How to Get Wine Out of Clothes: Easy Stain Removal Tips That Work

A splash of red wine on your favorite shirt doesn’t have to be a disaster. That moment of panic is real, but you can remove the stain if you act quickly.

The most critical first rule is simple: Blot, don’t rub.

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The First 60 Seconds: Immediate Steps to Stop a Wine Stain from Setting

In the fight against a wine stain, time matters most. What you do in the first minute is more important than anything else. Here’s what you need to do right away.

1. Stay Calm and Act Fast
   Time works against you. The quicker you deal with the spill, the less chance it has to soak into the fabric fibers.
2. Grab an Absorbent Material
   Find a clean, dry, white cloth or paper towels immediately. Using white material prevents color transfer, which would make things worse. Even a slice of white bread can work in a pinch.
3. Blot, Don’t Rub
   Press the cloth gently onto the stain. Use a dabbing motion to lift the wine out of the fabric. Keep using fresh parts of the cloth until no more liquid comes up. Rubbing is the worst thing you can do; it pushes the wine deeper into the fibers, making the stain bigger and harder to remove.
4. Apply a Dry Powder (If Available)
   If you have it nearby, cover the blotted stain with table salt, baking soda, or talcum powder. Don’t use just a little – be generous. This helps pull out moisture from deep in the fibers.The salt will turn pink as it soaks up the wine. Leave it on for at least 5-10 minutes, then gently scrape it off before moving to the next step.

Proven DIY Stain Removal Methods Using Household Items

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Method 1: The Salt & Cold Water Rinse

Best for: Fresh spills, especially on sturdy fabrics like cotton and linen. This is often your first and most effective option.

• What you’ll need: Table salt, cold water.

1. After blotting the stain well, cover the area with a thick layer of salt. The salt acts like a magnet for the remaining wine.
2. Let the salt sit for at least 30 minutes, or longer for big spills. Give it time to draw out the wine.
3. Turn the clothing inside out and rinse the back of the stain with cold running water. This pushes the stain out and away from the fabric instead of deeper into it.
4. After rinsing, wash the garment in your machine as usual, using cold water.

Method 2: The Dish Soap & Hydrogen Peroxide Power Combo

Best for: Tough stains on light-colored or white clothing. It works well but requires some caution.

Warning: Hydrogen peroxide can have a mild bleaching effect. Always test this solution on a hidden spot first, like an inside seam.

• What you’ll need: Clear dish soap (not colored), 3% hydrogen peroxide, a clean cloth.

1. Mix one part clear dish soap with two parts 3% hydrogen peroxide.
2. Apply the mixture directly to the wine stain. This is a reliable method recommended by home care experts for its stain-lifting power.
3. Let the solution sit on the stain for 20 to 30 minutes. You should see the stain start to fade.
4. The solution will gently bubble as the peroxide works. This is normal and shows that it’s breaking down the wine’s color.
5. Blot the area again with a clean cloth to lift the loosened stain, then rinse thoroughly with cold water before washing as usual.

Method 3: The White Vinegar & Laundry Detergent Pre-Soak

Best for: Pre-treating stains just before washing to boost your detergent’s power. Vinegar helps neutralize the pigments in wine.

• What you’ll need: Distilled white vinegar, liquid laundry detergent.

1. As cleaning experts at The Spruce suggest, start by applying distilled white vinegar directly to the stain. The acid in vinegar works against the red and purple colors in the wine.
2. Dab the vinegar gently into the fabric with your fingers or a soft cloth so it soaks in.
3. Apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent over the vinegar-treated area and rub it in gently.
4. Let the garment sit for 30 minutes to an hour. This gives the mixture time to break down the stain completely before washing in the coldest water setting that’s right for the fabric.

Fabric First: A Guide to Treating Wine Stains on Different Materials

Not all fabrics are the same. Using the wrong method on delicate material can cause more damage than the original stain. Before treating any stain, always check the garment’s care label. It is your best guide.

To help you, we’ve created a quick reference chart for handling wine stains on common materials.

