Red Wine Spill: How to Handle a Tough Stain
Red Wine Spill: How to Handle a Tough Stain
Imagine you’re enjoying a nice glass of wine, and then disaster strikes. A big red stain right in the middle of your beautiful handknotted rug. Don’t panic! The important thing is to act fast and stay calm. Here are some tips on how to get even the worst stains out of your rug.
Blot, Never Scrub
The first thing you should do if you spill red wine, is to quickly get a towel or something that absorbs liquid, and blot the stain. Do not rub or scrub at your piece, it will only make the stain spread and set. Apply even and firm pressure to the stain, blotting on the clean part of your towel and continuing until the stain has lightened.
Cold Water
Your instinct may be to spray hot water or chemicals on the stain, but this can only make the problem worse. Chemicals found in a lot of all purpose cleaners can actually ruin your rug. It can lead to the color bleeding and the fibers in your rug to become brittle. The best solution is cold water. Cold water is better at dissolving the tannins found in red wine. Gently spray or pour cold water over the stain, and continue blotting it on a clean towel. This should lift the stain even further as the red wine dissolves.
Professional Cleaning
If you still have the stain, take the rug to be professionally washed. Professional cleaners like Azari Rug Gallery have experience and the proper tools to handle a deep stain. Azari has a ten-step cleaning process that involves a gentle bath to loosen any debris, then using a hand-mixed eco-friendly shampoo and an industrial scrubber to work out any stain and dirt. Then we give the rug a thorough rinse, and air dry to restore your rug's natural beauty. These kinds of cleanings are essential to your rug's longevity and care.
Azari Rug Gallery has been professionally cleaning hand-knotted rugs for over 35 years. Our customer testimonials speak for themselves: We are the best at what we do. You don't need an appointment, you are more than welcome to bring your rug in for cleaning anytime we are open. Contact us today for more details!
