How to Use Quinine Water to Remove Wine Stains
Red wine stains are stubborn and hard to remove from fabrics. Salt can be used for light-colored material if the stain is caught when it is still wet. Quinine water (tonic water) is commonly used to remove red wine stains after they’ve dried. Variations include 7-Up, soda water and club soda.
The carbonation is thought to lift the stain, as opposed to sinking it down into the carpet.
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Pour some tonic (quinine) water on top of the stain, once the stain has dried.
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Blot the stain with a terry cloth, paper towels or rags. Don’t rub it. Rubbing the stain defeats the purpose of the carbonation.
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Repeat until the stain is gone.
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Use warm (not hot) water and a mild detergent to get the sugars of the wine and salts of the tonic water out.
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Place a few towels on top of the water spot. Then place a heavy object, like a stack of books, on the towels to get the remaining moisture out. Allow it to sit like this overnight.
Tip
White wine may be a more effective treatment than tonic water, according to Southern Grace Gourmet. The dry cleaners may be another worthwhile option of last resort. Within the variations of the quinine-water variety, club soda is generally viewed as the best.
