Easily Bring Red Wine-Stained Clothing Back To Life With Just One Affordable Hack

Anyone who has gestured a bit too enthusiastically with a glass of red wine in hand knows that the resulting stains are nearly impossible to get out. Too many blouses, shirts, slacks, and other garments have been sacrificed at the altar of the stubborn red blotches. Luckily, there's an affordable, easy-to-use ingredient that's likely already in your cabinet that can rescue your clothes: 3% hydrogen peroxide.

What makes red wine stains so difficult to get out? It comes down to two compounds that make the drink distinct: chromogens and tannins. Chromogens, the compounds plants use to create color, are responsible for red wine's beautiful dark red color, but are also notorious for dyeing. Somewhat unhelpfully, tannins, the compound behind red wine's dry mouth feel, are excellent at bonding. Put the two together along with your favorite white blouse, and Houston, we've got a stain. But hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has that extra oxygen molecule that creates oxidation when applied, meaning it can loosen the tannins' grip and remove the chromogens' color, lifting the stain for around half the price of traditional wine stain removers.

While considered safe for most fabrics, never use hydrogen peroxide to treat laundry stains on certain fabrics, such as anything delicate, vintage, or made of animal textiles. And keep in mind, there are four common cleaning ingredients you should never mix with it, including vinegar and bleach, as it can create a toxic gas.

Two important rules when removing red wine stains: resist the urge to rub –it may set the stain even more — and treat it as soon as possible. Apply a little hydrogen peroxide or the mixture (more on that in a moment) in a small, hidden spot on the garment first. Hydrogen peroxide has bleaching capabilities, so checking to see how it responds to your garment's fabric (especially if it's dyed) first is crucial. If the color and fabric aren't damaged, you're good to go.

For new stains, mix two parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide, then dab onto the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse out thoroughly, and wash according to your garment's care tag. If you're concerned about the hydrogen peroxide potentially bleaching your colored clothes, apply a mix of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide in a 1:3 ratio and let it do its work for at least an hour. Then rinse the stain remover and wash. If the stain won't budge, bump it up to full strength: spray undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide over the entire stain, let it sit for a few moments, then rinse it out and wash in your washing machine. Be aware that this step may bleach the fabric, so use it with caution.

If the red wine has set and dried, it may be trickier to remove, but hydrogen peroxide can get rid of stubborn stains. Combine equal parts dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide and apply to the stain with a soft brush, scrubbing lightly. Let it sit for half an hour, then rinse.