How to get red wine stains out of carpets, rugs and sofas?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that red wine and carpets are like two peas in a pod. We all turn to popping open a nice oaky bottle of wine however accidents always happen with family or friends. We know it really isn’t nice having a crimson red splodge on your spotless carpet. Fear not! If we can’t remove your stain, no other company can. Our solutions used at London Carpet Cleaning LTD are complementary to stains and the carpet and are much stronger than the chemicals found on the market. Once applied, we extract it instantly and remove the stain without the chemicals damaging the carpets texture and colour. Out of the thousands of carpet cleaning websites only a handful can professionally advise and remove your stain.

How to remove a red wine stain on your carpet?

1. Blot the stain as soon as possible with a white towel so that no other colour is transferred to the carpet or the stain from the towel.
2. Pour cold water or club soda onto the stain and carry-on blotting so that any excess liquid is removed. It is important to remember not to rub as you can break down and damage the fibres of your carpet.
3. Carry on blotting until the towel soaks up the stain. Use another if too much has been soaked up.

How to use a stain remover?

If you are in a hurry to remove your stain and want to use stain treatments, at London Carpet Cleaning LTD we strongly advise to try it first on an unseen part of the carpet, whether it is in the corner of the room or even a spare patch of carpet left after having it installed. Doing this ensures you are aware of any reactions that may take place within the fibres of your carpet before using it on the stain. When using it on the stain, start on the edge rather than in the middle, ensuring that the stain does not spread from its midpoint. Again, please do not hesitate to call and ask us.

How to remove red wine stain on your rug?

1. Blot the stain as soon as possible. Make sure to use a white towel so that the dyes from the towels do not transfer to the rug.
2. Pour cold water or club soda onto the stain and carry-on blotting so that any excess liquid is removed. TIP: (use warm water if the stain is older)
3. Use a dabbing method instead of rubbing so that the wine does not push into the rug further. Useful tip: try applying moderate pressure and short dabs to help the wine lift out.
4. Carry on using the dabbing method until the towel soaks up the stain. Do not use the same towel for too long ensuring the soaked-up towel does begin to stain the rug. Use another if too much has been soaked up.

What not to do:

No rug is the same, synthetic rugs will be treated differently to natural fibres such as wool and cotton. At the same time, no wine stain is the is identical. Even though we rely on the internet for most of our queries, at London Carpet Cleaning LTD we advise not to follow website advice that includes use of chemicals and stain removers. Chemicals that accommodate to all wine stains are impossible to find for each wine has specific elements and reacts differently.

We all know the struggle to remove red wine however treatments available to purchase online can damage the fibres making up your rug and could potentially stain it for good, changing the colour and texture of your once flawless rug.

NOTE: Materials such as Silk and Jude can only be dry cleaned by professionals. Silk is very delicate and any liquid contact will leave a residue. Jude may shrink with any liquid contact. We strongly advise only professional stain removal to be taken on these types of rugs.

Red wine spilled on a grey couch sofa.

How to remove red wine stains from your sofa?

1. Act Fast- Pour Cold water or Soda Water (sparkling water may also help- the bubbles of gas help push the stain out of the sofa)
2. Using the dabbing method- do not rub. Using a white towel or white or white napkins (do not make the simple error of using dyed materials as the colour could simply transfer to the sofa). Dab the stain in gentle motions – this prevents the stain further penetrating your sofas fibres)
3. Blot until all the stain has been transferred to the towel/napkin and leave to dry.

Do’s and Don’ts:

TIP #1: You may read online that sprinkling salt over your freshly split wine will help lift the stain- PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS! As mentioned above, red wine contains tannins and when reacted with salt, the stain could be set permanently. It is easier to remove a stain from your sofa than replacing your sofa with a new one!

TIP #2: Start working your way to the centre of the stain – this means that the stain will not become larger while blotting it .

TIP #3: At London Carpet Cleaning LTD we strongly advise to wait for professional action with delicate materials such as velvet or swede. These can only be done with dry cleaning method as any liquids interacted with such materials will leave an unwanted residue.

TIP #4: If you are in urgent need to treatment and wish to use store bought chemicals, spot test it on an unseen or small hidden part of your upholstery item, in case the chemical affects the colour/texture of your sofa. Even though we do not recommend using chemicals, we will be happy to talk you through how to use a stain remover effectively over the phone.