Stain Removal Cheat Sheet

Fabric Type	Recommended Safe Methods	Methods to AVOID	Key Tip
Cotton/Linen	All methods (Salt, Peroxide, Vinegar) are generally safe.	None, but always test hydrogen peroxide on colored fabrics to be safe.	These fabrics are durable and can withstand slightly more vigorous treatment, but gentle blotting is still the best first step.
Synthetics (Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic)	Salt, Dish Soap & Water, Vinegar & Detergent.	High heat. Be cautious with hydrogen peroxide; always test first.	Check the care label. Synthetics are durable but can be sensitive to a wider range of chemicals than natural fibers.
Wool/Silk	Cold water rinse, gentle dabbing with diluted vinegar and water.	Hydrogen Peroxide, Salt (can be too abrasive), Hot Water, Enzyme Cleaners.	These are delicate protein fibers. Avoid harsh chemicals and agitation. When in doubt, take these items to a professional dry cleaner.
Blends (e.g., Cotton/Poly)	Check the care label and identify the fibers in the blend.	Treat for the most delicate fiber in the blend.	If you’re unsure, always default to the gentlest method: cold water and gentle dabbing with a mild, clear detergent.

The Unspoken Rules: Critical Mistakes to Avoid

Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Avoid these common mistakes that can turn a temporary spill into a permanent problem.

• ❌ DON’T Use Hot Water: Heat is the enemy of a wine stain. Hot water will set the stain into the fabric fibers, cooking it into the garment and making it nearly impossible to remove. Always use cold or, at most, cool water.
• ❌ DON’T Use a Colored Cloth: When you blot a stain with a colored napkin or towel, you risk transferring the dye from the cloth to your garment. This creates a second, more complicated stain that you now have to deal with.
• ❌ DON’T Throw it in the Dryer: The high heat of a machine dryer will make any remaining trace of the wine stain permanent. Always make sure the stain is completely gone before machine drying. Air-dry the item first so you can check it in bright light.
• ❌ DON’T Use Chlorine Bleach (on most things): While standard chlorine bleach works on pure white, bleach-safe cottons, it will permanently remove the color from other fabrics. It will also damage delicate fibers like wool and silk, sometimes causing them to yellow or fall apart.

How to Tackle Old, Dried Wine Stains

Did you just find a wine stain from last weekend? Don’t give up. While a dried stain is harder to remove, it’s often still possible. It just takes more patience and effort.

1. Pre-treat: You need to rewet and break down the set-in stain. Apply a paste made from liquid detergent and cold water, or use the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap mixture. Work it gently into the stain and let it sit for at least an hour or longer.
2. Soak: After pre-treating, put the entire garment in a basin of cold water. Let it soak for several hours or overnight to loosen the stain’s grip on the fibers. For white clothes, you can add an oxygen-based bleach (like OxiClean) to the water, as it is color-safe and gentler than chlorine bleach.
3. Wash: Launder the item as you normally would, but use a cold water cycle.
4. Check Before Drying: Before putting the garment in a dryer, look at the stained area carefully in bright, natural light. If any hint of the stain remains, repeat the pre-treat and soak process. Don’t give up.

When to Call a Professional Dry Cleaner

DIY methods work well, but sometimes it’s best to get help from an expert. You risk ruining the garment if you try to handle these situations yourself:

• If the garment is labeled “Dry Clean Only.” This label exists for a reason.
• If the fabric is extremely delicate, such as silk, velvet, cashmere, or leather.
• If the item has high sentimental or monetary value. It’s not worth the risk.
• If you’ve tried the safe, appropriate DIY methods and the stain won’t come out. A professional has access to solvents and techniques that can succeed where household methods fail.

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Conclusion

A wine spill can feel like a disaster, but it doesn’t have to ruin your clothing. By remembering a few basic principles, you can handle almost any wine stain with confidence.

The most important things to remember are simple. 1. Act Fast & Blot, because time and technique matter most. 2. Know Your Fabric, because the right method for cotton can destroy silk. And 3. Avoid Heat, as it is the surest way to make a stain permanent.

With these rules and the methods we’ve shared, you are now ready to handle that next accident like a pro.

FAQ

1. What’s the first thing I should do when wine spills on my clothes?
   Immediately blot (don’t rub) the stain with a white cloth or paper towel and apply salt to absorb the liquid before it sets.
2. Can dried wine stains be removed from clothes?
   Yes, dried wine stains can be removed by pre-treating with a mixture of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide, soaking overnight, and washing in cold water.
3. What household items work best to get wine out of clothes?
   Salt, white vinegar, dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda are all effective household items for removing wine stains.
4. Is it safe to use hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes to remove wine stains?
   Always test hydrogen peroxide on a hidden area first, as it can have a mild bleaching effect on colored fabrics.
5. When should I take wine-stained clothes to a professional cleaner?
   Take items to a professional if they’re labeled “dry clean only,” made of delicate fabrics like silk or cashmere, have high value, or if DIY methods have failed.