Is It True That White Wine Can Eliminate Red Wine Stains? Here's What To Know

A red wine spill is a common and challenging type of stain. When red wine spills on your clothing, sofa, or carpet, you may go looking for advice and hacks for getting red wine stains out. One cheap cleaning hack that will make red wine stains worse is salt, because it can set the stain permanently. But, there is a surprising liquid that you can grab, which might help: White wine.

Red wine stains are caused by the presence of tannins and anthocyanin compounds in grape skins that give dark wines their color during the maceration and fermentation processes. The tannins in the wine bind to the fibers and set the stains, which makes it more difficult to get them out. The compounds in red wine are so strong that you can use them to create a vibrant natural wood stain.

Pouring white wine over red wine stains can help lighten stains because the tannins in the white wine dilute and neutralize the anthocyanin compounds and darker tannins in red wine. This method helps to dilute and lighten the staining caused by red wine, rather than removing it. While many people have experienced good results, others have not had luck with this hack. It will all depend on the type of fabric that has absorbed the wine into the fibers. For example, cotton fabrics will absorb the tannins more quickly than synthetics.  Above all, it's important to act fast before the stain has time to set. Waiting until morning will make the dye much more difficult to remove, regardless of the method you use to get it out.

The first and most important step in the process of getting rid of the red wine is to blot the stain. Do not rub it or the dye will get pushed further into the fibers. Blotting the stain with a clean white cloth or white paper towels is the foolproof way to get red wine stains out of carpet and fabrics. Blot the stain before pouring white wine on it and repeat the process afterward.

After you dab the stain to remove as much liquid as possible, pour white wine onto the stain. Allow the white wine to sit on the stain for a few minutes and then blot to remove the excess liquid. You should notice the stain getting lighter. You can repeat these steps a few times if the stain persists. If you don't have white wine in the house, sparkling water or club soda can be used to lighten the stain instead.

Once you have gotten as much of the stain out as possible, you should rinse with cold water. Avoid using hot water because this will also set the stain. The fabric where the wine was spilled will need to be washed to get the sticky liquid completely out. Clothing should be washed in the washing machine. Fabric on sofas or carpet fibers will need to be cleaned to ensure that the residue is completely removed, otherwise it will attract dust and dirt.