How to Remove Red Drink From Carpet

Red drinks can produce aesthetically unappealing stains on carpeting.

Red beverages, such as fruit juices and sodas, can spill and generate red stains on carpeting. The red dyes and colorings in drinks make the stains exceptionally apparent on light hued carpets and rugs. Treat beverage stains as quickly as possible to prevent the red liquid from permeating the carpet fibers and padding. Carpeting can become permanently marred when red beverage stains are not promptly treated. Fortunately, basic solutions can remove red drink stains from carpet and restore a home's appearance.

Things You'll Need

• 2 clean containers
• 1/4 tsp. translucent nonbleach liquid detergent
• 4 clean white cloths
• 1 cup white vinegar
• White towel

Instructions

1. Fill a clean container with 4 cups of warm water. Thoroughly dissolve 1/4 tsp. of translucent nonbleach liquid detergent in the water.

2. Soak a clean white cloth in the detergent solution. Blot the stained carpet with the cloth until the red liquid is completely absorbed into the cloth. Rinse the cloth often with warm water to wash out the red liquid and prevent generating secondary stains.

3. Moisten another clean white cloth with warm water. Blot the carpet repeatedly with the moist cloth until the detergent solution is rinsed out of the carpet fibers entirely.

4. Scrutinize the carpet for remaining red liquid. If the red stain lingers, mix 2 cups of warm water with 1 cup of white vinegar in another clean container.

5. Saturate a third white cloth in the vinegar solution. Blot the carpet with the vinegar-soaked cloth until the red stain is completely removed.

6. Moisten a fourth white cloth with warm water. Dab the carpet with the moistened cloth to rinse out the vinegar solution.

7. Blot the carpet with a white towel until all moisture is depleted.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute a stain remover product recommended by your carpet installer for the detergent solution.

• Scrubbing the stain can damage the carpet fibers and allow the red liquid to permeate the carpet pad.

References

• "This Old House": How to Remove Every Type of Carpet Stain
• "Real Simple": Carpet Stain Solutions