Red wine stains: vinegar or salt
Red wine stains are notorious. The powerful pigments quickly soak into the fabric's fibres. Follow these steps to fight them effectively:
- Dab directly with acid: As soon as you see a stain, immediately dab it with an acidic liquid. Vinegar works perfectly. Don't have vinegar around? No problem. White wine neutralises the acid of red wine and is therefore also an effective solution. Even other colourless alcohols, such as gin or vodka, can help.
- Sprinkle a thick layer of salt: Apply a generous layer of salt to the damp stain. The salt will absorb the red wine. When the salt starts to turn pink, it is saturated. Remove it and apply another layer until the salt remains white.
- Washing: Once you have pre-treated the stain, wash the garment or tablecloth in the washing machine. Use a programme with pre-wash and main wash for best results.
White wine stains: rinse out quickly
White wine stains are less visible but can still leave a yellowish stain over time. The approach is slightly different from red wine:
- Dep away as much moisture as possible: Use kitchen paper or a dry, clean cloth to soak up as much white wine as possible.
- Rinse out the stain: Rinse the fabric immediately with clear, cold water. Distilled water works even better because it contains no minerals that can fix the stain.
- Wash or soak: Put the fabric in the washing machine as soon as possible. If that is not possible right away, treat the stain with a mixture of water and washing-up liquid, and soak it in a bucket of water.