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Red wine stains can be cleaned up in the morning, but treating them right away is always the best option.

The majority of fabrics are rather permeable, with a few exceptions. The fibers become submerged in the pores of the fabric when liquid material enters the fibers. Red wine’s hue, in contrast to many other beverages we enjoy, is entirely natural. The beverage made from grapes contains chromogens, which are the main component of many vibrant plants and the source of colours. Sure, dyes. In essence, red wine is a huge bottle of pigment molecules. When you combine this with the tannins found in red wine, an organic material that is also used to make a lot of ink, your red wine stain is effectively a DIY tie-dye attempt gone bad.

When red wine contacts a garment, it starts to soak into the fibers and spread throughout the pores wherever there is room. Similar to other liquids, red wine will travel downward and outward.

Tips for removing red wine stains

Our first set of expert recommendations for removing red wine stains is based on the science of why and how red wine seeps into fabrics:

1 Tip: Avoid scrubbing the stain!

While scrubbing will assist in removing part of the red wine stain, it will actually have the opposite effect by causing the stain to spread even farther. Additionally, if you press down too hard, you’ll actually force additional red wine into the fabric. This is particularly true if you have a red wine stain on your couch or carpet.

Tip #2: Don’t leave it too long

Even though it’s annoying to clean up a red wine stain right away, we wouldn’t suggest waiting until the next day. The longer it stays there, the more red wine will permeate and settle into those fibers. They’ll eventually “set” and get harder to get off. Not to mention the fact that red wine is essentially a dye in waiting.

Tip #3: Don’t apply heat, whatever you do

The last thing you want is for the stain to dry, but it would be even worse if it did so while being exposed to heated air. Actually, heat will alter the chemical mechanism that the stain goes through while it dries. You might anticipate a permanent or practically permanent stain if you apply heat. Put the hair dryer away, and for the love of God, don’t dry any damaged clothing before using any pre-wash cleaning techniques.