Wine spillages are inevitable, and spills can quickly turn into stains. Red wine can be a particularly difficult stain to deal with because of its various properties.
Red wine contains tannins, an organic substance used in ink production – so it’s no surprise stains form quickly and are particularly stubborn.
To boot, red wine also contains chromogens, a primary substance in many plants that are responsible for dyes, which is why it has particular staying power when it comes into contact your favourite shirt or new carpet.
If you end up spilling red wine, the key to getting rid of any potential stains from the spillage is to act quickly.
Whenever you spill red wine, the first thing you should do is mop up any excess liquid by blotting the affected area with a kitchen towel, then using one of the tricks below to make sure the stain doesn’t stay.
Dishwashing Liquid and Hydrogen Peroxide
Combine the two and test it on an inconspicuous area as hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent – so only use on white fabrics.
Pour the mixture onto the stain and let sit, checking every once in a while to see if the stain has disappeared; if it has not, add more mixture until it does.
Once the red wine is gone, wash the piece of clothing immediately.