It happens in hotels and motels all the time — a guest is enjoying a glass of red wine and suddenly it’s on the carpet!
The most important thing is to act quickly and don’t scrub it. Scrubbing can push the wine deeper into the carpet fibres and spread the stain.
Option 1 — The Housekeeping Cupboard Solution
First, use a clean white towel or paper towels to blot up as much of the wine as possible.
Then mix:
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid
- 2 cups warm water
Apply a small amount with a clean white cloth and gently blot from the outside of the stain towards the centre.
Once the stain has lifted, blot the area with a little clean water to remove any remaining solution, then dry with clean towels.
Option 2 — Commercial Red Wine/Carpet Stain Remover
Every accommodation property should consider keeping a good-quality carpet spot remover suitable for red wine and tannin stains in the housekeeping cupboard.
Again, blot up as much wine as possible first, then use the product according to its instructions. If you have a small carpet extractor or wet vacuum available, even better.
Blot — don’t rub. And get onto it quickly!
Whichever method you use, always test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous part of the carpet first, particularly with wool, coloured or specialist carpets.
And don’t automatically reach for the salt shaker. Salt is an old red-wine remedy, but in a hotel room it can create an even bigger housekeeping job. A proper blot-and-clean approach is much easier to standardise.
Two options, one goal — save the carpet before that little accident becomes an expensive one!