How to Remove Red Wine from Carpet

Co-authored by Haim Shemesh and Eric McClure

Last Updated: November 29, 2024 Approved

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Accidents happen, and who among us hasn’t accidentally knocked over a glass or bottle of wine? While your stomach may drop watching that bottle of cabernet drop to the floor, rest assured that your beautiful carpet is unlikely to be totally ruined. Red wine is notorious for its staining power, but you have a ton of options at your disposal when it comes to fighting spilled wine.

Question 1 of 6:

How do you use baking soda to get red wine out of carpet?

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Soak any wet wine up with a cloth and sprinkle baking soda over the spill. Use enough baking soda to completely cover up the wine. Wait 3 minutes, pour some cold water on the baking soda, and use a damp cloth to blot the area repeatedly until the wine is gone.^{[1]
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- When you’re soaking the wine up, gently blot the area with your cloth instead of wiping the stain up. Dragging the cloth against the carpet may accidentally spread the wine out, while blotting will help soak it up.
- You may need to do this several times to get the vast majority of the wine stain out.

Question 2 of 6:

Can salt get red wine out of carpet?

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Yes, salt will help absorb the moisture and lift the stain out. Absorb as much of the wine as you can by blotting the area with a dry cloth. Then, sprinkle salt over the area to cover the affected area entirely. Wait 3 minutes and rinse the area with some cold water. Blot the area over and over again with a dry cloth to soak the salt and wine up.^{[2]
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- You may need to vacuum the area once the stain is gone to pull up any loose salt rocks.
- You can do this multiple times to fully remove the stain.

Question 3 of 6:

Does club soda remove red wine?

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Yes, club soda will work. Blot the red wine with a clean cloth to soak the excess up. Then, grab your club soda and pour it directly over the wine to thoroughly soak the carpet fibers. The stain should start dissipating immediately. Clean up the club soda by blotting the area with a fresh, dry cloth. Repeat the process as needed until the wine is gone.^{[3]
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- Club soda is fairly inert, so this is a safe option if you’re especially worried about causing discoloration or damaging your carpet.
- Some people claim that regular water is just as efficient as club soda. If you’re extremely worried about damaging your carpet, you might try using regular water first.^{[4]
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Question 4 of 6:

Do wine stain removers really work?

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Yes, there are plenty of stain removers that will help with wine stains. Products like Wine Away and Woolite are great at getting wine stains out. As quickly as you can after the spill, soak up the excess wine. Then, vacuum the area. Apply your stain remover to the affected area and continue to vacuum. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to clean the stain up.^{[5]
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- You may be able to find special wine stain removers at a big box store in the cleaning department, but you’ll likely need to buy them online.

Question 5 of 6:

Can hydrogen peroxide get rid of wine stains?

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Yes, but you need to test it in an inconspicuous area first. On some carpets, hydrogen peroxide will cause permanent discoloration. Pour a very tiny drop in an inconspicuous area and wait a few minutes. If the carpet seems fine, pour the hydrogen peroxide over the stain. Then, sprinkle baking soda over the top of the carpet. Wait at least 3 minutes and pour water over the area. Soak up your peroxide and baking soda with a damp towel to remove the stain.^{[6]
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- Even if you spot tested it, there may be some mild discoloration. This is definitely one of the more aggressive options when it comes to tackling a wine stain. Sometimes, it’s worth the risk, though!

Question 6 of 6:

How do you remove older, dried red wine stains?

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1
Tackle the stain with dish soap, vinegar, and warm water. Combine ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of dish soap, ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of white vinegar, and 2 cups (470 mL) of warm water. Mix your solution together, load up a sponge, and blot the stain repeatedly. Dry the area with a clean towel. Then, spritz the area with cold water and dry it with a clean towel over and over again until the old stain is gone.^{[7]
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- Spot test the vinegar on an inconspicuous area before you do this. Pour a few drops of white vinegar in an area most people won’t see and wipe it with a paper towel. If any of the rug’s dye comes up, don’t use vinegar.^{[8]
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Have a professional give it a shot if the stain won’t come out. Contact a professional carpet cleaning service and have them take a crack at it. They’ll have access to all kinds of neutralizing agents that may lift the old stain out. It’s also just a good idea to have professionals clean your rug at least once a year anyway, so this is a smart move regardless of how old the stain is.^{[9]
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Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}
- Some wine stains are just never going to come out. If the stain has fully set into the fibers of the carpet, it’s possible that you won’t be able to remove it completely. Still, a professional cleaning will get you as close to perfect as you’ll get!

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Question

I have discovered a huge wet patch under my spare bed where I'm assuming a guest has spilled an entire bottle of wine. Can it still be sticky and damp after 4 weeks?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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It is extremely unlikely that a wine spill will still be damp after 4 weeks. It also seems unlikely that your guest spilled a bottle under your bed. You may want to hire a professional to take a look at what's going on underneath the carpet. You could have a leak of some kind or mold growing in the carpet. A normal wine spill should be totally dry after 4 weeks.

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Question

I have already cleaned a red wine spill on my carpet with a commercial carpet cleaning product, but there is still a stain. The carpet is dry now. If I use the baking soda now, will it still work?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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It's worth a shot, but it can be extremely difficult to get dried wine stains out. You may need to use a bunch of different solutions to get the stain out slowly over multiple attempts. At the end of the day though, you may just need to live with a little discoloration. Some wine stains can't be totally removed.

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My berber carpet has been professionally cleaned but after a a few months later the old stains seem to be reoccurring. What can I do?

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The thick loops in berber carpets can hide dirt and stains from the surface. Over time, as you walk over the carpet or drag objects across the surface, the fibers can bend slightly to make it look like the stains are reappearing. You may just need to clean it multiple times.

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Tips

White wine is said to “cancel out” red wine, but your stain may just turn pink. This might work if you use enough wine, but basically any other solution is going to be more efficient.^{[10]
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