We are heading into the 2021 Holiday season, and here in central texas, that means more football, lots of food, and so many amazing drinks. Though we *personally* prefer a good whiskey, we know that there are a lot of die-hard red wine enthusiasts. When it comes to red wine, even the most experienced aficionado has the occasional… spill. Especially around the holidays when more people are together, and… drinking. So, we are going to give you a few EXPERT TIPS to remove red wine stains! 

Why are Red Wine Stains So Tough?

LaCrema Winery has a fantastic explanation as to why red wine stains are so tricky to remove! In a nutshell, there are three primary reasons red wine is so tough on fabrics. 

1. red wine naturally contains compounds that are used when making dyes ad ink (not kidding!)
2. When liquid spills, it moves in two directions — outward and downward
3. Fabrics are porous. So, as spilled red wine is moving downward and outward, it easily penetrates fabric’s pores!

What to do to Remove Red Wine Stains

BEFORE WE DIVE IN, it is critical to note that, before applying any cleaning method… ALWAYS PERFORM A PATCH TEST in a discrete area. Seriously. Every single time the Topaz Cleaning and Restoration team enters a home (or professionally cleans a rug in our warehouse) we always, ALWAYS, perform a spot test! Why is this so important!? Well, fabrics are made of compounds, and each compound will react differently when in contact with other compounds (ie. cleaning solutions).

With red wine, speed is the key to success. Don’t wait overnight to combat the spills! That said, attack red wine spills by doing the following:

1. Apply dish soap solution 1 teaspoon to a cup of water and blot with a white towel.
2. Apply white Vinegar solution 1/3 vinegar with 2/3 cup of water. Blot again. (If vinegar is unavailable use white wine from a bottle!)
3. Rinse with tap water, and blot until water is no longer transferring to the towel. 
4. Apply ammonia solution 1 teaspoon to 1/2 cup of water blot again. 
5. Rinse with water and blot dry.

This is only a suggestion and Topaz Cleaning & Restoration can not be held responsible for any damage. Again, always test in a hidden area.

Final Thoughts

As we head into the holiday season, we strongly encourage you to keep a stock of dish soap, white vinegar (or white wine), and ammonia! Remember, when it comes to red wine spills, you are in a race against the clock! So do not wait overnight to remove a red wine stain. Lastly, we cannot stress this enough (so we will say it again…) TEST cleaning methods in a hidden area BEFORE tackling any stain!