How to Get Wine Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

You were at a dinner party and knocked over your glass of red wine. There’s a purple stain spreading across your white shirt. You blotted with a napkin, but the stain is still there. Red wine is a tannin stain, and tannins bond quickly with fabric fibers. But if you act fast, red wine can be removed from most washable fabrics. The key is to blot, not rub, and to use the right treatment. Here’s how to get wine out of clothes.

Wine stains on clothes are marks caused by tannins and pigments in wine that bond with fabric fibers. Red wine contains more tannins and pigments than white wine, making it harder to remove. Removing wine stains requires flushing with cold water, applying a stain remover, and washing in hot water with oxygen bleach.

To get wine out of clothes, blot excess wine with a clean cloth, rinse with cold water from the back, apply liquid detergent or dish soap, let it sit for 15 minutes, then wash in hot water with oxygen bleach. For stubborn stains, use OxiClean Max Force Spray. Check before drying.

For Fresh Red Wine Stains

Step 1: Blot Excess Wine

Use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot excess wine from the surface. Don’t rub, as rubbing spreads the stain.

Step 2: Rinse with Cold Water from the Back

Hold the stained area under cold running water from the back of the fabric. This pushes the wine out of the fibers. Don’t use hot water, as it can set the stain.

Step 3: Apply Liquid Detergent or Dish Soap

Apply liquid detergent or Dawn Ultra Dish Soap directly to the stain. Work it in gently.

Step 4: Sprinkle Salt (Optional)

Sprinkle salt on the wet stain. Salt absorbs the wine and helps lift the pigment. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

Step 5: Let It Sit for 15 Minutes

Step 6: Wash in Hot Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add 1 scoop of oxygen bleach for extra stain removal.

Step 7: Check Before Drying

Check the stain before putting the garment in the dryer. If the stain remains, treat again before drying.

For Set-In Red Wine Stains

If the stain has dried or wasn’t removed by the first treatment, try these stronger methods:

OxiClean Max Force Spray

OxiClean Max Force Spray contains enzymes that break down tannins and pigments.

How to use: Spray the stain, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash in hot water with enzyme detergent and oxygen bleach.

White Vinegar and Baking Soda

Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to form a paste. Apply to the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash in hot water.

Hydrogen Peroxide (For White Clothes Only)

For white clothes, apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the stain. It acts as a mild bleach and removes the pigment. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then wash. Don’t use on colored clothes, as it can lighten the fabric.

Oxygen Bleach Soak

For stubborn stains, soak the garment in warm water with 2 scoops of oxygen bleach for 1 to 2 hours before washing. Then wash in hot water with enzyme detergent.

For White Wine Stains

White wine is easier to remove than red wine because it has fewer pigments.

Step 1: Rinse with Cold Water

Hold the stained area under cold running water from the back.

Step 2: Apply Liquid Detergent

Apply liquid detergent to the stain. Work it in gently.

Step 3: Wash in Warm Water

Wash with enzyme detergent in warm water. Check before drying.

Wine on Different Fabrics

Fabric	Best Treatment	What to Avoid
White cotton	Cold water + detergent + oxygen bleach + hydrogen peroxide	Hot water before treatment
Colored cotton	Cold water + detergent + oxygen bleach	Hydrogen peroxide, chlorine bleach
Polyester	Cold water + detergent + OxiClean	Hot water before treatment
Silk	Cold water + professional cleaning	All home treatments
Wool	Cold water + professional cleaning	All home treatments
Carpet	Cold water + dish soap + salt	Hot water, rubbing

What Not to Do

Don’t rub. Rubbing spreads the stain and pushes it deeper. Blot only.

Don’t use hot water before treating. Hot water can set the tannins in wine. Use cold water first, then hot water for washing.

Don’t put the garment in the dryer. Dryer heat sets wine stains permanently. Always air dry and check first.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored clothes. Chlorine bleach strips color. Use oxygen bleach instead.

Don’t wait. The longer wine sits, the harder it is to remove. Treat as soon as possible.

FAQ

How do you get red wine out of clothes? Blot excess wine, rinse with cold water from the back, apply liquid detergent or dish soap, let it sit for 15 minutes, then wash in hot water with oxygen bleach. For stubborn stains, use OxiClean Max Force Spray. Check before drying.

Does salt remove red wine stains? Yes. Sprinkle salt on the wet red wine stain. Salt absorbs the wine and helps lift the pigment. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with cold water and wash.

Does hydrogen peroxide remove red wine stains? Yes, for white clothes. Hydrogen peroxide acts as a mild bleach and removes the pigment in red wine. Apply it to the stain, let it sit for 5 minutes, then wash. Don’t use on colored clothes, as it can lighten the fabric.

Can you get dried red wine out of clothes? Yes, but it’s harder. Apply OxiClean Max Force Spray, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash in hot water with enzyme detergent and oxygen bleach. For stubborn stains, soak in oxygen bleach solution for 1 to 2 hours before washing.

Can you put wine-stained clothes in the dryer? Don’t put wine-stained clothes in the dryer until the stain is completely gone. Dryer heat sets wine stains permanently. Always air dry and check first.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Wine Stains from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Get Red Wine Out of Clothes.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “How to Remove Red Wine Stains.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. OxiClean. “Wine Stain Removal Guide.” oxiclean.com.