The Cheap Cleaning Hack That Will Make That Red Wine Stain Even Worse

There's a good chance you've heard a sprinkling of salt is a foolproof way to get rid of wine stains out of carpet, but it may not be the treatment it's cracked up to be. While the salt trick is listed everywhere as a convenient go-to remedy for red wine stains, it can actually make the stain worse. Emma Burton, a senior consumer researcher at the Good Housekeeping Institute, told The Guardian that she understands why this is a common recommendation, but advised against it. "I can see where the idea comes from, because it acts like a sponge, but if you think about it, when you dye clothes you use salt to set the colour," she said. Burton emphasized that contrary to popular belief, sprinkling salt could actually set the stain permanently.

So next time you feel tempted to reach for salt after spilling some red wine, take a beat and consider other cleaning options first. Just because something is widely recommended, inexpensive, and seems convenient, it doesn't mean it's the right move. As Burton noted, salt can cause the pigments of red wine to bind more tightly to carpet or any other upholstery fiber. Salt may end up ruining your favorite rug in the long run.

Red wine stains are one of the most common carpet stains, and they're also one of the most stubborn carpet messes because of how easily and quickly the liquid seeps into the fibers of fabric. This ultimately makes the cleanup process much more challenging than what you might initially expect.

As for why it is so hard to get red wine stains out? Look no further than the chemical makeup of red wine. Red wine contains a few elements that make it so hard to clean up: pigments, tannins, and acids. Anthocyanins, the pigments in red wine, are from the skin of grapes. They're what give red wine that rich red color, but they're also what make red wine cling so well to fabric. Tannins are the natural compounds in grape seeds and skins. They bind so well to organic material that they're even used in the leather tanning process.

Finally, you've got acids that occur naturally in wine, and they often act as a dye assistant to the tannins. With these three things working together in a bottle of red wine, a spill can turn into a stain that will settle in and hold on as tightly as possible.

So, what should you use instead of salt? There are actually quite a few tried-and-true red wine stain solutions that will actually help you lift the stain for easier removal rather than accidentally helping it set. And the best thing about most of these solutions is that they're just as economical and convenient as salt. The first solution is the boiling water method. If you didn't know already, boiling water can be used to solve a few common household problems, and stubborn stains are one of them. Pouring hot water over the stain will help push the wine pigments out of the fiber. The downsides to this hack are that it works best on fresh stains and the stained fabric has to be washable and durable, so you can't use it on carpets or any rugs that aren't machine washable.

Another effective and cheap go-to solution is using club soda or sparkling water. You simply pour enough to cover the whole stain, blot with a clean paper towel, and you'll repeat until the stain is completely removed. What makes club soda effective? The carbonation and mineral content of club soda and sparkling water help loosen fresh red wine stains before it settles into the fabric for good.

Ultimately, whichever solution you go with, the most important factor when it comes to removing a red wine stain is speed. You have to act fast and that is what usually makes the biggest difference in your results.