Home Cleaning Stain Removal How to Get Red Wine Out of Carpet Even white carpet can be saved with these stain removal tips. By Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, and textile conservation. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 24, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Fresh Stains Dried Stains Red Wine Stain Myths Close Photo: GK Hart/Vicky Hart/Getty Images Project Overview Skill Level: Beginner Red wine and carpet don't mix well. The same tannins that give wine that signature color are also the culprits that cause staining. Fortunately, even if it is a white wool carpet, you can use common products you probably have on hand to get red wine stains out of carpet. Red wine spill on your sofa? You can use the same products and steps below to remove the stains from upholstery and pillows. The trick is to not over-saturate the fabric because the filling can mildew if gets too wet. How to Clean Rugs and Carpets What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Measuring cups and spoons Bowl or small bucket Microfiber cloths Sponge Materials Commercial red wine remover Distilled white vinegar Dishwashing liquid Oxygen-based bleach powder Paper towels Instructions How to Get Fresh Red Wine Stains Out of Carpet Blot, Blot, Blot As soon as the wine hits the carpet, use white paper towels or napkins to absorb as much liquid as possible.Keep moving to dry towels to prevent redepositing the stain and apply pressure to the towels to reach the bottom of the fibers.Blot, don't rub. Rubbing can spread the stain and push the liquid deeper into the carpet fibers. Choose a Stain Remover There are several excellent commercial red wine stain removers on the market including Wine Away, Carbona Stain Devil, and Chateau Spill Red Wine Remover. If using one of these cleaners, follow the label directions. Or, Treat the Stain with a DIY Solution Mix a DIY solution with 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar, and 2 cups warm water. Add the solution to a spray bottle.Starting at the outside edges of the stain, spritz on the cleaning solution until the stain is saturated.Let the solution work for at least five to 10 minutes. If the wine stain is on an area rug atop a hardwood floor, place an absorbent cloth or plastic trash bag under the stained area before you begin the stain removal process. This will help keep the floor underneath dry during the stain removal process and prevent dark watermarks on the hardwood. The Best Homemade Carpet Cleaners for Removing Stains From Every Type of Rug Blot, Rinse, and Dry Use paper towels or a microfiber cloth to blot away the cleaning solution and the stain.Keep moving to dry towels as the stain transfers.When the stain is gone, dip a clean microfiber towel in clean water and wring until it is just damp.Rinse the freshly cleaned area of the carpet to remove any traces of soapy residue.Don't allow any walking on the damp carpet and allow it to air dry away from direct heat.Vacuum the dried carpet to lift the fibers back in place. How to Remove Dried or Reappearing Red Wine Stains If the red wine stain isn't discovered right away, it can be a bit more difficult to remove. And what's up with those stains that you cleaned away but then reappeared? Here's what to do. Dried red wine stains: For dried stains, spritz the area with plain water to "reconstitute" the wine and then follow the same steps recommended for fresh wine spills.Reappearing wine stains: A red wine stain will often reappear especially on shag or deep pile carpet if the fibers weren't fully cleaned down to the carpet backing. As the fibers dry, the wine stain wicks its way up the fibers to reappear on the surface. Repeat the cleaning process making sure the cleaning solution reaches the bottom of the fibers on the backing.Residual red wine discoloration: If you can still see a hint of pink on a white or light-colored carpet, mix a solution of oxygen-bleach powder and warm water following the dilution ratio on the product instructions. Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and saturate the stained area. Wait at least 30 minutes before blotting the area with a dry cloth. If discoloration remains, mix a fresh solution of oxygen-bleach and water and repeat the steps. Oxygen-based bleach is safe to use on all colors of synthetic carpet. It should NOT be used on wool carpets because it can leave the fibers brittle and prone to breaking. Don't Waste Your Time on These Red Wine Stain Myths There's no need to search for sparkling water, plain water dilutes a red wine stain just as well as bubbly water.Sprinkling salt on the stain does not remove the stain and can even damage or break the carpet fibers if you scrub too hard with the abrasive.Milk, beer, or white wine won't remove the stain. They do dilute the wine but they also leave a residue of sugars and fats that must then also be removed.Avoid harsh chemicals and hydrogen peroxide that can discolor most carpet fibers.