How to Handle Red Wine Spill From Carpet

Accidents happen around the home, especially during the holidays. Unfortunately, red wine spills are accidents that can leave you with serious red and purple stains on your carpet or area rug if you don't take action quickly. If you've found yourself in this situation, try not to worry. My years in the carpet cleaning trade have allowed me to gather some basic tips and tricks to help even the most unprepared person prevent those stubborn stains from their carpets and rugs.

In this article I will walk you through the immediate steps you should take as well as helpful tools that can further assist you in getting red wine out of your carpet. Before getting started, here is a list of household items that can assist in removing wine and other stains from your carpet. We will go through how each item is used later on.

• Salt
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Club Soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide

Wine Has Spilled on Your Carpet — Now What?

If wine has just spilled on your carpet and has begun to slowly soak its way into your carpet, make sure to follow these steps immediately. These first few moments can impact how easy the stain is to lift from the carpet fibers.

Act Quickly!

Acting quickly is important. Regardless of what method you choose to pursue, it is imperative that you begin soaking up as much liquid as you can as fast as possible. The quicker you act, the less likely a stain will develop on the carpet fibers.

Remember: Wine is notorious for its stains, but if caught early and handled quickly, you should have minimal issues removing the stain from your carpet or rug.

BLOT liquid out - Do Not Scrub

This rule is critical when it comes to all aspects of cleaning a carpet: BLOT - do not scrub.

It may be tempting, but scrubbing only allows the spilled product to get deeper into the carpet fibers and potentially bind to the carpet padding. It can also unwind and damage the carpet fibers permanently.

When you blot using a pure white, clean towel or rag, any excess liquid is transferred from the carpet fibers to your cloth, minimizing any additional unwanted seeping.

In addition, it is important that you remember to use a plain white cloth or towel that is free of any colorful dyes — even paper towels with flowery decorative designs can pose a risk of transferring their color to your carpet.

As you blot, ensure to change out the cloth or towel you are using as the liquid continues to be absorbed. Using a rag or paper towel that has been heavily saturated with the leftover wine can result in unintentional staining of the surrounding carpet fibers.

Additionally, the towel can fail to absorb all of the remaining moisture if it is not regularly changed out.

Use Water / Club Soda to Dilute the Wine

Once the wine spill has been blotted to the best of your ability, start the cleanup process by trying these household items on your wine spill:

Water: If you have a spray bottle handy, we recommend that you fill it with cool water and dampen the area. Introducing water allows the residual wine to be diluted, resulting in an easier cleanup.

It is important to limit the amount of water introduced to your carpet. Any excess liquid can be soaked up by the carpet padding and create the perfect environment for mold and mildew.

Club Soda: If you have some club soda on hand, even better. Club soda is well known for its use in removing all kinds of stains due to its effervescent carbonated nature. Once the wine has been thoroughly blotted, you can pour a small amount of club soda onto the stain and allow it to work overnight.

Other Household Solutions That Can Help Lift Your Wine Stain

Outside of our above listed recommendations, I have a few other solutions for lifting wine out of your carpet fibers. Most of these items can be found within your household or picked up at the corner store, making your cleanup process as easy as possible.

Salt / Baking Soda: This trick is wonderful for situations where you find yourself in a hurry or attending to guests at the time the spill occurs.

In order to lift the stain, you will blot the excess wine as normal, and then apply a thick layer of baking soda or salt to the stain. Allow the salt or baking soda to dry before vacuuming up any remaining granules. Repeat as necessary.

This process of lifting the stain requires the stain to be damp — so feel free to combine it with the water method listed above for maximum lift.

Dish Soap and Vinegar: Mixing a tablespoon of dish soap and vinegar together with two cups of water creates an effective, but gentle, tool for lifting the wine stain from your carpet fibers. This method is effective due to the white vinegar's ability to neutralize the red coloration and break down the stain. Apply the solution gradually and refrain from using the entire mixture in one session — you can always repeat the process if necessary.

Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide: I would recommend using this as your last attempt to remove the stain at home as there is potential for the hydrogen peroxide solution to discolor any carpet or area rugs that are not white. It's always a good idea to spot check any solution in a small hidden area of your carpet prior to using it to lift the stain.

Mix two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part mild clear dish soap to create your solution. Apply the solution to the stain, and allow it to set for 30 minutes to an hour. Once the solution has completed lifting, you can blot and repeat if necessary.

Store-Bought Stain Remover for Wine Spills

In instances where the stain had a longer time to sit, or even if the stain is just proving to be a little more difficult to remove, you can try your luck with a store-bought stain remover. There are multiple brands that specialize in lifting wine stains from your carpet and could prove helpful.

When using a store-bought stain remover, make sure to spot test the product in an inconspicuous area before applying it to the stain.

Contact My Pro Cleaner™

Once you've applied one of the first-aid solutions above, please reach out to me for a professional cleaning and spot removal.

My Pro Cleaner™ uses safe, extra-strength solutions and professional tools and techniques to get the absolute best results possible for your wine spill situation.

Here at My Pro Cleaner™, I take carpet cleaning very seriously. It's our professional craft. Professional-quality cleaning products combined with years of experience in removing even the toughest of stains has made me confident that I can help bring your carpet back to its post-spill state.

Call me today, and let me know what happened.

I'm here to help!

I am happy to serve Texas residents and businesses in Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Humble, and Tomball areas, as well as the greater Northern Houston area.

I take great pride in my work and my entire business. Since 2004, I have been truly committed to providing the highest quality workmanship and customer service in carpet and fabric care for your home or business, including cleaning carpet, upholstery, tile, and rugs.

If you have any questions about this article, or anything related to cleaning carpet, upholstery, tile and grout, and maintaining a healthy home, please feel free to give me a call, and let's talk!