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How to Remove Wine from Your Carpet After It Has Dried

Updated on August 17, 2021 by Joseph D. Nielson

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We’ve all had that moment during a girl’s night-in when everyone leans in to cheers, and one person accidentally spills on the host’s carpet.  Whether you are the host or the guilty-feeling clumsy friend, feelings of horror and fear will seep in faster than the spilled wait on the carpet. 

Unfortunately, wine and spills are like two peas in a pod. It’s tough to have one without the other. The good news is that a wine spill doesn’t need to be the end of the party or your carpet. With the right attitude, knowledge and tools, you can learn how to remove a red wine stain from carpet with ease.

With our helpful guide, you can prepare for any spill and learn how to remove a red wine stain from your carpet even after it’s dried. Don’t give up on your wine or your carpet just yet.

From understanding the type of stain to having the right resources on hand, here’s everything you need to know to be better prepared for any wine spill. There’s no need to cry over spilled wine. 

What You Need to Know About Removing Wine Stains

Wine Is A Water-Based Stain

Red wines are notorious for their ability to stain almost everything. However, figuring out how to remove a red wine stain from a carpet requires you first to understand what type of stain you are dealing with. Wine is a water-based stain, which means it can sneak up on you.

The pigments of the red wine soak into fibres instantly and begin to stain, but you may not even notice the stain until after! 

Luckily, there are solutions to remove a red wine stain, and some of these solutions work on a red wine stain on a carpet the next day.

Credit: Lars Millberg Via Unsplash

Cleaning Wine Stains When You Have Pets

If you have a furry friend at home, they probably like to play or sleep on the carpet, so you need to be mindful of the products you use on your carpet. Check out our list of the best carpet cleaner for pets to ensure your pet is safe. Some products that remove red wine stains on a carpet could potentially harm your pet’s health, so it is best to do your research first. 

Common Treatments to Remove Wine Stains From Carpets

Removing red wine stains from the carpet is such a common concern that members of the University of California, Davis conducted a red wine removal study in 2001. That has got to make you feel better about the stain you’ve been losing your mind over! Here are the treatments for removing red wine stains from carpet they included in the study: 

  • 3% hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal volume of Dawn liquid soap 
  • Camco’s Erado-Sol laboratory cleaning solution (Stain Rx) 
  • Gonzo “Wine Out” Red Wine Stain Remover 
  • “Wine Away” Red Wine Stain Remover
  • Salt (applied only to 2 minute-stains, as it was used to absorb the liquid out of the fabric) 
  • Sauvignon Blanc white wine 
  • A solution of vinegar and Dawn liquid followed by rubbing alcohol 
  • Spray ‘n Wash

What You’ll Need to Get Red Wine Out of Carpet

Have you ever wondered why it’s so challenging to get red wine out of the carpet? Red wine stains are one of the trickiest stains to deal with due to their colour, and cleaning wine’s stains is not quite as relaxing as drinking it.

Things happen; wine spills, pets shed and have accidents, and children can lose their gum on the carpet. The good thing is, there’s a solution to everything. You can get chewing gum out of carpet, clean up after pets, and clean your wine stain within a few steps. 

Fortunately, many of the solutions to cleaning a wine stain, among others, involve items you probably already have.  Once you’ve mastered how to get red wine out of carpet, you won’t ever have to stress again. Consider how to remove a red wine stain from carpet utilizing household items.

White Vinegar

Use a mixture of white vinegar, dishwashing liquid, and water to get red wine out of carpet.

Water

Grab some cold water, gradually pour it on the red wine stain on the carpet, and continue to blot. Once you’ve mastered how to get red wine out of carpet, you won’t ever have to stress again. 

Salt

If you’ve used water and it’s not working, you may want to consider how else to remove red wine from carpet. For one, you can put salt on the area, let it sit for a while, and remove it when you notice the stain come off.

Credit: cottonbro Via Pexels

Methods For Removing Wine Stains (Step By Step Instructions)

Follow these steps to clear your mind and your carpet. Whether the red wine stain carpet is dried up or fresh, there are different methods you can use to save your carpet and your night. Here is a list of how to remove red wine stains.

The Soap & Vinegar Method

Step 1:

The most significant step while figuring out how to get a red wine stain out of the carpet is to blot the area as much as possible.

Step 2:

Create a cleaning solution with a tablespoon of dishwashing soap, a tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water.

Step 3:

Pour the mixture on the carpet little by little. Use a white cloth or towel to blot the stain to get the wine out of carpet.

The Club Soda Method

Step 1:

Blot the stain with a dry cloth or paper towel. Even if the red wine stain carpet dried up, use a dry cloth first.

