Introduction
When you spill red wine on a surface it’s a horrifying few seconds of realization. You decide to scrub it away till the stain disappears or get rid of the fabric altogether. However, it doesn’t need to be that way. If the spill is on furniture and penetrates the cushion or damages the frame, you can search for “furniture repair near me” and hire professionals to fix it. However, getting rid of red wine stains from your upholstery and other fabrics is easy. Here’s how:
The Process
- Science behind stubborn red wine stains – Removing red wine stains is very difficult even if you’ve spilled a mere five ounces. The wine gets its red color from chromogens, a substance inside grapes. Chromogen molecules look and behave just like dyes and that’s why they leave such a stubborn stain on fabrics. Red wine is also full of naturally occurring tannins that are used to make ink. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way and you can remove even the most stubborn stain off your clothes and upholstery fabrics.
- Act quickly before cleaning the stains – While the most stubborn red wine stains can be removed, if you act quick enough your job gets easier. As soon as the wine hits the upholstery fabric, the carpet, or your clothes, it will spread outward and seep downward. You should quit any activity you’re doing and attack the stain as fast as possible.
It’s also important to not agitate wine stains by scrubbing or rubbing the fabric. When you rub or scrub the wine stain, you push the wine deeper into the fabric and increase the staining process. Instead, take a fresh and clean piece of cloth and blot the spot gently to soak up excess wine. Salt also acts as a great fighting material against wine stains. Salt is a hygroscopic material and is great at absorbing moisture. Spread it over the stained spot to soak in as much wine as possible. You can vacuum it off later.
- Use club soda or carbonated water – Simple wine stains can easily be handled with carbonated water or soda water. Soda water won’t harm or corrode your delicate upholstery fabric. Fill up a spray bottle with carbonated water and spray it on the stained spot. Allow the soda water to seep into the upholstery and let it sit there for a while.
Carbonated water will gradually saturate the wine inside the upholstery. When the wine is completely saturated, use a wet cloth to blot the stain and tap it out. Repeat this process several times till the stain is completely removed and the upholstery looks as good as new.
- Use hydrogen peroxide and dish soap – On their own, both dish soap and hydrogen peroxide won’t be able to get rid of the stain. However, you make a powerful mixture when you mix them in a bowl. Mix three parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap and fill it up in a spray bottle. You use the same method as carbonated water. Spray the mixture on the stain, let it seep in, and saturate the red wine.
The peroxide will chemically remove the stained patch on the upholstery. Repeat this process till the stubborn stain is completely removed. After you get rid of the red wine and the stain, rub the previously stained area with fresh dish soap to get rid of any debris and dirt. Run it under the tap and then let it air dry for a day or two.
- Use baking soda and vinegar – You can also use a concoction of baking soda and vinegar to remove red wine stains from your upholstery. Mix one part of vinegar with two parts of baking soda to make a thick paste. Apply this paste over the stained area and be generous with the application. Leave this paste on the stained patch for a few minutes so that it can absorb all the red wine and remove the odor as well.
After a few minutes, the stain should be removed. Now you can remove the baking soda and vinegar paste from the upholstery and vacuum any remaining residue. If the stain isn’t completely removed, repeat the process a couple more times. If there’s any yellow spot on the stained patch, you can use a fresh cloth soaked in warm water and rub it clean.
- Use white wine – When your upholstery is stained by red wine, only wine can get rid of the stain right? No matter how ridiculous this sounds, you can actually use wine to remove wine stains. Get a bottle of the cheapest white wine you have and pour it gently over the stained spot. Let the white wine sit and soak into the stained area for some time.
After a few minutes, blot the liquid on the stained spot with a clean microfiber cloth. If there’s still a bit of pigment visible on the previously stained area, spread a bit of baking soda on the relevant areas and let that soak up those pigments. Baking soda also soaks up the fragrance of both red and white wine so that your couch or chair doesn’t smell like wine all the time. On second thought, that does sound quite nice.
After the baking soda soaks up the remaining pigments, you can scrape it off and remove any remaining residue with a vacuum cleaner. After that, you can further clean the spot with some warm water and let it dry for a piece of stain-free upholstery fabric. It’s best to act quickly and use the white wine right after the spill when the red wine hasn’t settled in.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to remove red wine stains from your upholstery and all sorts of other surfaces, you should get to the task quickly and arm yourself with some cleaning tools and supplies. On the other hand, if the furniture has been corroded or damaged due to the red wine, you can search for “furniture repair near me” and get it fixed by professionals.
