How To Get Rid Of Wine Stains

While it is meant to be relaxing — drinking wine at the end of a long day or indulging with friends during social gatherings are perfect ways to relax. No matter where or when you enjoy it the most, there are some surefire things you should understand about wine before you pour your next glass. We all should take into consideration what happens to our bodies if we drink wine every night and even the alcohol content in wine. Another important consideration is understanding wine stain removal. Wine has been enjoyed since Ancient Greece and Rome — and before. So people have created effective methods for removing wine stains over the centuries.

Wine is potent, and its stains can last forever if not treated immediately. First and foremost, you want to act quickly when handling a wine stain. The longer the wine has to soak into fabric or any other material, the harder the stain will be to remove (via Architectural Digest). For your best shot at a successful removal, you need to act as soon as the spill happens. 

But how do you remove it?

According to Today, wine should be immediately blotted. If you scrub it, you risk spreading the wine and creating larger stains. Instead, blot the problem area until you've soaked up residual wine and began the stain-removing process. Once you've blotted your wine spill, quickly reach for stain-removing agents. According to Architectural Digest, these include club soda and salt. "This is the go-to restaurant solution," says certified sommelier Vanessa Da Silva of club soda. "It's readily at hand, and by diluting and lifting the stain quickly, you can avoid any hard-set, lasting stains. A better alternative would be using club soda with hydrogen peroxide, which boosts its stain-removing ability." Salt is better used on upholstery and carpets.

If you have dish soap, you may want to give that a go, too. This works wonders on clothes (via VinePair). Dish soap can be used as an extra treatment after you've used club soda or salt. If your wine spilled on a white shirt, bleach can also be used. 

Nowadays, you can also purchase wine stain removers, but why spend the money if you have these household items around. Simply soak up the stain, treat it with some of the items you already have (repeat the treatment if necessary), and then use your washer if the item can handle a machine wash. 

If not, a light hand wash will suffice. Once dried, your item should look like nothing ever happened! Happy drinking!