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How to remove red wine stains

Red wines natural deep red colouring is lovely to look at in a glass, but not so nice to look at on your clothing. If you have spilt red wine on yourself, this is how you can remove it. 

  • Table salt
  • Club soda
  • Soap and hydrogen peroxide
  • Kitty litter
  • Milk
  • Hot water
  • Shaving cream
  • Vodka
  • Laundryheap

Table salt 

Salt is the best stain remover for wine, but it must be used within two minutes of the wine being spilled. 

Sprinkle a thick layer of salt over your stain, making sure that it is completely covered. Leave the salt for an hour so that the salt crystals can absorb the red wine. After an hour, brush the salt off of your clothing and wash the remaining salt away with water. Your stain should be completely, or at least mostly, absorbed by the salt.

Club soda

Club soda is a popular method for removing red wine stains. The carbonation in club soda is believed to have stain lifting agents, including a low PH level which makes it a weak acid. 

To use the club soda method, simply pour the liquid continuously over the stain until you see the colour fade away. Once the colour has faded, leave your item to completely dry so that you can be sure that your stain has been completely removed. 

Soap and hydrogen peroxide

To begin this method of stain removal, mix equal parts of soap as hydrogen peroxide in a container. Depending on which you prefer, pour, sponge, or spray the mixture onto the stain, and blot with a clean paper towel or cloth. Never rub your stain as this can lead to it spreading. After a few blots, you should notice your stain begin to transfer onto your clean cloth or paper towel. Keep blotting until the stain has been completely lifted or has at least faded in colour. 

Kitty litter 

Kitty litter may seem like an odd way to lift a stain, however, it is incredibly absorbent. 

Simply sprinkle half an inch of kitty litter onto your stain, making sure that it is completely covered. Next, press down softly with your hands so that the kitty litter can begin absorbing the wine. Leave it for an hour so that it can work on absorbing the full stain. After an hour, hoover the kitty litter off of your clothing to see the end result. Your stain should be completely removed, or at least lighter in colour. 

Milk 

There are two ways that you can lift a red wine stain using milk. 

The first method is to pour the milk directly over the stain, allowing it to fully soak into the fabric, before blotting it with a clean cloth or paper towel. Your stain should be completely lifted after less than an hour. Wash your clothing as normal to remove the excess liquid. 

The second method is best if your red wine stain covers a larger surface area. Pour your milk into a large bowl and completely submerge your item into it. Leave it to soak for around an hour, before removing it from the milk and washing it as you usually would.

Hot water 

Normally, hot water sets stains into fabric rather than lifts them, however, because of red wines fruit base, hot water will help remove the stain. 

Begin by boiling water either in a pan or using a kettle. Whilst your water is boiling, in your sink stretch your stained item over a pan. Once your water has boiled, pour it over the stain from 3-4 feet above, making sure to be careful of any boiling water that may splash back at you. As you pour, you should see the colour being removed from your stain and your stain being completely lifted. Once your stain has been removed, dry the area with a clean cloth or paper towels. 

Shaving cream

Shaving cream will saturate and lift your red wine stain, even after it has dried. 

Spray your shaving cream over your stain, making sure that the whole area is covered. Next, use a spoon to flatten the cream into the fabric. Once your shaving cream has been flattened, wash your clothing as you usually would. Your stain should be completely lifted when you take your item out of the washing machine. 

Vodka 

If you don’t have vodka, any clear alcohol, such as gin, that has a higher proof than red wine should remove your stain.

Pour your vodka over the stain, making sure that the whole stain has been soaked in alcohol. Once your stain has been soaked, blot it with a clean cloth, before continuing to pour the vodka over the stain. Continue this process until your stain begins to fade and eventually disappears. Wash your item as usual.

Laundryheap 

If you have a red wine stain that refuses to be removed, send it to Laundryheap. Write us a note when you make your order letting us know what item the stain is on and where it is, and we will take the utmost care to remove the stain for you. 

To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app. 


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How to remove toothpaste stains

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

It’s easy to accidentally drip toothpaste onto your new suit or comfiest PJ’s. This is how you get that pesky stain out. 

  • White toothpaste
  • Whitening toothpaste 
  • Gel toothpaste

White toothpaste 

White toothpaste contains titanium dioxide, which is the chemical that makes it look white. If you use white toothpaste, water will not be enough to lift the stain it leaves behind.

What you’ll need

  • A blunt object, such as a spoon 
  • A clean cloth
  • Liquid laundry detergent

Begin by using your blunt object to remove excess toothpaste from your clothing. Try and use an upwards motion when doing this to avoid spreading the loose particles to other parts of your clothing. 

Once you have sufficiently removed the top layer of the stain, slightly dampen a clean cloth and blot the area. This will help loosen the stain and aid in it being lifted from your clothing. 

Next, work a small amount of liquid laundry detergent onto your toothpaste stain. Make sure that the detergent is spread over the entirety of the stain so that the whole area can be lifted. 

After you have adequately rubbed in your detergent, wash your stained item of clothing in your washing machine as usual. 

If your toothpaste stain has not been completely removed after washing, repeat the full process again. 

Image by wei zhu from Pixabay

Whitening toothpaste 

Whitening toothpaste usually contains a mild bleaching agent that works to whiten your teeth. This bleaching agent can cause discoloration on coloured and dark clothing if it is left for an extended period of time. To remove a whitening toothpaste stain you need to follow the exact process of removing a white toothpaste stain, however, you need to act as soon as you notice the stain to avoid excessive discolouration to your clothing. 

Image by Marco Verch Professional P

Gel toothpaste 

Gel toothpaste contains dye to make it a blue/green colour. This dye can discolour your white clothing if left for too long. As soon as you notice a gel toothpaste stain you need to follow the same procedure as removing a regular toothpaste stain. Once you have washed your stained item of clothing, dry your garment in direct sunlight. Sunlight has natural bleaching qualities and can help even out any discolouration. 

If you have a toothpaste stain, or any stain, that you can not get rid of, let us help you. If you tell us what items of clothing are stained we will take extra precautions to help lift the stain and deliver your clothes back to you stain-free. To book your Laundryheap service head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.