Spilling a glass of red wine on cream carpets, rugs or a sofa can send anyone into a bit of a panic.

While it may seem like a good idea to set to work scrubbing on the stain, wine experts at La Crema have warned that this is the last thing you should do, or risk it becoming permanant.

According to the gurus, red wine stains can be removed “from anything” if you act quickly with the correct method. 

Tannins found in red wine – the natural compounds found in grape skins, seeds, and stems – cause the drink’s dark colour sticks to fabrics.

Chromogens in red wine, which are also present in other staining liquids like coffee and tea, are responsible for the rich, deep red colour of the wine, which is why it’s so visible when spilled.

“Scrubbing will help pull some of the red wine out, but actually negatively impacts the stain as it causes it to spread outward even more. And, if you’re applying too much pressure, you’re actually pushing more red wine down into the fabric. This is especially true if you’re dealing with a red wine stain on the couch or on the carpet,” the experts said.

They also warn against applying dry heat, such as a hairdryer, as this will cause “a permanent or nearly permanent stain.”

Instead, wine gurus recommend using a dry, powdery substance to help draw the liquid out.

“Like any liquid, red wine will move toward anything dry that it comes into contact with. Your best move right after you get a red wine stain is to grab a dry, powdery material and apply it generously on the red wine stain,” they said.

How to clean a red wine stain

First of all, it’s recommended to act quickly once a glass of red wine has been spilled on any surface. Look in your store cupboards for a porous powder such as table salt.

You can use:

• Table salt
• Baking soda
• Dry soap powder
• Talcum powder or baby powder
• Cat litter

Apply the salt, or other powder, to the stain and allow it to settle for a few minutes. According to the experts, this should remove the stain if you’ve acted fast enough.

You should “never” scrub the stain, according to the wine gurus. Instead apply a blotting method with a paper towel or tea towel to clean up any excess salt or powder.

If your salt treatment didn’t quite work, try an oxi cleaner which uses sodium percarbonate. When combined with water, this breaks down into hydrogen peroxide. 

If you don’t have an oxi cleaner, try washing up liquid mixed with hydrogen peroxide. Mix three parts hydrogen peroxide and one part washing up liquid and apply it to your red wine stain.

Let it sit for around 20 minutes to an hour before blotting clean.