While red wine can be a welcome addition to a dinner party, it is never a welcome addition to your clothing or other fabric.
This is especially true for leather items because leather is notoriously difficult to clean properly.
Don’t panic while you may be tempted to throw in the towel once you realize someone has spilled red wine on your leather item.
We’ve done the research, and removing red wine stains from leather is attainable with a bit of patience, the proper techniques, and some everyday household cleaning items.
Continue reading to find exactly what materials you need when learning how to remove red wine stains from leather.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need a few household cleaning items to remove red wine stains from leather.
- Cleaning cloths or paper towels
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Leather conditioner
- Water
Now that you have everything, please read on to learn how to remove red wine stains from leather.
1. Blot up the excess wine
The best way to handle a red wine stain on leather is prevention.
As soon as you realize that red wine has spilled onto your leather item, grab a paper towel or a cleaning cloth and blot away as much of the wine as possible.
The more wine you remove now, the easier the stain will be to eradicate.
Pro Tip: Don’t scrub the leather.
Scrubbing, or even pressing hard, can damage the leather and work the wine stain farther into it.
While it will be tempting to scrub at the stain, the best thing you can do is dab gently but consistently.
Dabbing at the stain will still remove the wine without further damaging your leather.
2. Sprinkle baking soda over the wet stain
Once you have removed as much liquid as possible, sprinkle a light covering of baking soda over the entire stain.
The baking soda will draw out and absorb the wine that has settled into the leather, allowing the baking soda to sit for about 15 minutes.
Remember, this step will only work if the stain is still wet, so you must act quickly.
After 15 minutes, gently rub the area with a fresh cleaning cloth to remove the baking soda.
Only apply as much pressure as the leather can handle without becoming damaged, and then wipe the baking soda off with a damp clean cloth.
3. If the stain remains, dab hydrogen peroxide
If the red wine stain remains after you have used baking soda, grab a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
Dip part of a fresh cleaning cloth or a piece of a paper towel into the hydrogen peroxide.
Wring it out so that it is only damp.
Then, place the cleaning cloth over the stain and press firmly.
Let the hydrogen peroxide sit for up to 30 minutes; you can use an object to hold the cloth in place during that time.
As always, make sure you test this treatment on an inconspicuous area of your leather first to make sure it does cause discoloration or damage.
Pro Tip: You can also apply the hydrogen peroxide to the red wine stain using baking soda.
Mix a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and enough baking soda to create a paste in a small bowl.
Using a cleaning cloth or paper towel, rub the paste onto the stain.
Work in circular movements from the outside of the stain towards the middle.
4. Dab the area with lukewarm water and Dry
Using a fresh cleaning cloth, blot the area with lukewarm water.
Doing this will remove the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide from the leather.
Once you have finished dabbing the area and have entirely removed the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, allow the affected area to dry completely.
Air-drying is best and will prevent any damage that heat may cause to the leather.
Pro Tip: To avoid damaging your leather, use a streak-free microfiber cleaning cloth.
I recommend using MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, which I found on Amazon.
They get excellent reviews on Amazon and will prevent you from accidentally scratching your leather as you finish removing the red wine stain.
5. Apply leather conditioner to restore The leather
Once the area is completely dry, use the appropriate leather conditioner for your type of leather.
A great universal option is Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.
It can be used on all types of leather accessories and gets wonderful Amazon reviews.
The process of removing the red wine stain can be challenging on your leather, and the leather conditioner will help to prevent and repair any potential adverse reactions.
Using a soft cloth, rub the conditioner into the leather to restore the leather’s texture and prevent any long-lasting damage.
The following video demonstrates a slight variation from the above steps on how to remove dry red wine stains from leather and fabric.
0:30—Combine water, a teaspoon of detergent, and a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl.
1:00—Blot the mixture on the red wine stain with a clean sponge.
1:06—Allow the solution to sit on the stain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use vinegar to remove red wine stains from my leather?
While bleach cleaners like hydrogen peroxide work better against red wine stains, you can use vinegar in a pinch.
Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water.
If you have it, add a few drops of leather conditioner as well.
Then, gently rub the vinegar and water on the stain and allow the mixture to sit for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour.
Then, wipe the area down with a clean, damp cloth to remove the vinegar and pat the affected area dry.
Allow the leather to finish air-drying, and then use your leather conditioner to treat your leather and restore the proper texture.
What should I do if these techniques do not remove the red wine stain entirely from the leather?
If you find that your red wine stain is particularly difficult to remove, you may need to consult a professional.
Leather often requires special care to avoid damage or discoloration.
If the stain is still present after you have used the above techniques, or if you want to make sure the stain is completely removed, contact a professional cleaning company.
They will be able to give your specific leather the kind of professional care it needs.
