About Wine Stains

Red wine is a restaurant and party staple. As great as it tastes to drink, however, red wine can be extremely difficult to get out of carpets, furniture and clothing. If you know you're going to come into contact with red wine or with others who may be drinking red wine, take extra care to ensure that you don't wind up with wine stains on yourself or your property.

Features

Wine stains are usually caused by red wine that is spilled on a lighter-colored surface. The liquid seaps into porous fabrics where the deep red color takes over, leaving a large, visible red splotch. If not cleaned properly and quickly, remnants of the wine will permanently set into the fabric. These stains can range in color from a slight yellow discoloration to a maroon, burgundy or cardinal color. Blotting the wine stain right away can prevent it from spreading.

Types

Wine can stain a variety of surfaces, including carpets, upholstry and clothing. They are more likely to occur during a party atmosphere where crowds abound, the lights are turned down and there is little room to maneuver. They can also occur at home, as wine glasses can be easily tipped over by passing children or adults who bump the glass' stem, causing it to turn over. Like coffee and tea, wine can also stain teeth. Though the pinkish color that red wine exudes typically disappears within half an hour of drinking it, wine still discolors the teeth.

Considerations

People who come into frequent contact with wine have a hard time keeping their shirts clean. This includes waiters, entertainers and people within the wine-making and selling industries. A few companies, however, have developed clothing lines that are said to be wine stain resistant. Thomas Pink is one such designer. His shirts are said to be moisture-resistant, which allows the wine to roll off the shirt instead of setting in.

Benefits

Though most wine stains are viewed as burdens, many people, especially artists, designers and builders, have purposely poured wine on porous surfaces to sop up the wine's deep red color. Placing red wine in the washing machine with white clothing can cause it to take on a maroon shade. Wine can also be used to stain paper, floors and canvas.

Prevention/Solution

Hydrogen peroxide works well on tough stains and can be used to treat most wine stains on most surfaces. If a wine stain occurs on a cloth item such as a blouse or pillowcase, remove the item immediately and try to blot out any excess wine with a wash cloth or papertowel. You can try to dab the stain out with soap and water if it hasn't yet set, but this may provide only minimal results, especially if the stain is from red wine. You can add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to your normal laundry detergent when you're wash fabrics stained with wine. You can also spot-clean the stain with a mix of hydrogen peroxide and your detergent if that doesn't work. For carpets, upholstry or other fibrous items that cannot be put in the washing machine, soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit for about three minutes before removing it with a damp cloth.