There’s nothing worse than spilling wine. Here’s a new way to clean it up that you’ve probably never thought of but has the science behind it to prove that it works.
Red wine is a culprit in many types of stains: carpet, clothes, teeth, and countertops to name a few. Just as it leaves many types of stains there are also many old wives tales about how to clean it up, ranging from windex to white wine. Yes, white wine. Oddly enough, white wine isn’t that far off the mark.
Next time you spill white on the carpet, head to the bar to make the stain disappear without a trace but don’t grab a bottle of Chardonnay! Instead, look for a clear liquor like vodka or gin. Pour the spirit directly onto the stain and sop it up by applying pressure to the wet stain with a rag, old tee shirt or paper towels if you have nothing else on hand.
Tips and Tricks For Getting The Stain Completely Out
- Act quickly. Best way to safeguard yourself is to keep a cheap bottle of clear liquor on hand. You don’t want it to have time to soak into the carpet.
- Don’t towel dry first. While your gut might tell you to sop up as much of the wine as you can directly, this is a bad idea. The wine will soak into and spread through the carpet. If you immediately pour on the liquor you’re oversaturating, thus keeping the carpet from pulling in any more of the pigment.
- Keep going. Once it looks clean give it another pour and sop (or two) and then switch to water to finish up.
While we’d never spill wine in a perfect world, it happens. Cut down on your anxiety by purchasing a bottle of cheap clear liquor and always be prepared. And if you’re the person at the party who always spills, bring your host a bottle of the cheap clear stuff and a copy of this article! What’s your favorite hack for cleaning up red wine?