That’s Going to Leave a Stain

Quick cleanup suggestions if you spill it instead of drink it

There’s nothing worse than dropping some delicious food or spilling a great drink. And while you may want to take your five-second-rule chance with the food, once that beverage hits the floor, it’s a goner. Hopefully, you’ll just be able to refill your glass, but of course, you still have the mess to deal with. If the culprit is red wine on a couch or carpet, you’ll need to stop what you’re doing and take care of it or risk a permanent stain. These tips can help:

Don’t do any of this

Wait very long

The quicker you can get to the stain, the better your results will be. Once red wine spills on fabric, it starts settling into the fibers. It’s essentially acting as a dye, so you’ll want to try to take care of it as soon as possible.

Scrub it

For any spill, the first instinct is usually to grab a towel and start scrubbing. Sure, this may get some of the wine out, but it will actually do more harm than good. You’ll probably spread it and also push it deeper into the fabric.

Apply heat

This one may sound obvious, but many people think heat will help clean up red wine and they reach for a hairdryer. Actually, it’s the exact opposite; if the stain dries as the result of heat, that stain may never come out.

Use white wine

Oddly enough, there’s a rumor floating around that says white wine will clean up spilled red wine. White wine has no cleaning abilities and if used, it may cause the stain to spread.

Do this

Use a dry material

The first thing you should do is find a dry material. Many things can work, including baking soda, baby powder, and even kitty litter. But for the best results, you should use salt. Start by covering the stain completely and then let it sit. Remember, don’t rub or scrub. After a few minutes, you can begin to blot. If you got to the stain fast enough, this may be enough to remove it.

Try some milk

Milk is actually pretty good when it comes to absorption. Cover the stain with it and wait a couple of minutes. Then use a sponge or dry towel to blot it up.

Boil water

Dry heat is bad, but wet heat can be excellent for a red wine stain. Hot water by itself won’t really clean up the wine, but it will cause it to lose its stickiness with the fabric.

Douse with club soda

Just like hot water, the old tried and true club soda will help lessen the wine’s grip on your fabric. For improved results, try using it with white vinegar.

Find your Oxi cleaner

If you have an Oxi cleaner, you probably know already how good it is at getting out stains. For your wine stain, just apply it and wait about a half hour before blotting. Oxi cleaners are even good for dried stains, so if you didn’t notice one until your party was over (or a guest neglected to inform you about it), it may get that old one out too.

Wine spills are tough (mostly because of the wasted wine), but with these tips, they don’t have to end in an ugly stain that causes you to move furniture or overturn a couch cushion. And if you don’t want to worry about wine stains in your home, just come see us at Orange Coast. We’ll take care of any spills – and always make sure your glass is full.