How to Remove Red Wine from Tablecloth

Red Wine on a Tablecloth: A Dinner Party Classic

It happens at almost every dinner party — a glass tips and red wine spreads across the tablecloth. The good news: tablecloths are usually machine washable, which gives you a big advantage over carpets and sofas. Act fast and you'll have it looking perfect again.

What You'll Need

• Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover
• Carbona Liquid Stain Devils
• OxiClean White Revive Power Paks (for white tablecloths)
• Microfiber cloths
• Salt
• Cold water

Step-by-Step: Fresh Red Wine on Tablecloth

1. Blot immediately. Use a clean microfiber cloth to absorb as much wine as possible. Press and lift — never rub.
2. Cover with salt. Pour salt generously over the wet stain. Let sit 2–3 minutes to draw the wine out of the fabric, then shake or brush off.
3. Apply Wine Away. Spray Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover directly onto the stain. Let sit 1–2 minutes and blot with a clean cloth. Repeat until the stain lifts.
4. Rinse with cold water. Flush from the back of the fabric.
5. Machine wash cold. For white tablecloths, add an OxiClean White Revive Power Pak to the wash for maximum stain removal and whitening. For colored tablecloths, use your regular detergent.
6. Check before drying. Never put in the dryer until the stain is completely gone.

For Dried Red Wine on Tablecloth

1. Soak in cold water for 30–60 minutes to rehydrate the dried stain.
2. Apply Carbona Stain Devils. Carbona Liquid Stain Devils breaks down dried tannins and pigments. Apply and let sit 15–20 minutes.
3. Follow with Wine Away and blot thoroughly.
4. Machine wash cold with OxiClean (white) or regular detergent (colored). Check before drying.

Tips for Different Tablecloth Materials

• Cotton/linen: Most durable — full method works perfectly; machine wash cold
• Polyester: Same method; synthetics can be more resistant so let products sit longer
• Silk tablecloth: Hand wash only; use Wine Away very gently and rinse carefully
• White tablecloth: Use OxiClean White Revive in the wash for extra whitening power

The OxiClean Soak for White Tablecloths

For white tablecloths with stubborn red wine stains, try an extended soak: dissolve an OxiClean White Revive Power Pak in warm water and soak the tablecloth for 1–6 hours before washing. This is incredibly effective for set-in wine stains on white fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove red wine from a tablecloth after it has dried?

Yes — soak in cold water first, then treat with Carbona Stain Devils and Wine Away. For white tablecloths, an extended OxiClean soak works very well.

Should I treat the stain at the dinner table or wait?

Treat it immediately — even a quick salt application and blot at the table makes a huge difference. The faster you act, the easier the full removal will be later.

Will OxiClean bleach a colored tablecloth?

OxiClean White Revive is designed for white fabrics. For colored tablecloths, use a color-safe oxygen cleaner or stick to Carbona Stain Devils and Wine Away.