How to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet

Blot the stain with a paper towel if it’s still wet.

If you can get to the stain quickly, grab a few paper towels or a clean cloth. Gently blot the stain, soaking up as much moisture as you can. The more moisture you can pull out of the carpet now, the less stain you will have to deal with later. Keep blotting until the carpet is mostly dry, then move on to cleaning up the rest of the stain. Experts note that with stains on carpets (especially red stains), the faster you get to it, the better.

Scrape away hardened spots with a knife.

If you only notice a stain after it’s dry, that’s okay. Grab a sharp knife and gently scrape at the stain, trying to get up as much of the substance as you can. Wipe up the small bits of the red stain with a clean cloth, then move on to getting the rest of the stain out of the carpet. Scraping the stain first removes the top layer, which can make the rest of it easier to clean up. If you don’t want to scrape your carpet with a knife, you can also use a spoon.

Sponge the stain with ammonia and soap.

If the stain is fresh, this may be all you’ll need. In a small bowl, combine 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of dishwashing soap, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of ammonia, and 2 cups (470 mL) of warm water. Dip a clean, white cloth into your cleaning mixture. Gently dab at the stain, trying not to rub or scrub to avoid pushing it deeper into the carpet fibers. Every now and then, dip the cloth back into the cleaning solution to rinse it and wet it again. Keep blotting until you’ve covered the entire stain. Ammonia is a harsh substance, and inhaling it can cause coughing, sneezing, and irritation. Always work in a ventilated area, and use gloves to protect your skin. Keep ammonia away from children and pets. Dish soap and ammonia are usually strong enough to remove fresh stains that just happened. However, if the stain is old, you might need to use other methods.

Try detergent and white vinegar for acidic stains.

Red wine stains tend to dissolve in the presence of vinegar. Mix together a solution of 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of dishwashing soap, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar, and 2 cups (470 mL) of warm water. Dip a cloth into the solution, then gently dab it onto the carpet, covering the whole stain. Grab a second clean cloth and gently blot the liquid to absorb the cleaning solution and the stain itself. Keep blotting until the stain is mostly dry. White vinegar isn’t super harsh, but you still may want to wear gloves to avoid skin irritation.

Flush the stain with club soda.

Club soda is weakly acidic, so it’s great against red wine. Gently blot up as much of the stain as you can, then pour club soda over the entire stain. Blot up the club soda with a clean towel, then keep flushing the area with club soda until the stain is gone. Club soda is clear, so it won’t stain your carpet.

Attack tough stains with rubbing alcohol or peroxide.

These are both oxidizers, which help remove color compounds. If the stain is from red dye or Kool Aid, dab a little bit of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide over the entire thing. Let it sit for just a few minutes, then blot it up with a clean cloth. If you use hydrogen peroxide, you might notice some fizzing or bubbling when you apply it to the stain. This is a good sign—it means the peroxide is working!

Try acetone for red nail polish.

If you spilled a bit of nail polish on the carpet, grab nail polish remover. Even if the stain is dry, you can gently dab some of the acetone onto the stain, then wait a few minutes. Use a clean cloth to blot up the red polish until it’s gone. Acetone also works against red makeup, like eyeshadow or lipstick.

Mix white vinegar and rubbing alcohol for juice.

Berry juice is one of the worst offenders for carpet stains. If you notice any red juice on your carpet, mix together ⁄3 c (160 mL) of rubbing alcohol and 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture, then dab it onto the stain 3 to 4 times. When you’re done, flush the area with cold water. Juice can be tough to remove from carpet, so try to get to it right away before it sets into the fibers.

Use salt and a vacuum to remove small stains.

Salt can help pull moisture out of your carpet. While the stained area is still wet (either from water or your last cleaning solution), dump a thick layer of salt all over the stain. Let the area dry completely to give the salt time to absorb the stain and remove it from your carpet. Then, use a vacuum to remove the salt and take the stain with it. You can use sea salt or normal table salt. Either one will help absorb the stain and get it out of your carpet. Otherwise, you can even put some dry baking soda on the spot and scrub it with a scrub brush. Then vacuum it.

Blot the area with cold water for blood stains.

Cold water helps pull the color out of the carpet fibers. Grab a towel and wet it with cold water from the sink, then gently dab the stained area. Keep blotting until you’ve covered the whole stain, then use a clean towel to dab the stain and absorb the water. Never use warm or hot water on a stain, as that can drive the color compounds deeper into the carpet fibers.

Try a commercial stain cleaner for tough stains.

If home remedies aren’t working, try Wine Away or Gonzo Wine Out. While these are made specifically for red wine stains, they also work against other red stains, like red dye or Kool Aid. Spray the cleaner onto the carpet, then let it soak in. Gently blot the cleaner with a clean towel to get rid of the stain completely. You can usually find commercial cleaners at grocery and home goods stores. It is a good idea to get your carpet steam cleaned yearly, especially if you have pets.