Upholstery cleaning can be a challenge as upholstery can be subject to all kinds of nasty stains. Most of these stains are removable; however, you may have heard that red wine stains, in particular, are a totally different story to remove.
It’s everyone’s worst nightmare come true – a red wine spillage on your brand new sofa. Once red wine hits the fabric of your upholstery, it will immediately sink into the fibres and move through the fibre’s pores. Because of this, it can be quite a challenge to remove red wine stains from your upholstery.
However, there are a couple of tips that you should keep in mind in the event that you do accidentally spill red wine on your upholstery. If you would like to learn more about what these tips are, then please continue reading below!
Red Wine On Upholstery
Red wine on upholstery can be tricky to remove. The colour of red wine is actually completely natural because it contains something called chromogens. Chromogens are substances that act as dyes and give colours to many plants.
Essentially, red wine is like a dye; but in addition to this, red wine also contains tannins, which are commonly used in many ink productions. Dye and ink coupled together spell disaster for your upholstery.
This is why red wine can be challenging to remove from your upholstery. However, it is not entirely impossible.
In the event that you accidentally spill red wine on your upholstery, here are a couple of tips that you should keep in mind:
Tip #1 Do Not Scrub Or Rub The Stain
Scrubbing might remove some of the red wine stains, but it can do more harm than good by spreading it outward even more. If you’re applying too much pressure, then you can also push the red wine deeper into the fabric. Instead, gently blot the stain with a white cloth rather than scrub or rub it.
Tip #2 Act Fast
It is important to act fast when a red wine spillage occurs. The longer you wait to act, the deeper the red wine will sink and settle into the fibres of your upholstery. Eventually, it will become really difficult to remove. Remember: red wine contains dye-components, so it is important to act quickly!
Tip #3 Do Not Apply Heat
Applying heat can not only dry out the stain but even initiate unwanted chemical processes. This can encourage the stain to dry out quickly and become a permanent or nearly permanent stain. Ditch the hair dryer and stay away from heat!
Tip #4 Apply Dry Ingredients To Lift The Stain
Red wine, or any liquid for that matter, will move to anything that is dry. Dry, powdery ingredients are generally recommended to be applied to red wine stains.
Some dry ingredients to consider include table salt, baking soda, sodium percarbonate, dry soap powder, talcum powder, or even kitty litter. However, table salt mixed with baking soda may be your safest bet.
Flush the stain with cold water then blot with a white cleaning cloth. Sprinkle a bit of salt onto the stain, wait a couple of minutes, then rinse with cold water again and blot the stain. Repeat until the stain has been removed completely.
Tip #5 Never Apply White Wine
If the salt method does not work and you have heard of more extreme red wine stain removal methods, then trust us when we say to never apply white wine. It is not a cleaning agent that can counteract the dyeing agents found in red wine.
White wine can possibly cause your red wine stain to just spread out even more. As such, avoid white wine as a way to remove red wine stains.
Tip #6 Try Club Soda And White Vinegar
Yup, you read that right! The minerals found in club soda can actually make it a better cleaning agent than water. They can be absorbed and break down the red wine molecules which will make the blotting process much easier for you.
Club soda mixed with white vinegar may also help improve the results of your stain removal process.
Final Thoughts
Red wine stains can be quite tricky to remove from upholstery. This is because it contains components that are used as dyes and even inks.
However, with these six tips, hopefully removing red wine stains becomes a little easier and gives you the best results. If you need a professional service to help you remove any red wine stains you might have, then look no further than Monster Clean.
Please call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for all your carpet and upholstery cleaning needs, on 0478 250 900 or leave an enquiry.