It's easy to get rid of red wine stains, but you need to make sure to act quickly.
It happens to the best of us. When you buy beautiful, artful fashion, you are especially conscious about how you care for each piece. And you are also especially devastated when something as damaging as red wine spills down the
front of your custom-made tunic. Never fear, we have natural easy solutions for you.
front of your custom-made tunic. Never fear, we have natural easy solutions for you.
Red Wine Stain Removal
Red wine stains are notoriously stubborn, especially on cloth surfaces.
“Unlike many of the other drinks we enjoy, red wine’s color is completely
natural. The grape-based beverage contains chromogens, the primary
substance in many colorful plants that are responsible for dyes. Yes,
dyes. Red wine is essentially a giant bottle of dye molecules. Combine
this with red wine’s naturally occurring tannins, an organic substance
also used in many ink productions, and your red wine stain is essentially
a DIY tie-dye experiment gone wrong.”1
“Unlike many of the other drinks we enjoy, red wine’s color is completely
natural. The grape-based beverage contains chromogens, the primary
substance in many colorful plants that are responsible for dyes. Yes,
dyes. Red wine is essentially a giant bottle of dye molecules. Combine
this with red wine’s naturally occurring tannins, an organic substance
also used in many ink productions, and your red wine stain is essentially
a DIY tie-dye experiment gone wrong.”1
Lucky for you, we at Modern Shibori know tie-dye, and we’ve got stain
removal hacks for you. Red wine stains do not mean the tragic end to a great party.
Time is of the essence
The moment red wine hits fabric, the pigment begins to soak into the
fibres. If you’re at a dinner party and you’re not ready to leave, grab
some mineral water and flush the area. The bubbles begin to force the
wine out of the fabric.This should buy you some time until you get back
home and can start on a more permanent solution.
some mineral water and flush the area. The bubbles begin to force the
wine out of the fabric.This should buy you some time until you get back
home and can start on a more permanent solution.
Lay off the elbow grease
It’s extremely important to note here: Do NOT scrub the stain. This will
only spread the stain further and, if you are a particularly aggressive
scrubber, push the wine further into the fibers of the fabric.
Apply some eco-friendly solutions
only spread the stain further and, if you are a particularly aggressive
scrubber, push the wine further into the fibers of the fabric.
Apply some eco-friendly solutions
If you shop from a sustainable fashion brand like Modern Shibori, you are
aware that even red wine stain removal methods should be good for
you, your garments, and the earth.
“Depending on how you do it, and how many loads you get through each
week, laundry can contribute a surprising amount to your carbon
footprint. Washing and drying a load every two days creates around
440kg of CO2e each year.”2
But that’s ok, because there are some wine stain removers that are
completely natural and effective. If you wonder if the products you are
using for red wine stain removal are ok for the environment, check out the additional resources for the link to the EPA’s Safer Choice program.
completely natural and effective. If you wonder if the products you are
using for red wine stain removal are ok for the environment, check out the additional resources for the link to the EPA’s Safer Choice program.
Dry solutions
After you blot the stain (no scrubbing!), cover the area with kosher salt
and let it sit, the longer the better. Once you remove the salt, rinse with
cold water. Repeat if necessary.
“The grains of salt absorb the wine, pulling the color away from the
clothing and acting as a cleaner while mildly scrubbing the fabric to
loosen any remaining stain.”3
Other dry materials you can use in the same way:
● Baking soda
● Dry soap powder
● Talcum powder, which is used for baby powder
and let it sit, the longer the better. Once you remove the salt, rinse with
cold water. Repeat if necessary.
“The grains of salt absorb the wine, pulling the color away from the
clothing and acting as a cleaner while mildly scrubbing the fabric to
loosen any remaining stain.”3
Other dry materials you can use in the same way:
● Baking soda
● Dry soap powder
● Talcum powder, which is used for baby powder
White vinegar and laundry detergent
This is a two-step process. Vinegar goes on first, neutralizing the dyes in
the wine. After that you add the detergent, which cleans the garment.
Wash in hot water until the red wine stain is gone.
Clothing care can be complicated, and different stains require different
solutions. See the additonal resources for more tips on dilemmas such as
how to get oil stains out of clothes.
the wine. After that you add the detergent, which cleans the garment.
Wash in hot water until the red wine stain is gone.
Clothing care can be complicated, and different stains require different
solutions. See the additonal resources for more tips on dilemmas such as
how to get oil stains out of clothes.
Modern Shibori’s garments are made with the finest organic cotton and
linen fabrics. That means that, while the material may stain easily
(especially if you gesture with your wine glass while you tell a story), it
also cleans much more easily than a synthetic fabric.
With loving care, our clothing is made to last a lifetime. We are
committed to helping our customer community keep their garments
looking as beautiful as the day they were purchased. Learn moreWith loving care, our clothing is made to last a lifetime. We are
committed to helping our customer community keep their garments
looking as beautiful as the day they were purchased. Learn more about
caring for your Modern Shibori pieces right on our website.
Now you can confidently go to a party knowing you'll be able to recover from a red wine spill. Have a funny party story to share? Drop it in the comments below.
