How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Silk

Red wine spilled on silk is one of the hardest stains to remove. There are many ways to approach this problem, and a few commercial products that will work moderately well. Follow the steps below to effectively remove the stain, hopefully before it sets.

Step 1: Be Quick

If you have spilled red wine on your silk blouse, tie or upholstery, the faster you work on the stain, the more successful you will be in removing it. If you allow it to dry, you will most likely never get it out. If you are in a restaurant and can't work on the stain, blot it as dry as possible with your napkin to get as much of the wine out. Do not rub as this will only grind it into the fabric and make it harder to remove.

The old wives' tale about using white wine to get red wine out is exactly that and it won't work, so don't waste good wine. You may try dabbing at it with ice cold water, if for no other reason that to keep it wet until you get home. Some people have used a bit of salt to rub at the stained area to remove it. This works well on small stains.

Step 2: Homemade Remedies

Many people have found great success in removing red wine from silk by mixing one half hydrogen peroxide with one half cold water and letting the stained area soak overnight. If it doesn't all come out the first time, pour out the mixture, mix up a fresh batch and soak just the stained area again. This may take several attempts and you need to blot the area in between new liquid. Don't allow the stain to dry. If it is a very bad stain, use full strength peroxide.

Another effective method is to mix Dawn dishwashing liquid and warm water and let the stained area soak. Rinse just the stained area with cold water. If you need to soak it again, do so. Some people like to use vinegar with the Dawn liquid in the same amounts, or alcohol with Dawn in the same amounts. If only just a slight stain remains, dab rubbing alcohol onto the stain, then put a cloth soaked in alcohol on top of the stain to keep it wet and let it sit. Blot the moisture away. This should remove the wine. Repeat if necessary.

Step 3: Commercial Cleaners

There are several good cleaners on the market for removing red wine. Gonzo 'Wine Away' is a very popular one that is available at most hardware stores. Follow the directions on the package and use in a well ventilated area. Spray and Wash that is available at any supermarket or discount store works on red wine stains also. Spray it on, keep the area wet and blot away as much of the wine as possible.

Erado-Sol, a commercial cleaner used in doctors' offices and hospitals, is perhaps the best of the over-the-counter cleaners and works to remove 100 percent of the stain. It may be difficult to find, so check on the Internet for a source.