Cleaning & Organizing Laundry Stain Removal

How to Get Red Wine Out of Carpet: 6 Methods

Remove red wine stains easily with household cleaners

Learning how to get red wine out of carpet correctly can help prevent them from becoming permanent. Red wine stains are notoriously difficult to remove due to the tannins in wine. But, the faster you act to treat the wine stain, the more you improve your chances of getting the stain out.

If you must wait a few hours, you can, but even waiting a day may seal the fate of your carpet with a permanent stain. Try the following six simple methods using household ingredients and natural cleaners to get red wine out of carpet.

How to Remove Red Wine Stains From Carpet illustration

The Spruce / Kyle Fewell

Stain Type Tannin-based 
Detergent Type Stain remover
Water Temperature  Cold
Red wine carpet stain
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein
Carpet wine stain cleaning supplies
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

What to Do After Spilling Red Wine

Blotting red wine carpet stain
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

As quickly as possible after the wine spills on your carpet, use a clean cloth to blot the stain without rubbing it. After blotting up as much as possible, apply just enough cold water to dampen it. Blot it again with a new clean cloth before using one of the cleaning methods below.

If you can't immediately attend to the red wine stain on your carpet, blot it with paper towels and sprinkle salt on it. The salt will remove some of the wine not absorbed from blotting, then vacuum the salt granules when you can.

Remove Red Wine From Carpet With Club Soda

Adding water directly to red wine stain
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

The carbonated water in club soda dilutes the red wine, breaking up the red pigment and making it easier to blot.

  1. Blot the wine. Use a clean white cloth or paper towel to blot up as much red wine as possible. Alternate parts of the cloth to always blot using a fresh spot.
  2. Pour club soda and blot. Pour a little club soda at a time onto the red wine stain on the carpet and continue blotting. Switch out the blotting cloth for a dry one as you work. Continue blotting until no more wine can be removed.
  3. Pour more club soda to soak. Once the cloth is clear, pour more club soda over the stain and leave it overnight.
  4. Repeat. Repeat the next day if any stain remains.

Tip

Not all carbonated water is the same. Club soda is preferred over seltzer or tonic water to dissolve wine stains for its chemical composition; some suggest the salt content makes the difference. However, if you only have seltzer, tonic, or tap water, use it. Diluting the stain is imperative.

Remove Red Wine From Carpet With Dish Soap and Vinegar

Applying carpet stain remover spray
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

The acid in vinegar helps break up the tannins in red wine, neutralizing red and purple pigments.

  1. Blot the stain. Blot the stain, bringing up as much red wine as possible.
  2. Mix a vinegar and soap solution. Make a cleaning solution of 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dish soap mixed with 2 cups of warm water. If you have a spray bottle handy, it works well to disperse the solution.
  3. Spray and blot. Use white cloth or towels so dye from the fabric doesn't bleed onto the carpet; spray (or pour a little solution onto) the stain while blotting. Continue blotting until the stain disappears.

Tip

You can substitute 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for vinegar. However, test any solutions on your carpet in a hidden area to ensure they don't cause discoloration. This is true of carpets that have dye and white carpets. Sometimes, the stained area can become too clean and brighter than the surrounding area, making it stand out.

Remove Red Wine From Carpet With Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide

Cleaning solution using dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleaching agent. Test it on an inconspicuous part of your carpet or rug to ensure it does not discolor the area.

  1. Blot the stain. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, white cloth.
  2. Make a cleaning mixture. Mix two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dishwashing soap.
  3. Apply the solution and blot. Apply the solution to the stain. Blot and repeat until the stain comes out.

Remove Red Wine From Carpet With Baking Soda

Applying baking soda paste to wine stain
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

Baking soda is alkaline, and red wine contains acid. The baking soda reacts with wine, neutralizing the pigments.

  1. Blot the stain. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, white cloth.
  2. Add water and blot more. Pour some water on the stain to dilute it and blot until it nearly dries.
  3. Mix a baking soda solution. Mix a baking soda paste with a 3-to-1 ratio of baking soda to water.
  4. Apply paste and let dry. Apply the paste directly to the carpet stain and wait for it to dry completely before vacuuming the dried paste.

Remove Red Wine From Carpet With Salt

Salt works on a wet or dried red wine stain. It's always best to dilute the stain with water.

  1. Pour salt on the stain. If dried, apply a small amount of water to the stain to get it wet. Add a small mound of salt to the stain. Do not scrub or blot the salt.
  2. Wait a day. Leave the salt overnight. The next day, salt should have a pinkish hue.
  3. Vacuum and repeat. Vacuum the crystalized salt. Repeat if the stain persists. Or, try one of the other methods.

Remove Red Wine From Carpet With White Wine

Using white wine works similarly to water. It's best to use this method on a fresh stain only if no water is available. White wine dilutes the red pigments, making them easier to blot up. Water is preferred since white wine still contains sugars, which is not advisable to introduce to any surface since sugar attracts dirt.

White wine can also stain when not treated. It may not be as visible but can leave a ringed stain.

  1. Blot the stain. Blot as much as possible with a clean, dry, white cloth.
  2. Apply white wine to stain. Pour white wine into a small bowl and dip the corner of a fresh towel in it, or pour white wine directly into the wine spot. Do not oversaturate the area since you do not want to push the stain further into the carpet fibers.
  3. Blot the stain again. Gently blot the stain until the cloth comes up dry.
  4. Follow stain removal process. Use one of the above methods to remove the white wine.

When to Call a Professional

Use a sponge to apply cleaning solution
The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

The stain removal process takes persistence and patience. If everything you try fails to remove the stain, try commercial stain removal and cleaning products to pick up tough red wine stains from your carpet.

As with any method, test the carpet stain remover first on a small part of the carpet to make sure the carpet’s color does not run or fade. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best results.

Call for a carpet cleaning expert if homemade methods and store-bought stain removers do not work. Older red wine stains that have dried completely might require a professional's assistance. They can use industrial products that might return your carpet to its pre-stain condition.

FAQ
  • Can red wine stains be removed?

    Red wine stains can be removed if treated quickly. After that, remain persistent and be patient because it can take some time for specific methods to take effect. Long-dried, set-in stains may be permanent or leave a mark; however, try several methods to get them out.

  • Do you wash red wine stains in hot or cold water?

    Rinse red wine stains with cold water since hot water tends to set in stains.

  • Does OxiClean remove red wine stains from carpet?

    Oxiclean can remove red wine stains by either using the carpet stain remover spray and blotting away the stain or by making a paste out of Oxiclean powder and letting it sit for two hours. After either method, vacuum once it's dry.