Red Wine, Be Gone: A Guide To Saving Your Table Linens

Red wine stains on table linens can be a nightmare to remove, but there are several effective methods to tackle them. The key to success is to act quickly and prevent the stain from setting into the fabric. Here are some simple tips and tricks to help you remove those pesky red wine stains from your table linens.

Act quickly

Acting quickly is key to removing red wine stains from table linens. The faster you act, the higher the chance of removing the stain completely. When the red wine stain is dry, the removal process is more difficult and the stain may not wash out fully.

First, move the bottle or glass of wine away, so you don't create more spills as you clean up. Then, use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the stain, removing any excess spilled wine. Be sure not to press too hard, as this will work the wine into the fabric. Instead, use firm but gentle presses until no more liquid comes away.

Next, pour salt on the red wine stain. This will absorb the excess wine. Once the liquid has been fully absorbed, gently brush the salt away and follow the next steps.

Use salt

Salt is an effective way to remove fresh red wine stains from table linens. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• As soon as you notice the spill, use a clean paper towel or a cotton pad to blot the stain and soak up any excess wine. Be careful not to push too hard, as this will cause the wine to absorb further into the cloth. Instead, apply moderate pressure until no more liquid can be extracted.
• Generously sprinkle salt over the stain. Cover the stain completely with a substantial amount of salt. Table salt works well, but sea salt can also be used.
• Allow the salt to sit on the stain until it has completely absorbed the wine and the stain is dry. Salt has desiccant properties, meaning it will absorb liquid from the fabric.
• Once the salt has absorbed the wine and the stain is dry, vacuum or sweep away the salt. If done successfully, the salt should have absorbed the wine, removing the stain from the fabric.
• If there is any residual staining, treat it with diluted dish soap or liquid laundry detergent. You can also use a stain treatment product like Spray 'n Wash or Shout.

It is important to act quickly when treating a red wine stain, as the older a stain gets, the more difficult it will be to remove. Additionally, be cautious when using salt on natural linen fabric, as it can be a harsh chemical and may cause damage if used improperly. Always follow the official linen care guide for your table linens.

Apply a cleaning solution

To treat a red wine stain on a table linen, you can use a variety of cleaning solutions. Firstly, it is important to act fast and treat the stain while it is still fresh and wet. If the stain has dried, you can try to dilute it with water or use other products such as white vinegar or bleach (for white fabrics only).

One method is to use a household cleaner that contains sodium percarbonate, such as OxiClean or Vanish. You can also make your own by mixing three parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap. Apply this to the stain and leave it to sit for 20 to 60 minutes. Then, remove any excess cleaner and wash the linen as normal.

Another option is to use liquid laundry detergent as a stain pre-treatment. Apply a small amount of the detergent to the stain and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before laundering as usual.

White vinegar is also an effective cleaning solution. Simply apply it to the stain and let it settle for a few minutes before proceeding to the next step. You can also mix it with dish soap and apply it to the stain before washing the linen in hot water.

If you are dining out and don't have access to any of the above products, a simple mix of dish soap and cold water can help to remove the stain. Gently blot the stain to reduce it as much as possible.

Finally, it is important to note that both cold and hot water can cause the stain to spread, so always use lukewarm or tepid water when treating and rinsing a red wine stain.

Soak in a solution of bleach, peroxide and cool water

If you have spilt red wine on your table linens, don't panic! It is possible to remove the stain. The key is to act quickly. If you start working on the stain immediately, you have a better chance of preventing it from becoming fixed into the fabric and turning into a permanent stain.

Firstly, use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the stain, removing any excess spilled wine. This is especially important when dealing with stains on white linen fabric as you don't want any dye to run onto the linen. Don't press hard as this will work the wine into the fabric. Instead, use firm but gentle presses until no more liquid comes away.

Then, you can try pouring salt on the stain. This is an old trick. Cover the stain with a generous heap of table salt. This will absorb the excess wine. Once the liquid has been fully absorbed, gently brush the salt away.

Next, you can apply a stain remover. If you have a stain remover to hand, lay the stained linen article out flat and treat it with the product, as per the manufacturer's instructions. White vinegar can also work well as a stain remover – blot it onto the stain and let it sit for a few minutes before following the next stage.

Now, you can soak the stain. Fill a large tub or pan with a solution of lukewarm water mixed with laundry detergent and hydrogen peroxide. You can also use oxygen bleach with linen, but it is not recommended to use chemical bleach as it can damage the linen fibres. Soak for 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how long the stain has been on the article.

Finally, wash the linens. If you normally wash your linens in a washing machine, launder as usual on a cool cycle with gentle laundry detergent. Avoid using a tumble dryer on red wine stains as the heat can set any marks into the fabric. Instead, hang them to dry outside – the sunshine will also help to bleach the stain out – or over a clothes rack indoors.

If these methods haven't fully removed the stain, or the stain is old and difficult to remove, repeat the above stages, from the stain remover and soak onwards.

Remember, to effectively remove red wine stains, you need to act fast. It's possible to save your linen fabric from a permanent stain with a few simple products like table salt, club soda, white vinegar and dishwashing liquid. If you have dedicated stain remover products, these will be really useful, but if not, reach for these everyday items.

One method of soaking the stain involves using a solution of bleach, peroxide and cool water. Mix washing bleach and peroxide using cool water in a big tub or pan. You can also bleach linen with oxygen, but it is not recommended to use chemical bleach as it may harm the linen fibres. Soak the linens for 15 to 60 minutes, depending on how long the stain has been there.

After soaking, the final step in removing red wine discolouration from table linen is to rinse them. If you typically wash your linens in a washing machine, continue on a cold cycle with mild detergent.

Hang to dry outside

If you've treated the red wine stain on your table linens using any of the methods described above, the final step is to dry your linens. One way to do this is to hang them to dry outside.

Hanging your linens outside to dry is preferable to using a tumble dryer or a clothes dryer, as the heat from these appliances can set any remaining marks into the fabric. By hanging your linens outside, you utilise the sun's rays to help bleach the stain out.

If you don't have the option to hang your linens outside, you can hang them to dry over a clothes rack indoors.

If you've hung your linens outside to dry and the stain hasn't completely disappeared, repeat the above steps, starting with the stain remover and soak.

Frequently asked questions