Red wine stains are a nightmare to deal with, especially during the party season (Image: Getty)
It’s officially party season, and if you’re having your friends and family over to your at some point over the next few weeks, you’ll want things to run as smoothly as possible.
But truly nothing puts a dampener on a festive gathering like an unfortunate red wine – especially if it’s on a light-coloured carpet or sofa.
These things happen, and there’s sometimes no avoiding them, so the last thing you want to do is start stressing out or frantically rubbing the stain to try and remove it.
Instead, there’s a very simple way to even the most stubborn of stains, and all you need is a few ingredients you probably already have at home.
The experts at have shared their top tips for quickly removing pesky red wine stains, so you can get back to enjoying the celebrations.
There’s no need to panic about red wine stains as experts have shared how to get rid of them (Image: Getty)
When you spot a spillage, the first thing you want to do is clear away the excess. The sooner you address the spill, the less likely it is to set into your carpet.
Start by blotting the stain with a clean cloth or kitchen towel.
Make sure not to rub the spot, as rubbing can spread the stain and push it deeper into the carpet fibres, while blotting helps soak up excess liquid and prevent the stain from spreading.
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Once you have removed any excess wine, you must dry out any remaining liquid that soaked into the carpet fibres.
Cover the spill with table salt and let it sit for an hour to absorb the wine.
Once it has fully dried, simply vacuum it up. If the stain persists, blot it with soda water – its mild acidity is more effective at lifting red wine stains than regular tap water.
If you don’t have any soda water, or still notice the stubborn stain, then mix a three-to-one ratio of baking soda to water, stir into a paste, and apply directly to the stain.
Gently work it into the fibres with a sponge, then vacuum up any residue once it has dried.
And if you’ve woken up the following morning to the horror of a dried red wine stain, try not to panic. These stains can be more difficult to remove, but they’re not impossible.
Start by mixing equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and washing up liquid. Dab this mixture gently onto the stain with a clean cloth, being careful not to soak the area.
Then, blot with some kitchen roll or another clean cloth to lift the stain, and rinse the area with water to remove any leftover residue, but be careful not to drench the carpet.
If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, any clear alcohol can work just as well. Red wine’s pigments dissolve in alcohol, so try putting a little vodka or white rum onto the stain and blotting gently.