How to Get out Red Wine Stains

Thinking of switching to white wine just to avoid stains? Memorize these cleaning tips instead.

Step 1: Use white on red Pour white wine or club soda on the stain while it's still wet – just make sure the fabric is washable. If you don't have either, use cold water.
Step 2: Blot it Blot it with a white cloth napkin or a clean white T-shirt.
Step 3: Sprinkle salt Sprinkle salt on the stain to absorb the remaining moisture. Let it stand for a few minutes.
Step 4: Rinse Rinse in cold water. If the stain remains, repeat the process until you've removed as much as possible.
Step 5: Pretreat Dab a little liquid-enzyme detergent into the wine stain; find it at the supermarket. Let it stand for about 10 minutes before rinsing with cold water and rubbing out the stain.
Step 6: Spot-treat If you can still see the stain, apply a spot stain remover before machine-washing in cold water with a liquid-enzyme detergent.
Step 7: For carpet spills, blot up as much of the red wine as you can with a clean cloth and then saturate the stain with club soda or cold water and blot that up. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Step 8: Try baking soda If repeated saturating and blotting does not remove the whole thing, make a paste of three parts borax or baking soda to one part water. Gently rub the paste into the stain with a clean toothbrush and let it sit. Vacuum up the paste when it is completely dry. Repeat as necessary.
FACT: Sales of merlot slumped in the U.S. after a character mocked the grape in the 2004 movie Sideways, but they eventually rebounded.