The festive season is notorious for its merry mishaps, with spilt drinks and crumbs appearing regularly.
But, if you’re grappling with wine-soaked carpets, there’s no need to panic. A cleaning expert has just disclosed a quick method to banish those stubborn wine stains using a simple household item.
The tip was shared on TikTok by jeeves_ny, who even let red wine seep into a white carpet overnight to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique. He allowed the stain to “dry out” before tackling it the next day with a concoction of white vinegar and water, mixed in a ratio of one to three.
To finish the job, he advised that you’ll require a hot iron and several towels. Don’t worry, it’s really simple to do.
He instructed: “Start by pouring your mixture over the stain, and then put a towel on top of it. Iron until you see colour transferring.”
He explained that the heat from the iron helps to draw the liquid up into the towel, away from the carpet. Persistence is key, as he mentioned needing about six towels to completely remove the stain.
The majority of the stain was successfully removed from his carpet but, to tackle the remaining discolouration, he applied a bit of hydrogen peroxide, described as a “colour-safe” bleach. Once dried, the carpet appeared as good as new.
The video has since amassed over 19,000 views and has prompted numerous comments with people eager to try the technique themselves. One user remarked: “Thank you. This really worked.”
Another inquired: “Does this destroy the towels, or can they be washed? Excellent technique either way.”
Despite the enthusiasm, some were sceptical of the method, suggesting there are more effective ways to eliminate wine stains. Nonetheless, experts acknowledge the solution’s advantages.
According to professionals, using vinegar to address stains can be quite effective, particularly on certain types of stains like rust. It is recommended to apply vinegar directly to the stain and then iron over it with a damp cloth.
Vinegar’s acidic qualities help to dissolve rust, while the heat from the iron is believed to transfer the stain onto the towel. Experts point out that fresh stains are generally simpler to remove.
However, it’s advisable to test the method on an unnoticeable section first to avoid any potential damage to sensitive materials.
White vinegar can be picked up at most supermarkets, for example at Aldi and Tesco for 35p.