Help me remove a red wine stain!
August 12, 2011 9:06 AM Subscribe
Help me figure out how to remove a red wine stain from a brand new silk chiffon (dry clean only) dress.
I have a new aqua colored dress that is 100% silk chiffon and I need stain removal advice. I've worn it once to a wedding where a friend spilled red wine on it accidentally. I've taken it to the dry cleaners (as it is dry clean only) and they claimed that after three attempts they were unable to remove the stain.
Is there anything I can do? Is it worth trying to wash out at home? Are there stain removal products I should try? Keep in mind that the fabric is pretty delicate, and that pulls in the fabric are very likely. If it helps, this is the dress. The residue left behind from the wine after attempted dry cleaning is a fairly sizeable light brown splash on the front of the dress, which in my opinion makes it unwearable.
I really don't want to give up on my lovely, new, expensive (to me) dress. Help!
I have a new aqua colored dress that is 100% silk chiffon and I need stain removal advice. I've worn it once to a wedding where a friend spilled red wine on it accidentally. I've taken it to the dry cleaners (as it is dry clean only) and they claimed that after three attempts they were unable to remove the stain.
Is there anything I can do? Is it worth trying to wash out at home? Are there stain removal products I should try? Keep in mind that the fabric is pretty delicate, and that pulls in the fabric are very likely. If it helps, this is the dress. The residue left behind from the wine after attempted dry cleaning is a fairly sizeable light brown splash on the front of the dress, which in my opinion makes it unwearable.
I really don't want to give up on my lovely, new, expensive (to me) dress. Help!
A stain guide I have mentions soaking in cool water, then sponge with white vinegar, or soaking in milk (which sounds gross to me) for wine stains. The assumption is a fresh wine stain though. I've heard club soda as well. I have good stain-removal luck with the spray & wash spray, but I have no idea how safe it is for delicate fabrics. If nothing works, you might be able to dye it a darker color, like a deep navy or black, to still be able to wear it.
posted by bizzyb at 9:44 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by bizzyb at 9:44 AM on August 12, 2011
Best answer: IANYDC, but I worked at drycleaners for close to six years, albeit many years ago. But, not all that much changes, as I understand it. Here's your problem - red wine is a tannin stain, and an acid. Silk and acids don't like each other. Red wine on silk is one of the hardest stains to get out, and they're often made worse when you add home remedies (like using soda water or white wine or vodka) to get them out, then wait a while before bringing it in to be cleaned (Did any of that happen?). It adds another layer of complications to the process. Because of wicking, the stains often keep coming back even if they appear to be gone when wet. Then, even if they appear to be gone, storing them in the plastic drycleaning bag can cause a photochemical reaction with dust and light, causing the stain to reappear. (Never store things in the plastic bags!)
Here is a GREAT article on red wine stain removal. I often refer to it. If it's already unwearable, I'd say test a spot and try first the vinegar and dish soap as described, and as a last resort after rinsing the first process out and letting it dry, hydrogen peroxide.
Please note, you need to learn tamping, so as not to wreck the fabric (pulling or stretching). A dry cleaner might use a very soft brush to keep the watermark (the edges of that brown stain) from forming a dark, lined ring around the area. Think of those soft vintage clothes brushes, not a scrub brush. If you have a doll's soft bristle hair brush, that might be okay, but you kind of hit or tap the fabric with it, never scrub it.
At home, without a spotting board and stuff, make a pad of old towels for underneath, and use a spray bottle to squirt the liquid through the material into the towels (preferably white to avoid any dye transfer - those 50 cent Ikea dishtowels are what I keep around for that, or old cloth diapers). Then, move the dress to another pile of clean towels, and use another clean towel to press the liquid through, without rubbing the material. It's like tamping coffee when you're making espresso - you press down without rubbing. To flush, if you have a steamer or a steam function on your iron, use that at the lowest temperature - too hot may set the stain. Otherwise, a spray bottle with water, and tamp some more with only clean towels and let it air dry.
Good luck! I know clothing damage is so frustrating. I splashed bleach on my favourite little black summer dress last week, and cried as the gory orange stain spread across the skirt. Cried. Nothing could be done, and the dress isn't something I can find anywhere again. It wasn't expensive, but I wore it twice a week when our temps were in the 30's.
posted by peagood at 9:48 AM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
Here is a GREAT article on red wine stain removal. I often refer to it. If it's already unwearable, I'd say test a spot and try first the vinegar and dish soap as described, and as a last resort after rinsing the first process out and letting it dry, hydrogen peroxide.
