How to Remove a Red Wine Stain From a Laminate Countertop

Red wine may make you feel fine — unless it is staining your beautiful countertops. As enjoyable as a glass of red wine can be, it can be difficult to remove a wine stain on countertops. But there are several cleaning options to clean those dark and stubborn stains.

If you spill red wine or another dark substance on a countertop, don't panic. The key is to clean up the spill as quickly as possible so that stains don't have time to seep in as much. Many household cleaners, in this case, will work just fine. But always read the label to make sure it is safe for plastic laminate counters first.

Family Handyman recommends spraying the stain and letting the cleaner set for at least five minutes before scrubbing it. This allows the spray to work more effectively. It also recommends to scrub with a plastic brush to scrub, as opposed to a paper towel or sponge, because the plastic scrub will help remove the stain more successfully.

Nail polish remover can be used on laminate counters for more stubborn stains. It should not cause any discoloration, but test it in a small area first just be sure.

DoItYourself.com recommends using a very small amount of nail polish remover, which contains acetone, to remove ink stain from countertops or other if you're facing any type of tough stain. Wet and use a cotton ball to rub the stain out. Rinse the nail polish remover off with water and pat dry.

You can make your own baking soda paste for laminate countertops if the stain is stubborn and not easily removed with traditional household cleaning sprays. Family Handyman suggests mixing baking soda and a small amount of water to make a paste-like substance. Allow the baking soda paste to set in on the counter for one to two hours. Then, gently wipe it off.

Due to the abrasive nature of baking soda, you do not want to scrub. Scrubbing may cause scratches and damage your laminate countertop. This is especially effective for fruit juices and red wine.

You can purchase some stain prevention sprays at a hardware store. A coating spray of countertop polish can help with older laminate counters that may become more porous over time and more prone to stains. These sprays will wear off and need to be reapplied once a month or so.

Family Handyman recommends these sprays, specifically Countertop Magic. This may be a great product if you have older and well-worn laminate countertops.

Granite countertops can be cleaned with mild soap and water or a cleaner designed especially for granite. Always clean stains right when they occur. Acidic liquids like juice, wine and coffee can break down the sealant and stain the surface causing damage, according to HowStuffWorks.

If you're facing a red wine stain on granite, removal using baking soda paste can work well. But remember, because of baking soda's abrasive nature, scrub with a soft brush.

Although bleach works for many fabrics and surfaces as an excellent stain remover, undiluted bleach is not recommended because it could cause a bleach stain on laminate countertops. Family Handyman cautions that bleach could cause discoloration or make stains worse in the future. To be cautious, it is best to avoid bleach or products containing bleach when it comes to laminate.

These cleaning methods can also be used to help remove other dark stains, such as juice, coffee, tea and ink stains from countertops.