Speed matters more than anything. As soon as red wine hits fabric, blot — don’t rub — with a clean cloth or paper towel. Rubbing pushes the pigment deeper into the fibers. Once you’ve blotted up the excess, pour a generous layer of table salt over the wet stain. Salt draws moisture and pigment out before the tannins have time to bind to the fabric. Leave it for a few minutes, then rinse with club soda or cold water. (Skip hot water — heat sets the stain.)
If the stain has already dried or the salt-and-soda method leaves a trace, mix a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide with a drop of dish soap, dab it on, and let it sit for 10 minutes before blotting and rinsing. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the colored compounds in red wine, breaking them down into invisible ones. Test it on a hidden spot first — it can lighten some fabrics. For carpet or upholstery, the same sequence works; just use less liquid so you don’t soak the padding underneath.
A reliable wine stain remover is a small investment that makes this easier: wine stain remover.
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