Please note, you need to learn tamping, so as not to wreck the fabric (pulling or stretching). A dry cleaner might use a very soft brush to keep the watermark (the edges of that brown stain) from forming a dark, lined ring around the area. Think of those soft vintage clothes brushes, not a scrub brush. If you have a doll's soft bristle hair brush, that might be okay, but you kind of hit or tap the fabric with it, never scrub it.
At home, without a spotting board and stuff, make a pad of old towels for underneath, and use a spray bottle to squirt the liquid through the material into the towels (preferably white to avoid any dye transfer - those 50 cent Ikea dishtowels are what I keep around for that, or old cloth diapers). Then, move the dress to another pile of clean towels, and use another clean towel to press the liquid through, without rubbing the material. It's like tamping coffee when you're making espresso - you press down without rubbing. To flush, if you have a steamer or a steam function on your iron, use that at the lowest temperature - too hot may set the stain. Otherwise, a spray bottle with water, and tamp some more with only clean towels and let it air dry.
Good luck! I know clothing damage is so frustrating. I splashed bleach on my favourite little black summer dress last week, and cried as the gory orange stain spread across the skirt. Cried. Nothing could be done, and the dress isn't something I can find anywhere again. It wasn't expensive, but I wore it twice a week when our temps were in the 30's.
posted by peagood at 9:48 AM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
There's a product called Wine Off that we tested at a past job of mine. It works very well. We soaked a white napkin in red wine and left it for over a week. It took the stain right out.
posted by cmgonzalez at 9:55 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cmgonzalez at 9:55 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Bleach will discolor silk, as I learned the hard way.
I'd consider having it dyed navy or black. Silk takes dye beautifully, and you may be able to salvage a beautiful dress.
posted by theora55 at 10:09 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'd consider having it dyed navy or black. Silk takes dye beautifully, and you may be able to salvage a beautiful dress.
posted by theora55 at 10:09 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oxy Clean. Put a tablespoon in a spray-bottle sized spray-bottle with some warm tap water. Shake it up and spray. It will literally disappear before your eyes like on the commercials.
I used to purposely spill red wine on my apartment carpet just so I could make it disappear this way. It's very cool to watch - and gives you a great excuse to open another bottle. :-)
posted by bfu at 4:09 PM on August 12, 2011
I used to purposely spill red wine on my apartment carpet just so I could make it disappear this way. It's very cool to watch - and gives you a great excuse to open another bottle. :-)
posted by bfu at 4:09 PM on August 12, 2011
came here to recommend the Gonzo stain remover. it hasn't failed me on a stain yet.
posted by wayward vagabond at 4:28 PM on August 12, 2011
posted by wayward vagabond at 4:28 PM on August 12, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks all. In response to peagood, I did not try any home remedies. At the reception I did try to wet the stain with water to try to get it out a little bit, but I haven't used any soaps or anything. Unfortunately, I did wind up getting the dress to the cleaners about 2 weeks after the wedding - I was traveling for the wedding then moved as soon as I returned home. I know that could be part of the problem, but was just hoping for other suggestions.
I'm planning to try the vinegar and dish soap tonight, and progress to more intense options from there.
posted by moshimosh at 5:15 PM on August 12, 2011
I'm planning to try the vinegar and dish soap tonight, and progress to more intense options from there.
posted by moshimosh at 5:15 PM on August 12, 2011
I hear shaving cream works on red wine stains. A friend salvaged his couch after spilling an entire glass of red wine on it.
posted by orange swan at 8:01 PM on August 12, 2011
posted by orange swan at 8:01 PM on August 12, 2011
I have saved a light-colored dress (not silk, I don't think) from a red-wine stain by pouring boiling water through it until it ran clear. This was on a stain that had occurred the night before, and was I think on linen, so YMM will probably vary. Worth a shot if you're about to trash it, I guess.
posted by slenderloris at 8:49 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by slenderloris at 8:49 PM on August 16, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by corey flood at 9:35 AM on August 12, 2011