Everyone has heard red wine is nearly impossible, or even impossible, to remove from clothing, carpets, and pretty much every fabric. But when the glass falls or the wine spills out, all is not lost. There is still hope for cleaning red wine stains, but you need to act fast and know a little bit about what you are attempting to do.

Why Red Wine Stains

Several molecules are present in red wine that are alarming from a cleaning perspective. The first is chromogen, a pigment commonly converted into dyes. There is also tannin present in red wine, which is used to make ink.

Chromogen and tannin are fundamental molecular components to the very concept of permanent color transformation. The very substances we use to make permanent marks on surfaces are present in red wine. It is not that red wine simply acts like dye or ink. Red wine has the same chemical composition as both.

The Case For Cleaning

Based on the explanation of wine’s staining potential on a chemical level, it might seem like these stains are always permanent. This is not always the case. However, they are certainly among the most difficult stains to remove from carpets, rugs, upholstery, and mattresses.

Difficulty just means there is a greater need for experience and the proper cleaning materials. Because the only thing that makes something nearly impossible is the fact that almost no approach works. But all you need is a professional cleaning service who knows what does work.

Evaluating Wine Stains

Firstly you need a bit of experience just to know what reasonable expectations are for the final results. The lighter the carpet and darker the stain, the more difficult it will be to perfectly restore the carpet with no visible signs of discoloration.

You also need to know a little more about the fabric you are cleaning. Some fabrics are more absorbent than others. The less absorbent, the less of the pigment will be absorbed. Then determine the level of penetration of the wine’s natural dye. For the best assessment, call a carpet cleaning company.

Best Cleaning Procedure 

Once the assessment is complete, it is time to use professional equipment. This includes steam cleaning machines and specific deep cleaning equipment. The shampooing and spot cleaner are going to put in the most work, attempting to lift the foreign pigment of the wine from the fabric.

Cleaning is very tricky because you need to lift the pigment of the whine while also not lifting the dye that is intended to give the carpet its desired color. If you are attempting to do this without a professional carpet cleaning service, there is a chance you will damage the carpet by overusing the more powerful cleaning agents.

Final Advice

In most cases of novice cleaning, you will not be able to clean a red wine stain. If you attempt to do this without a professional, you will likely see no improvement to the stain, worse staining, or increase the amount of damage to the carpet. So hire a professional carpet cleaner.