How to Remove Red Wine from Carpet

You Will Need:

• Cleaning solution*
  • Dawn and hydrogen peroxide mix (you must use both)
• Clean white towels or paper towels
• Spray bottle (for cleaning solution – optional)
• Rinsing Solution:
  • 2-6 drops mild, non-alkali dish detergent with 1 cup cold water
• Spray bottle with cold water

*Always test a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet with the intended cleaning solution first to make sure no staining, color fading or other damage will occur.

How to Remove the Stain:

1. Drizzle cleaning solution on the stain. Only a couple drops of Dawn is needed – as much as you would normally use if the peroxide were water.
2. Blot with a clean dry cloth until no more stain shows on the cloth. You will need to change your cloth often or use a clean patch of the towel each time as you are blotting to be sure you are not spreading the stain.
3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the stain is no longer noticeable.
4. Spray with rinsing solution.
5. Blot with a clean cloth.
6. Spray with fresh water.
7. Blot with clean cloth. Repeat as necessary to be sure all cleaning solution has been removed.
8. Cover stain with clean cloth or stack of paper towels and put heavy weight on top (heavy books, etc.).
9. Leave set for several hours to absorb any remaining liquid.
10. Let area dry thoroughly.
11. Vacuum to return fibers to normal texture.

When you find the infamous red wine spill (of course on your white carpet!) use the following steps along with the appropriate cleaning solution for your carpet type.

You Will Need:

• Cleaning solution*
  • Wool: white wine
  • Synthetics: soda water or white wine
  • Oriental: Ivory dish soap and white vinegar or white wine
• Clean white towels or paper towels
• Spray bottle (for cleaning solution – optional)
• Rinsing Solution:
  • 2-6 drops mild, non-alkali dish detergent with 1 cup cold water
• Spray bottle with cold water

*Always test a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet with the intended cleaning solution first to make sure no staining, color fading or other damage will occur.

How to Remove the Stain:

1. Begin by blotting with a clean cloth to remove as much of the wine as possible. It’s very important to BLOT throughout this entire process DO NOT SCRUB. Your goal is to “lift” the stain, not rub it into the fibers. Working from the outside of the stain towards the center will keep the stain from spreading.
2. Apply cleaning solution to the stain.
3. Blot with a clean dry cloth until no more stain shows on the cloth. You will need to change your cloth often or use a clean patch of the towel each time as you are blotting to be sure you are not spreading the stain.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the stain is no longer noticeable.
5. Spray with rinsing solution.
6. Blot with clean cloth
7. Spray with fresh water.
8. Blot with clean cloth. Repeat as necessary to be sure all cleaning solution has been removed.
9. Cover stain with clean cloth or stack of paper towels and put heavy weight on top (heavy books, etc.)
10. Leave set for several hours to absorb any remaining liquid.
11. Let area dry thoroughly.
12. Vacuum to return fibers to normal texture.

• Always use cold water to keep from setting the stain.
• If the wine is still wet, cover with salt (1/4 in deep) and let it dry. It may take over night for this to completely dry. When dry, vacuum and the stain will be gone.
• Even if the wine has been rubbed or pushed into the carpet fibers, the cleaning methods remain the same. However, it may require additional applications to get to the bottom of the stain for complete removal.
• Do not use laundry detergent or dishwasher detergents as they may damage the fibers of your carpet.
• Do not use bleach or ammonia on wool carpets as it will damage the fibers.
• Do not use carpet spot cleaners on oriental rugs as it will damage the fibers.
• Oriental rugs should be cleaned with caution. If your rug is an antique, silk, or part silk, contact a professional to remove the stain.