PDF download Download Article
Easy ways to get wine, Kool Aid, & other red stains out of carpet
PDF download Download Article

There’s nothing worse than spilling a glass of wine or Kool Aid on your beautiful, spot-free carpet. Red stains in particular can be tough to get out, especially if your carpet is light in color. Fortunately, there are a few cleaning solutions that are tough on stains but gentle on your carpet. Keep reading to learn how you can get rid of red stains and leave your carpet looking brand new again.

This article is based on an interview with our house cleaning professional, Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids. Check out the full interview here.

Removing Red Stains from Carpet

Dab red dye stains with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. To remove red nail polish, blot the stain with acetone. To get rid of wine stains, dab the spot with a bit of dish soap, white vinegar, and warm water.

1

Blot the stain with a paper towel if it’s still wet.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Gently blot the stain, soaking up as much moisture as you can.[1] The more moisture you can pull out of the carpet now, the less stain you will have to deal with later. Keep blotting until the carpet is mostly dry, then move on to cleaning up the rest of the stain.[2]
    • Experts note that with stains on carpets (especially red stains), the faster you get to it, the better.
  2. Advertisement
2

Scrape away hardened spots with a knife.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    Grab a sharp knife and gently scrape at the stain, trying to get up as much of the substance as you can. Wipe up the small bits of the red stain with a clean cloth, then move on to getting the rest of the stain out of the carpet.[3]
    • Scraping the stain first removes the top layer, which can make the rest of it easier to clean up.
    • If you don’t want to scrape your carpet with a knife, you can also use a spoon.
3

Sponge the stain with ammonia and soap.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    In a small bowl, combine 1  tsp (4.9 mL) of dishwashing soap, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of ammonia, and 2 cups (470 mL) of warm water. Dip a clean, white cloth into your cleaning mixture. Gently dab at the stain, trying not to rub or scrub to avoid pushing it deeper into the carpet fibers. Every now and then, dip the cloth back into the cleaning solution to rinse it and wet it again. Keep blotting until you’ve covered the entire stain.
    • Ammonia is a harsh substance, and inhaling it can cause coughing, sneezing, and irritation. Always work in a ventilated area, and use gloves to protect your skin.[4] Keep ammonia away from children and pets.
    • Dish soap and ammonia are usually strong enough to remove fresh stains that just happened. However, if the stain is old, you might need to use other methods.
  2. Advertisement
4

Try detergent and white vinegar for acidic stains.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    Mix together a solution of 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of dishwashing soap, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar, and 2 cups (470 mL) of warm water. Dip a cloth into the solution, then gently dab it onto the carpet, covering the whole stain. Grab a second clean cloth and gently blot the liquid to absorb the cleaning solution and the stain itself. Keep blotting until the stain is mostly dry.
    • White vinegar isn’t super harsh, but you still may want to wear gloves to avoid skin irritation.
7

Try acetone for red nail polish.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    Even if the stain is dry, you can gently dab some of the acetone onto the stain, then wait a few minutes. Use a clean cloth to blot up the red polish until it’s gone.[7]
    • Acetone also works against red makeup, like eyeshadow or lipstick.
  2. Advertisement
8

Mix white vinegar and rubbing alcohol for juice.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    If you notice any red juice on your carpet, mix together 23  c (160 mL) of rubbing alcohol and 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture, then dab it onto the stain 3 to 4 times. When you’re done, flush the area with cold water.[8]
    • Juice can be tough to remove from carpet, so try to get to it right away before it sets into the fibers.
9

Use salt and a vacuum to remove small stains.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    While the stained area is still wet (either from water or your last cleaning solution), dump a thick layer of salt all over the stain. Let the area dry completely to give the salt time to absorb the stain and remove it from your carpet. Then, use a vacuum to remove the salt and take the stain with it.[9]
  2. Advertisement
10

Blot the area with cold water for blood stains.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    Grab a towel and wet it with cold water from the sink, then gently dab the stained area. Keep blotting until you’ve covered the whole stain, then use a clean towel to dab the stain and absorb the water.[12]
    • Never use warm or hot water on a stain, as that can drive the color compounds deeper into the carpet fibers.
11

Try a commercial stain cleaner for tough stains.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
    While these are made specifically for red wine stains, they also work against other red stains, like red dye or Kool Aid. Spray the cleaner onto the carpet, then let it soak in. Gently blot the cleaner with a clean towel to get rid of the stain completely.[13]
  2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do you clean a carpet?
    Chris Willatt
    Chris Willatt
    House Cleaning Professional
    Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.
    Chris Willatt
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer
    You can vacuum the carpet. Then do spot cleaning if there are any stains. If you have pets, get the carpet steam cleaned yearly.
  • Question
    Which household item can I use for spot cleaning a carpet?
    Chris Willatt
    Chris Willatt
    House Cleaning Professional
    Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.
    Chris Willatt
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer
    Baking soda is quite abrasive. You can put some dry baking soda on the dirty spot. Use a scrub brush to scrub out the stain. The vacuum it.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Tell if a Stain Is SpermTell if a Stain Is Sperm
Clean Pee Off a Couch Get Pee Out of a Couch & Prevent Future Accidents
Clean Yellowed & Discolored Plastic
Remove Wax from ClothingQuick & Easy Ways to Remove Wax Stains from Clothing
Remove Stains from Paper Effectively Clean and Get Stains Out of Paper
The Best Way to Make Your Own Enzymatic Cleaner at Home
Remove Oil Stains from PaperRemove Oil Stains from Paper
Get Foundation Stains Out of Your Clothes
Remove Heat Stains from WoodRemove Heat Stains from Wood
Clean Oil Off a DrivewayBest Ways to Remove Oil and Grease Stains from Your Driveway
Remove Scorch MarksRemove Scorch Marks
11 Ways to Remove Deodorant Stains from Shirts Quickly
Remove Oil from WoodRemove Oil from Wood
Remove Stains from Stainless SteelRemove Stains from Stainless Steel
Advertisement
  1. Chris Willatt. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 1 July 2019.
  2. Chris Willatt. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 1 July 2019.
  3. https://spotremoval.coit.com/how-to-get-blood-out-of-carpet
  4. https://www.today.com/home/how-remove-red-wine-stains-clothes-carpets-furniture-t105184
  5. Chris Willatt. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 1 July 2019.
  6. http://www.europeancleaningjournal.com/magazine/september-2016/special-features/carpets-the-mechanics-of-spot-cleaning

About This Article

Chris Willatt
Written by:
House Cleaning Professional
This article was written by Chris Willatt and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List. This article has been viewed 104,770 times.
9 votes - 85%
Co-authors: 6
Updated: November 15, 2024
Views: 104,770
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 104,770 times.

Did this article help you?

Advertisement