How to Clean Red Wine from Carpet

Be careful where you pour that wine.

Host enough dinner parties, and it's practically inevitably---somebody will spill red wine on your carpet. Red wine is a tricky stain to get out, but luckily there are methods of dealing with a red wine stain other than replacing the carpet or rearranging the furniture.

Things You'll Need

• Towels Hydrogen peroxide Dishwashing detergent Glass jar or bowl Salt or baking soda (optional)

Instructions

1. Act fast. The longer the stain sets, the harder it will be to clean.

2. Blot up as much of the wine as possible with a clean towel. Do not scrub, as this will only work the stain deeper into the carpet fibers.

3. Mix equal parts dishwashing detergent and hydrogen peroxide in a glass jar or bowl. Stir gently to combine. Do not whisk or shake.

4. Saturate the wine stain with the hydrogen peroxide-detergent mix. Allow to sit for soak for 10 minutes to two hours.

5. Blot up the liquid with a clean towel.

6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 until stain is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot clean the stain right away, blot up as much of the wine as you can, and then cover the stain with salt or baking soda. This will help keep the stain from setting, and the salt or baking soda will also absorb some more of the wine.

• Never scrub a red wine stain. Blot it up by placing a folded towel on the stain and pressing firmly with your hand or your feet.