10 tricks on how to remove and clean a red wine stain that is already dry?

Beware!  They can happen at any time, on clothes, carpets, table cloths, etc.  The accident can even seem spectacular.  Don’t panic, Terry Pomerantz gives you 10 tricks to remove unfortunate wine stains and revamp what you had thought was lost forever!

Trick #1 – Baking Soda

To remove a red wine stain on fabric, make a paste with backing soda and a little bit of warm water.  Spread the paste on the stain and rub gently.  Rinse and wash fabric completely, as you would normally do.

Trick #2 – Dish soap and ammonia

This shock treatment will remove an old red wine stain on just about any fabric.

  • Mix 1/3 dish soap, 1/3 ammonia and 1/3 warm water.
  • Put on your dish gloves.
  • Dip a cloth in the solution and dab the red wine stain.
  • Rub gently.
  • Rinse and wash fabric thoroughly.

Trick #3 – Shaving cream

Surprising and efficient! To remove an old red wine stain:

  • Apply shaving cream on the dry red wine stain.
  • Spread out the shaving cream with your fingers; no need for rubbing.
  • Wash the item of clothing, the table cloth or cloth napkin in the washing machine.
Someone putting shaving cream in one hand from a pressurized can

Trick #4 – Vodka

To remove an old red wine stain, soak it in vodka and wash it in the washing machine.

Trick #5 – Rubbing alcohol or 70% alcohol

  • Wet the dried stain in a bit of water.
  • Pour a few drops of rubbing alcohol or 70% alcohol.
  • Rub and rinse, and kiss the stain goodbye!

Trick #6 – Water, soap and lemon juice

  • Mix a little bit of warm water, hand soap and lemon juice together.
  • Rub the stain with the mixture.
  • Rinse and wash in the washing machine.

Trick #7 – Oven cleaning products

This radical trick will remove a dry red wine stain, even on a white carpet.

  • Put on protection gloves
  • Spray the oven cleaning product on the stain
  • Rub with a small brush
  • Rinse quickly

Trick #8 – Vinegar and baking soda

This trick is excellent for red wine stains on fabrics such as wool or cotton.

  • Pour a little bit of vinegar onto a tablespoon of baking soda.
  • Apply paste on the red wine stain.
  • Rub gently.
  • Rinse quickly.
Baking soda with vinegar. On rustic background.

Trick #9 – Milk

If the red wine stain is fresh

  • Wipe or dab the fresh wine stain with a clean dish towel.
  • Then dab the stain with a dish towel soaked in milk.
  • Pour a little bit of milk directly on the red wine stain.
  • Leave it for one hour.

Trick #10 – Salt

This is the most popular trick, but important nonetheless.

  1. Pour a thick layer of table salt onto the red wine stain and cover it completely. Good old Sifto will do!
  2. Allow for the salt to absorb the wine for about one hour.
  3. Remove salt with a tooth brush.

Trick #11 – In all good hardware stores

“If you’re all fingers and thumbs, like me, then you might want to invest in a few excellent cleaning products in all good hardware stores or in specialized stores.  Keep them handy, an accident happens quickly!” adds Terry Pomerantz who reflects good humoredly on his own clumsiness. 

An avid wine lover, Terry Pomerantz shares his love of fine bottles, guided by a responsible approach to the art of living. Discover his advice on food and wine pairing, his favorite bottles, and the ideal choices for each season and occasion. Immerse yourself in his passion and learn to fully appreciate each bottle in good company.