[john smith]

A regular rang me up today, can i get another red wine stain out? of course i can try i answered what have you put on it this time i said? she said well, i remember you saying not to put vanish or "2099" on it so i blotted it and threw white wine on it?

Oh dear i said, (she turned round and said ""should  i have not of put the white wine on the red wine when i spilt it ?" (i was caught a little off guard)
 
My answer was "mmmmmm, No you shouldnt of, but i dont know the reason why, i can't remember what the chemical reaction is that happens when you do this."

i went on to explain about it setting the stain in, but my questin is, to you more experienced technicians is "what does happen when white wine is put onto red wine...............? 

My other question is : Where on earth have people got this idea of white wine getting rid of red wine from?

And the red wine did come out as well, synthetic carpet!

[Doug Holloway]

Hi John,

I don't think any chemical reaction occurs other than dilution.

The red wine pigment is obviously soluble in an alcohol /water mixture so adding more of the same without the pigment (white wine), will enable the custy to blot up more .

Repeated application of white wine may allow much of the pigment to be blotted up but is unlikely to remove all and is very expensive.

I have heard of lots of custys trying this method , most without much success.

Cheers

Doug

[Steve Chapman]

The reason the white wine works on the red is because of the theory of using like substances to counteract each other, in this instance the white wine being of the same composition as the red but disperses the red colouring and keeps it in a cleanable state while still liquid.

if done straight away it does actually work, but obviously a thorough clean would also need to take place.  - if it's dried out the effect is not impressive and this is what the customer normally doesn't understand.


regards
steve

[gwrightson]

soda water, lemonade   
all with alittle success , with some of my custys

and as Steve has pointed out a thorough   clean is vital, dirt will soon be attracted to the affected area

Geoff

[*paul_moss]

Guy's its the tannin that is in red wine that causes the staining,its not dis similar to the tannin in tea and coffee.

The white wine trick  and soda water trick can work on some of ther lighter tannins,but basically you need to use a tannin staion remover or something quite acidic to remove the tannin.

I tell my customers after a spillage to blott out as much as possible and then wet the area with a white vinigar and water mixture, the acidic acid in the vinigar stops the tannin from dyeing the fibres.
I tell them to put a poltice over the stain once the have put the white vinigar solution in and then put something heavy on it and leave it till the next day.
When they lift the poltice up all the colour is in it and not in the carpet 

[Geoff Jewkes]

Paul, will the acetic acid / water mix work on any tannin stain?? If so what ratio do you mix it to ?? Regards, Geoff

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

White wine, as some of you will know isn't clear and can stain also!

Cheers Goron

[stuart_clark]

Good old Spray and go from chemspec and its gone for good

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

It's a bit more complicated than saying the colour is caused by tannin, there are also anthocyanins and phenolic based pigments.

Look how complex it gets http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=16184438

Because red wine is variable our methods and results will also vary in success.

Cheers

Doug

p.s Just off for a glass of Merlot

[Dave_Lee]

Blot up, dilute with white wine, blot again and again, sprinkle salt on. Vacuum thoroughly when dry, then call me to extract with an acidic rinse. Usually works.
Dave.

[Cloverleaf]

Of all the red wine stains I'v done....every one that hasn't been touched by the customer has come out completely!

I once went to a hotel where there was a company party a few days before.
There were red wine stains and vomit mixed with red wine to two rooms.
Me and the landlord sat down and I said you'lbe lucky if they come out at all as was 80-20 wool.
Best to claim from the company and for loss of earnings etc pluss carpet replacement.....but I'll try what I can.

All I did was clean the carpet! No stain removers....just cleaned it.
Every red wine and red vomit stain came out completely. I was gob smacked and so was the land lord.

Perhaps agitation and stain remover by the custy makes stain removal more difficult.

John

[calmore]

Is that Vanish Carpet Mousse any good then?

 

<Calmore runs away>