Red wine, a much loved and perfect complement to many traditional dishes, is also a big problem when it leaves stains on tablecloths,runners, andnapkins. Chances are that it will always remain a purple spot, or worse, some yellowish halo that spoils our tissues. 

Fortunately, there are some home remedies for removing red wine stains, depending on whether they are recent, dry, or old. 

Let's begin with a golden rule: never use boiling water on the red wine stain because it could fix the color and irretrievably spoil the fabric.

"Against cool red wine stains, go with sparkling water."

The absolute home remedy: sparkling water cures stomach aches, headaches, and stubborn stains. As soon as the bottle gets out of hand or the glass spills over the tablecloth, promptly pour some sparkling water directly on the stain and dab it with a clean white handkerchief. You can also tap on the wine stain with the handkerchief soaked in sparkling water. Be careful not to rub, or you could worsen and dig the stain into the fabric fibers. Do not use colored tissue or paper towels: carbonated water facilitates color transfer. 

This one is an emergency remedy, it does not immediately remove the stain, but it makes it easier for the washing machine to properly wash fabric so that the red comes off without leaving streaks. 

Coarse salt for pre-treatment

Coarse salt is another great ally against liquid stains, such as coffee and red wine, since it absorbs moisture and pigments. Take a handful of coarse salt and let it act on the still-fresh spot for at least half an hour: the longer, the better. Then, remove the salt washes by hand or machine, and make sure to use a detergent suitable for the fabric you are treating. 

Lemon juice, a natural whitener

For dry and old red wine stains do not worry: your tablecloth is not damaged forever. Lemon juice whitens. It can lighten skin spots, so it should remove red wine stains from cotton runners or linen tablecloths! Remember, especially with delicate fabrics, to proceed step by step and not rub.  

You can mix the lemon juice with some liquid marseille soap to wash your tablecloth or, if the garment is delicate, pour the concentrated lemon juice directly on the stain: Leave for half an hour and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Baking Soda: Frizz and Stain 

Baking soda can also remove dry stains from tissues: you can activate it using

simple water or a drop of white wine (yes, you read it right). When it begins to fizz, let it act: the mechanical action of the foam that forms moves the dry particles of red wine, making them detach from the fibers of the fabric. Remove the foam on the surface with a handkerchief, if needed, repeat the process a couple of times (without exaggerating), and wash the excess baking soda with warm water. The stain pretreated like this can then go to the washing machine, and the red wine stain will wash away without leaving any traces. 

Toothpaste, the secret against older stains

A stain of dry red wine, old and particularly stubborn on your favorite cotton tablecloth, is not harm without remedy: household remedy against the most stubborn stains is toothpaste. Be careful: never use it on delicate garments, such as linen, because it could consume the fibers.

Even if the temptation is to opt for a whitening toothpaste, choose instead a regular toothpaste, maybe one for sensitive teeth. Remember that enamel and cotton are not the same!

Spread a generous amount of toothpaste on the dry spot and leave for a few hours. After that, put the tablecloth in the washing machine and wash it normally.