How to Get Red Wine Out of Clothes: 4 Methods

Red wine is the perfect addition to any celebration, date night or even a cozy night in alone. However, it’s not so ideal when someone gets overexcited or clumsy and spills on their nice outfit. Red wine is one of the most challenging stains to remove, yet not impossible. These tips and tricks will help you save the day by teaching you how to get red wine out of clothes.   

Quick Tips to Get Red Wine Out of Clothes

Regardless of your chosen method, these tips will help you have the most success with getting red wine out of clothes.

1. Start Immediately

Red wine stains get worse the longer they sit. It’s essential to start treating the spot as quickly as possible. If you leave it till later and it dries out, you’ll have a more challenging time getting it out. It may even become too difficult to remove at all. 

2. Keep the Area Moist

The main reason you need to get red wine out of clothes right away is you don’t want to let it dry. Keeping it moist will prevent the stain from setting in deeper into the fibers. If you cannot treat it immediately, soaking the clothing in cold water will help in the meantime. 

3. Never Rub the Stain

Rubbing the red wine stain is something you need to avoid. Soak up the excess liquid by gently blotting it with a paper towel. This motion will remove some of the wine without grinding it deeper into the fabric. On the other hand, rubbing pushes the stain further in, making it much more difficult to remove.  

Methods for Removing Red Wine Stains

Any of these methods are a good place to start when you don’t know how to get red wine out of clothes. Some may work better than others, depending on the material you’re working with and the degree of the stain. Use your judgment and the ingredients you have on hand to save everything from your favorite hot-weather outfit to a cozy sweater. 

1. Baking Soda and Water

The first option is to use baking soda mixed with a small amount of water to remove the stain. Baking soda is particularly absorbent, which is why you see it featured in many cleaning products. 

Mix the water and baking soda to create a thick paste, and apply it to the red wine spot on your clothing. Let it sit until the paste starts to dry, and then quickly toss it in the washer. Do not put the article into the dryer until you’ve checked that the stain is completely gone.   

2. Vinegar and Laundry Detergent

Vinegar is another great removal option for red wine stains since it neutralizes red and purple coloring. Apply it liberally straight to the affected clothing and follow up by blotting on laundry detergent. Let the mixture sit for an hour or so, giving it time to sink in but not to dry completely. 

Then run it through a hot cycle in the washing machine. Again, ensure the stain is gone before running the clothing in the dryer.  

3. Bleach

Bleach is the easiest and most effective way to remove red wine stains, but you can’t use it on your colors. So, you’re in luck if you’ve spilled on something white.

Simply soak the article in bleach for 10-15 minutes and then wash it as you usually would. The stain should be gone entirely. Do a quick once over to make sure the bleach did its job before popping your clothing in the dryer. 

4. Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap

Hydrogen peroxide and dish soap also work wonders to get red wine out of clothes. Ideally, you should use this method on light colors and whites since peroxide can bleach. If you’re worried, you can do a test patch somewhere less noticeable or try one of the other great options.

For this method, create a 3:1 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Apply the solution to the stain and let it sit for about 20 minutes to fully penetrate the red wine spot. After, you can run it through the wash like normal. After the cycle, check it over before adding it to the dryer. 

Get Red Wine Out of Clothes With Ease

Using one or more of these methods combined with the essential tips will make getting red wine out of clothes a breeze. However, some stains or fabrics prove more challenging. In these cases, still avoid rubbing, deal with it immediately and keep the affected area wet. For stubborn spots, you can purchase a special wine stain removal product. Also, you should leave dry clean only fabrics to the professionals.