Wine Stains on Carpet

What can you do about wine stains on carpet? That depends on the type and color of carpet and whether they are white or red wine stains. The following instructions will help you deal with carpet wine stains of every type.

To start with the obvious - act fast. Spills are not really stains until the substance enters the carpet fibers, so you might prevent the worst wine stains by soaking up the wine quickly using any napkins, paper towels or cotton rags available (I would sacrifice a t-shirt rather than have a bad carpet stain). It is best to use white cotton or paper towels that have no colors - just to be safe from further stains - but use whatever you have quickly.

Now, what do we do about the remaining mess, or old wine stains on carpet? We use three cleaning solutions. To start, mix three ounces of white vinegar with six ounces of water. This is best applied using a spray bottle, but you can also sprinkle it over the stained area carefully. Blot it up after a moment or two, and repeat the process.

As long as you still see wine stains transferring from the spot to your white rag (this is another reason for a white one), keep doing this. Mix up more cleaning solution if necessary. Once there is no more transference, you can use the next solution.

Mix five drops of non-aromatic dish washing detergent (plain blue dawn or yellow Joy work well) into a cup of warm water. Apply this (spray or sprinkle) to the spot and work it in very gently (no hard rubbing!). Blot it up with clean rags or paper towels and repeat.

The final cleaning solution is tap water. Use it to rinse out any remaining stain, as well as any remaining vinegar or detergent. Use your nose (get close) to be sure it is all clean.

Blot up all excess moisture with clean dry white rags or paper towels. Place a fan where it can blow on the spot for a few hours. fast drying prevents deep stains from coming back up to the surface and becoming visible again.

You can remove most carpet wine stains in this way, although red wine stains are tough. If you can;t get them out with the procedure above, try 3% hydrogen peroxide, the kind you can buy cheaply at any grocery or drug store. Apply it very carefully to the stained fibers using a cotton pad or swab and let it work on the fibers for an hour or so. Blot up any excess after that, and do a final water rinse and blotting.

Still have wine stains? They might be permanent. Get professional help or see the options outlined on the following page:

Dealing with Permanent Carpet Stains