I look forward to putting down tools on a Friday night, logging off from my computer, and going for a run. Actually, that’s not quite true! My Friday night ritual is to relax into the weekend by opening a bottle of red wine while cooking a family dinner. (I’ll leave the run to the Fitness team at Tom’s Guide.)
It becomes more of a ritual in the cooler months, when instead of heading outside into my backyard for a spot of al fresco dining, I snuggle up inside, where it’s warm and cozy. And I know I’m not alone in my habits. However, there is one downside of enjoying a warming meal with a glass of red. Accidents happen!
For me, I’m in trouble. With a plain, light grey couch, as soon as the Malbec hits, I’m rocketing out of my seat. There’s no multicolored pattern to hide a red wine stain, and if left, it could permanently stain my sofa in under a minute. Perhaps going for a run is a better idea after all!
60 seconds to fix a red wine stain
Apart from using Shark's StainForce spot vacuum, to clean up spills, including red wine on an upholstered chair, I also rely on this technique that's shared by James Pillin, luxury furniture and upholstery specialist at My Furniture. Although, you'll have to be quick.
“When red wine hits a fabric sofa, you have, at most, 60 seconds to initiate damage control,” says Pillin. “Red wine is essentially a powerful dye, and the porous nature of upholstery fibers, whether cotton, polyester, or linen, means the stain sets very rapidly.”
So what exactly happens? “Once the dye bonds with the fibers and dries, it becomes chemically fixed,” explains Pillin. “Hesitation past the one-minute mark means the difference between a simple, clean mark and a permanent, visible mark that only a professional can possibly remove.”
What not to do: Never rub the stain!
Whatever you do, Pillins warns, don't panic. And never, ever rub the stain. He says, “Rubbing will spread the stain and push the wine deeper into the cushioning, making it nearly impossible to lift.”
The two-step fix that’s backed by science
Emergency cleaning kit
• Clean cloth
• Distilled white vinegar
• Cold water
• Table salt or baking soda
1. Blot and lift the stain
You’ll have to be quick, because Pillin says it’s essential to complete this first step within a minute of making the spill.
Blot, don’t rub
Rather than rubbing the stain, he recommends taking a clean, dry, absorbent white cloth or paper towel. “Start dabbing gently from the outside edge of the spill inward. Keep blotting until no more wine transfers onto the cloth,” he advises.
The dry powder barrier
To help draw the liquid dye out of the fabric, he says, add a generous amount of either table salt or baking soda to the area immediately after blotting the stain. “Leave this barrier layer to sit for at least five minutes to absorb the dye,” he adds.
2. Neutralize the stain
Once you’ve lifted the bulk of the wine, Pillin says you’ll need a solution to dissolve the remaining pigment.
Mix the solution
“Gently mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and cold water,” he says, adding, “The vinegar is the mild acid that helps neutralise the red pigment.”
Be delicate
Dampen a fresh, clean cloth with the solution, and gently dab the stain. Pillin recommends continuing to blot the stain until the marks lift.
Do not soak
The key to removing the stain is to use as little moisture as possible, with Pillin adding, “Once the stain is gone, rinse the spot by blotting with a clean, cold, slightly damp cloth to remove any residue.”
Next time you or one of your guests spills red wine onto a sofa of an upholstered dining chair, you’ll know what to do without going into a total panic.
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