wool, as these are more delicate. Instead, spray the stain with hairspray, leave it for a few minutes, and then blot at the stain. Repeat a few times and then wash the item.
When it comes to washing, you’ll again have to tailor your method to the fabric. Cotton and linen can be washed on very high temperatures with biological washing liquid (which will help shift the stain).
Protein-based fibres, such as wool, silk and viscose, will need to be washed on cooler temperatures with non-bio detergent. If you want an extra cleaning boost, use a stain-remover (there are some suggestions below).
3. Cleaning Non-Washables
Upholstery and carpet are a bit harder to deal with because you’re restricted with how much water you can use and with how much access you have. Also, it helps to know what fabric you’re dealing with in advance, as both carpet and upholstery can be made of wool, which can be harder to clean.
Some options for removing stains from non-washables include:
· Bicarbonate of soda and water, mixed into a thick paste. It should help absorb the red wine and can be vacuumed away when dry.
· White vinegar and laundry detergent. Pour on some white vinegar and then follow up with a bit of detergent. Work the products into the stain and then clean with a damp cloth.
· Use a spray on stain remover. There’s not much to say about this option, other than it’s the best method for dried stains.
4. Hitting It with Stain Remover
Provided you tackle the stain while it’s still as fresh as possible, one of the household products above should help shift it. However, stubborn or dried-on red wine stains might require a bit more work. For these, a dedicated stain remover is the best option.
There are loads of products out there, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find a suitable one. Just make sure you buy one that’s designed for the material that’s stained, as some products won’t work on delicate fabrics, whereas others are designed for carpets because they don’t need to be washed out.
Failing that, the next best option is to take your item to a dry cleaner if it’s clothing or bedding, or hiring a professional cleaner if it’s carpet or upholstery. While these are more expensive options, they’ll be decent last resorts if you can’t shift the stain with household remedies.
What Not to Do When Removing Red Wine Stains
There are a few things you should absolutely avoid when trying to remove red wine stains from fabric, which include:
· Don’t use salt. Using salt to remove stains is an old wives’ tale, as it can actually set a stain rather than remove it. In fact, salt is used during dyeing as a fixative, so it literally does the opposite of what you want.
· Don’t tumble dry. Try to avoid tumble drying unless the stain has completely gone. Heat will cause it to set if not.
· Avoid soaking. Where possible, don’t soak the stained item, as it could cause pigment to leak from the wine into the rest of the item.
Final Thoughts
Provided you follow the tips above, you should be able to shift even the most stubborn red wine stain. It might take a couple of runs through the washing machine, but a red wine stain will come out eventually.
Have you not managed to get your wine stains out? Then please consider looking for cleaners Fulham to help you get the job done.
Collaborative post