How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Carpet

Red wine can stain carpet easily. The tannins that give wine its color are also what cause the stains. Luckily, even on white wool carpet, you can use everyday products you likely already have to remove red wine stains.

Items You’ll Need

Tools

Measuring cups and spoons
Small bowl or bucket
Microfiber cloths
Sponge

Materials

Red wine stain remover
White vinegar (distilled)
Dish soap
Oxygen bleach powder
Paper towels

How to Remove Fresh Red Wine Stains from Carpet

Step 1

Blot, Don’t Rub

When the wine spills, use white paper towels or napkins to soak up the liquid.
Change to dry towels often to avoid spreading the stain.
Press down to absorb the liquid from the carpet fibers.

Step 2

Choose a Stain Remover

You can use commercial stain removers like Wine Away, Carbona Stain Devil, or Chateau Spill Red Wine Remover. Follow the instructions on the label.

Step 3

Or, Make a DIY Solution

Mix 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap, 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water.
Put the solution in a spray bottle.
Spray the solution on the stain, starting from the edges.
Make sure the stain is soaked.

Step 4

Blot, Rinse, and Dry

Use paper towels or a microfiber cloth to blot the cleaning solution and the stain.
Change to a dry part of the towel as the stain lifts.
When the stain is gone, dip a clean microfiber towel in water and wring it out.
Rinse the area to remove soap.
Don’t let anyone walk on the damp carpet. Let it dry away from heat.
Vacuum the carpet when it is dry.

How to Remove Dried or Stubborn Red Wine Stains

If you don't find the red wine stain right away, it can be harder to remove. And sometimes, stains that seem gone come back. Here’s what to do.

Dried red wine stains: For dried stains, spray the area with plain water to "wet" the wine and then do the same steps you would for fresh spills.

Reappearing wine stains: A red wine stain may come back, especially on shag or deep carpet, if the fibers weren't fully cleaned to the carpet backing. As the fibers dry, the stain moves up and shows on top. Do the cleaning again, making sure the solution gets to the bottom of the fibers.

Residual red wine discoloration: If there’s still a hint of pink on a white or light carpet, mix oxygen bleach powder with warm water as the product says. Dip a microfiber cloth in the mix and soak the stained area. Wait 30 minutes before blotting with a dry cloth. If the stain stays, mix a new solution and repeat.

Stop Believing These Red Wine Stain Myths

You don’t need sparkling water. Plain water works just as well to dilute a red wine stain.
Sprinkling salt won’t remove the stain and can damage carpet fibers if you scrub too hard.
Milk, beer, or white wine won’t work either. They may dilute the wine, but they also leave sugars and fats that need to be cleaned.
Avoid harsh chemicals and hydrogen peroxide because they can stain most carpet fibers.

NEED TO KNOW

If the wine stain is on an area rug over a hardwood floor, put an absorbent cloth or plastic trash bag under the stain before you start. This will keep the floor dry and stop watermarks on the wood.

Oxygen-based bleach is safe for all colors of synthetic carpet. Do not use it on wool carpets because it can make the fibers weak and break.

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