It’s one thing to not cry over spilled milk, but it’s an entirely different scenario to hold back tears when a full glass of red wine leaves its mark on your oriental rug! What can you do to remove red wine stains from your area rugs?

The First Response  

Take a clean cloth and dab the spill in an effort to get the excess wine up and out of the rug fibers ASAP. Once you have the majority of the spill blotted up, next you can tackle the stains with a variety of wine stain weapons. For starters you can take your favorite carpet shampoo or clothing stain remover, and clean as you would if the wine stain were a bit of dirt on the rug. Or you can go for a less conventional, but often times more successful approach and try one of these tried and true wine stain solutions.

White Wine for Red Wine Stains  

When red wine is spilled onto your rug, white wine can be your true companion. White wine will help neutralize red wine and will make it easier to lift the color off of your rug. Simply pour white wine over the stained area and very gently blot the liquid up with a thick towel (be very careful not to rub as this will force the stain into the carpet or clothing fibers). If the stain is still visible, you can add salt or soda to continue lifting out pigment.  

Club Soda and Wine Stains  

Club soda can be poured on the stain and the carbonation will help to lift the stain from the rug fibers while the salt acts as a buffer to keep the stain from setting.  

Vinegar and Soap or Soda  

Vinegar does a nice job of neutralizing the purple pigments and can be combined with the stain-fighting force of either soap or soda. I apply laundry soap or washing soda directly over the vinegar and give it a few minutes to soak in, then rinse and wash.