So, you are thinking of opening up the red wine that has been stored in your kitchen cabinet for years, say, for celebrating your best friend’s wedding engagement or a birthday party. But then, this unlikely incident happens: You accidentally spilt the red wine on your favourite shirt. Before you start to panic, here are 5 hacks you can use to remove red wine stains. The catch, of course, is to act as quickly as possible.

1) Salt

Apparently, salt isn’t just an everyday ingredient to boost your cooking or combat bacterial infection in your throat. You can also make use of this versatile white crystalline compound to remove red wine stains. All you need to do is sprinkle some salt over the stain and make sure it’s just enough to cover it entirely. Then, let it sit for at least an hour to allow the salt absorb into the stain until dry. This salt method particularly works well on carpets and rugs and to prove its effectiveness, it’s highly advisable to act fast while the red wine stain is still wet.

Image Credit: vinepair.com

2) Baking Soda

The word “versatile” is best described for the sodium bicarbonate or commonly known in layman’s term as baking soda. It is basically a white crystalline compound grounded into a fine powder and widely used as leaveners in baked goods such as bread and cakes. It can be used for other things as well, namely, as a mouthwash, natural deodorant and antacid to treat heartburn.

You can even use baking soda to get rid of red wine stains. First, soak the stained spot with a little water prior to sprinkling some baking soda. Leave it dry completely for at least overnight. The following morning, scrub off the stain using a clean cloth or cotton ball dipped with some white vinegar. Vacuum the remaining residue once you are done.

Image Credit: thespruce.com

3) Vinegar

Vinegar, particularly the distilled white variety, is one of the most common household staples. It is primarily used for kitchens such as marinades, sauces and pickles. You can also use white vinegar to remove red wine stains regardless of clothes or soft furnishings. Here is what you should do: Act fast by pouring some white vinegar once you see the wine stain. The vinegar will then help neutralise the purple and red pigments found in the red wine. Allow it to rest for a few minutes before proceeding to rub in some liquid detergent or dishwashing liquid. Finally, wash it in hot water and the stain will disappear. Repeat the process if needed.

Image Credit: thekitchn.com

4) Dish Soap & Hydrogen Peroxide

These two combinations can be used to remove wet and dry red wine stains, particularly for clothes. Just mix equal parts of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide. Follow up by pouring the mixture on the red wine stain and allow it to soak in for around 30 minutes. From there, you may notice the stain gradually disappearing. Launder your affected clothes as usual after that. Keep in mind that this method is best applied to light-coloured clothes since hydrogen peroxide contains a bleaching agent.

Image Credit: cleanmyspace.com

5) Lemon Juice

If you accidentally spill some red wine on your cotton or linen fabrics, the best thing you can do is using the simple lemon-and-salt method. Simply squeeze a few drops of lemon on the stained area and allow the acidity to work its magic. Once the lemon juice has absorbed into the fabric, sprinkle some salt and use your fingers to rub the mixture gently all over the stained area. Rinse in cold water and wring out the remaining liquid excess from the fabric before allowing it to dry completely in the sun. This method also works if the red wine stained on a wooden chopping block or cutting board.

Image Credit: fiberseal.com