Red Wine Stain Myths & Facts

A red wine stain, the worst  stain. No stain is welcome, but certainly not a red wine stain. You are justing getting cozy with a large glass of red wine, and then the glass spills. Panic! Now what?

First of all: don't panic. Stay calm and think of the correct first step to take. Above all, do not listen to the many "advices and solutions" that are often mentioned, because that is where the danger is. Just to inform you right off: a red wine stain is in almost all cases no problem. So call Fast Clean 0191 4203500

A number of persistent myths and the true, corresponding facts.

Myths & Facts
Myth: Sprinkle salt on the stain. The salt will extract the wine and the stain disappears.
Fact: Salt fixates colours. There is a serious risk the salt will fixate the red colour into your carpet, rug or upholstery. Should this happen, the stain cannot be removed. The result of using salt is often an even darker red stain. Certainly a no go, but it is always good to call Fast Clean, since we do not know whether the stain has been fixated or not and the stain might still be removed completely.

Myth: Pour white wine onto the stain. This results in the removal of the red wine stain.
Fact: What you actually do is dillute the red wine. This could have been done, by figure of speach, with water. The problem is, next to the fact it is a waste of your white wine, it contains sugars. Sugars are a sticky residue that attract dirt, resulting in black spots in your carpet as time goes by. Rinsing with water is not a solution, as you will never be able to remove all the sugar yourself.

Myth: Pouring milk, beer, gin, etc. on the red wine stain will make it disappear.
Fact: You attempt to remove a stain by creating another. On clothing that might not be a problem, as they can go straight into the washing machine afterwards. However, that does not apply to your carpet or upholstery. In addition, the result is far from ideal.

Myth: A red wine stain can be removed using vinegar.
Fact: Using vinegar, you take the unnecessary risk of fixating the red colour into the yarn. Vinegar is an agressive product that will damage many carpets in the long run. Also, it has a very low pH value that may cause discolouration.

Myth: A steam cleaner can remove many stains, also red wine.
Fact: A steam cleaner works at temperatures of 90°C. This is also the temperature dyers use to fixate colours into the yarns. Thus, here you also run the risk of fixating the red colour into the yarn. When this happens, the damage cannot be undone. A steam cleaner, apposed to what the manufacturer may claim on the packaging or in commercials, is not suitable for cleaning carpet or upholstery.

The solution
The first step is very simple. In case of a fresh stain, take a white cotton cloth, hold it under the cold tap, wring it out and place it flat on the stain (do not use sparkling water, this does not help. Water has the cleaning ability, air bubbles do not transport dirt). Leave the cloth to dry completely, without peaking.
If the stain is still visible after this treatment? Leave the stain to dry completely, then call Fast Clean 0191 4203500 to remove the stain easily and effectively.