Step 2: 

Pour club soda to remove a dry red wine stain.

Step 3: 

Blot again. Although there is no particular blotting method of how to remove red wine from carpet, make sure the entire area is dry while you’re soaking up the stain.

Step 4:

Pour some more club soda, continue to blot and repeat the process until the stain disappears. You might need to go through a long process to remove a dry red wine stain compared to a wet, fresh one.

Credit: Anna Shvets Via Pexels

Using Wine Stain Removal Products

You can use any of the steps above to remove a red wine stain from a carpet when dried. Although figuring out how to remove dry red wine stains might seem like an Olympic sport, it doesn’t have to be.

Don’t stress yourself out if you aren’t confident about using a DIY solution to clean your wine stain. You can utilize our list of the best carpet cleaners to buy to help you remove red wine stains from carpets.

If you are looking to remove a red wine stain from a carpet after it’s dried, there are countless red wine stain removers you can consider.

The Best Red Wine Stain Removers

Although DIY methods might come in handy and do the trick sometimes, in some cases, you might need to put a little more effort into other cases. Figuring out how to remove an old red wine stain from carpet might be a little more challenging than cleaning fresh stains, but you can clean your carpet like a professional if you use suitable products. 

Even if you notice a stain after some time has passed, don’t lose hope. You can still clean an old red wine stain by purchasing the right products. Consider some of the best red wine stain removers that can help you salvage your carpets. 

Chateau Spill

This is an award-winning remover that can clean an old red wine stain. If you’ve got this handy, you may never have to worry about how to clean an old red wine stain from carpet.

Wine Away

This product is a more affordable option that does the job, as identified in the University of California, Davis wine removal study.

The Laundress Stain Solution

This remover is a non-toxic, all-natural, and allergen-free product. If you wondered how to remove an old red wine stain from a carpet without nasty chemicals, this might be the product for you. After all, identifying green cleaning products can improve health and environmental conditions.

Tide to Go

You might have heard the phrase big things come in small packages. Well, this stain remover is proof of that! This one’s easy to store, and you can carry it in your purse too.

Credit: 1137303 Via Pixabay

Red Wine Removal Tips & Tricks

By now you probably have a better idea of how to remove a red wine stain from carpet. Whether you are trying to understand how to get red wine out of a white carpet or how to get out an older wine stain, there are some red wine removal tips and tricks you can use to help:

Research

If you’re unsure about what gets red wine out of the carpet, your best bet would be to do your research before using any products. If you use self-created tricks, you might end up with a worse stain, which will lead to double the work.

Be Prepared

If you’re a red wine lover, keep a stain remover handy at all times. You can never be over prepared, especially if you want to be sure of how to get red wine out of a white carpet.

Reduce Risk

Avoid drinking wine near the carpet if you have the option. The reduced risk will eliminate the anxiety of how to remove a red wine stain. No stain, no stress!

Credit: cottonbro Via Pexels

Vacuum

After removing red wine stains from carpets, vacuum the area. Look into the best vacuum for carpets that can help you to prevent any additional damage. 

Beware Hydrogen Peroxide

When you research how to remove a red wine stain from carpet, hydrogen peroxide might be one of the top suggestions. But, be careful with this product. 

Conduct a spot test before pouring hydrogen peroxide on the entire area as it can cause carpet discolouration. Wait a few minutes after you do the test, and if you don’t see any discoloration form, you can gradually add more hydrogen peroxide. Then, sprinkle some baking soda over the carpet. 

Hire a Professional

If you’ve tried everything and still aren’t sure how to remove red wine stains, consider hiring a professional. A carpet cleaning service provider might have some tricks up their sleeve that you weren’t aware of or were afraid to try. Make a quick decision before the stains grasp the carpet and are harder to get out.

Stay Positive

Look on the bright side. Instead of worrying about a wine stain, look at the positive effects of cleaning. A general cleaning session can positively impact your mental health. So, while you’re bending over to remove that tough stain, you’re also improving your mood.

Take Your Time

Take your time with it. Don’t rush the cleaning process because you might end up with a bigger problem if you do.

Credit: Anton Mislawsky Via Unsplash

If you use the correct methods to tackle the spills, you won’t have too many worries. Now that you know how to remove a red wine stain, bid farewell to the panic attacks as you notice a red blob on your carpet after you wake up from a night of fun. The stain will be a distant memory if you take your time to clean it up. Cheers to that!

Joseph and Family
About Joseph D. Nielson

Former journalist and editor for various press groups, I now dedicate my time to reviewing products for the home and family life. When I get time to myself, I enjoy rock climbing, taking my dirt bike for a rip, and most importantly providing my family with the best home possible!