How to Get Wine Out of Pants

Wine spills must be cleaned immediately to avoid damaging fabrics.spill happens.

Red wine usually can be removed from fabric without damaging the clothing when it is treated immediately after the spill has occurred. If the wine spill is allowed to set, the fabric fibers will be stained -- possibly permanently -- and in some the fabric in clothing, such as pants, will be unsightly and unwearable. Some fabrics used for pants, such a wool and silk, offer cleaning challenges, but they can be treated so long as the fabric is handled gently.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl or small pan
• Club soda, white wine or vinegar
• Towels, paper or fabric
• Water

Instructions

1. Remove the pants. Most wine spills may occur at restaurants or settings outside of the home and this may require managing the spill in the privacy of a bathroom. Regardless of the inconvenience, immediate action is preferred to merely patting the wine spill dry and allowing a stain to set into the fabric fibers.

2. Isolate the soiled fabric. Slide a bowl or small pan under fabric at the location of the wine spill. Allow the fabric to dip slightly below the lip of the bowl. This allows for gravity to help keep the red wine and cleaning solutions from spreading to other areas of the fabric.

3. Dilute the red wine. Pour about a half of a cup club soda, white wine or vinegar over the red wine. If using vinegar, the clear white variety is preferred, but apple cider vinegar will do the job just a well. If the wine has dried on the pant fabric, use one of these solutions to hydrate the dry spill and dilute the red wine. Allow the solution to pass through the wine spill and collect in the bottom of the bowl. Gently squeeze the moisture from the fabric. Do not wring silk or wool fabric. Remove the bowl, while ensuring that the dampness of the treated area does not spread to other fabric areas. Empty the bowl and put it back under the treated area.

4. Soak the wine spill area. Pour about a half of a cup club soda, white wine or vinegar over the diluted red wine. Allow the fabric to soak in the solution in the bowl. Gently work the fabric to agitate it in the solution until the red color of the wine has left the fabric. Gently squeeze the moisture from the fabric. Remove, empty and replace the bowl. When treating a dried-on stain it may be necessary to use an additional application of the solution and allow the stained area to set in the solution for 30 or more minutes.

5. Rinse the spill area. Pour one-half to one full cup of water over the treated area to remove the cleaning solution from the fabric. For pants made from silk or wool, use distilled water to help prevent water stains. Gently squeeze the moisture from the fabric. Remove and empty the bowl.

6. Dry the wine spill area. Place a fabric towel or several paper towels underneath the fabric of the spill area. Place a second towel on top of the spill area. Press down on the towels to force the moisture from the fabric into the towels. When the towels feel damp, position a dry section of the towels or fresh towels above and below the spill area. Press down to force moisture to the towels. Reposition or refresh the towels as needed until the the pants are only slightly damp. Allow the fabric to air dry or proceed with standard washing techniques or dry cleaning as recommended by the clothing manufacturer.

References

• eClean Advisor: Cleaning Silk Upholstery Fabrics
• Mrs. Cleanl: How to Remove Red Wine Stains

Resources

• California Wine Stain Remover: Red Wine Stain Removal