Red wine stains can ruin a great carpet, a great sofa, or even a great t-shirt! But have no fear, there are a few tried and true tricks that will lift off even the most serious looking red wine stain. The first thing to do is not rush to the stain and try to wipe it up by going back and forth with your rag or paper towel. This will only embed the stain deeper into the fiber of the rug (or shirt or sweater etc). You can place a paper towel or or rag on top of the stain (when fresh and wet) and gently press and blob up any excess moisture. I’ve found this is always a good way to start, especially when the stain is fresh.

One of the most popular ways to lift a red wine stain, and also one of the efficient, is to make a mixture of equal parts dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide. This tip is from Patty S. and she’s famous on the web for it. Mix 1 cup water with 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and then add some liquid soap. Pour this mixture on the stain and watch the bubbles lift the red wine stain right out of the rug. You can use dishwashing liquid or rug cleaner or any other liquid soap – just make sure you mix it with the hydrogen peroxide! The hydrogen peroxide is what bleaches or lifts out the stain, so always make sure you have enough of that in your mixture. Let the mixture set by itself for a little while, and then wipe off the residue. You will see the stain disappear. If you don’t get it all the first time just do it again until the stain is completely gone.

Here are a few more favorite ways to lift wine stains out of carpet or clothes:

* cover the stain with talcum powder and let it dry. Brush off the dried powder which should lift the stain out with it.

*If it’s a clothing item, pour boiling water directly on the stain until it rinses clean.

* pour 1 tablespoon ammonia bleach into one cup of warm water. Saturate the stain, then absorb most of the wetness with a towel. Next put white vinegar on the stain, let it set for a couple of minutes. Then absorb the wetness from the vinegar with a towel again and see the stain lift.

* Use the automotive product called Dri-Clean. It’s made for cars, but works well on carpet too.

* Use Shout stain remover

*pour white wine over the red wine stain. You’ll still have a wine stain, but at least it’s white, not red!

*Pour club soda mixed with milk on the stain

*Pour lemonade on the stain!

Good luck!