How to Remove Grape Juice Stains From Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery

Removing Grape Juice Stains From Clothes

Should you spill grape juice on clothing, don't wait to treat the stain. The faster you act, the likelier it is that you'll be able to remove the mark completely.

1. Blot Away Liquid

   Blot the spill with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Blot in an up-and-down motion until you've lifted as much liquid as possible.

   Warning

   Don't rub the grape juice spill, as that can spread the stain even further.

2. Flush With Cold Water

   Turn the stained garment inside-out, and then flush the stained area from the back of the fabric with cold water. Hold the garment under a sink faucet with the water running full-force for a minute or two.

3. Apply a Laundry Stain Remover

   Treat the stained area with a stain remover spray or gel like Zout or Shout. Work the treatment into the fabric fibers with your fingers or a soft brush. (An old toothbrush works well for this.) If you don't have a stain remover handy, use a bit of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent, such as Tide or Persil, to treat the stain. These detergents contain enough enzymes to remove the tannins that cause the stains.

4. Let Stain Remover Sit

   Leave the stain remover on the fabric for at least 15 minutes while it lifts the stain.

5. Rinse Under Hot Water

   Rinse the stain from the back side of the fabric under hot water from a sink. Turn the water on full-force to help push the stain out of the fabric.

6. Check the Stained Area

   Examine the stained area. If the mark is gone, you can launder the garment as usual. If a stain still remains, however, further treatment is necessary. In a sink or bucket, mix a solution of warm water and oxygen-based bleach, such as OxiClean, following the package directions for amounts.

7. Soak the Stained Garment

   Submerge the stained garment completely in the oxygen-based bleach solution. Allow the stained fabric to soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. If the stain is still visible, rinse in cold water and repeat this step. When the stain is gone, launder as usual.

Removing Grape Juice Stains From Carpet or Upholstery

As with grape juice spilled onto clothing, if grape juice drops onto your carpet or upholstery, the faster you take action, the likelier you are to remove the stain completely. The following steps treat both carpet and upholstery, but when treating a grape juice stain on couch or chair cushions, take care not to overly saturate the area, as the filling inside the cushion could develop mildew or an odor.

1. Blot Up Liquid

   Blot the spill with white paper towels or a clean white cloth. Work from the outside of the spill toward the center to prevent spreading the grape juice and making the stain larger.

2. Mix Cleaning Solution

   Mix a solution of 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar in a mixing bowl.

3. Blot the Stain

   Dip a clean white cloth or paper towel in the solution, and working from the outside edges, blot the stain. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the grape juice is transferred to the cloth. Work slowly and methodically in a small area at a time. Keep treating and blotting the stain until no more color remains.

   Tip

   Always blot stains with an up-and-down motion, not a side-to-side scrub, to avoid spreading the stain even further.

4. Rinse the Area

   Rinse the treated area with a clean sponge dipped in cool water. Blot the entire area to remove any lingering traces of cleaning mixture.

5. Check for Remaining Stains

   Check for any traces of remaining grape juice stains. If the stain is gone, congratulations. Let the area air-dry. However, if there is still a grape juice mark, continue on to the next step.

6. Treat With Oxygen-Based Bleach

   Mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and water following package directions. Sponge the solution onto the stain and allow it to work for at least an hour before blotting to dry with a clean cloth. Repeat until all traces of grape juice are gone.

   Warning

   Do not apply oxygen-based bleach to wool carpeting, as it can damage the fibers. If your carpet is 100% wool, call a professional carpet cleaner to tackle remaining stains.

7. Rinse the Treated Area

   Rinse the treated area with a cloth dipped in plain water. Allow the cleaned carpet or upholstery to air dry away from direct heat. Once dry, vacuum carpets to lift fibers.

When to Call a Professional

As usual, all dry-cleaning-only fabrics should be taken to a dry cleaner. But even for your non-dry-cleaning clothes, if the stain does not come out, take the garment to a dry cleaner for their professional assistance.

Call a professional carpet cleaner or an upholstery cleaning company if it persists on your carpet, rug, or furniture. Explain the nature of the stain and the steps you already took to get the stain out.

If the grape juice spills onto furniture with vintage or silk upholstery, blot immediately to remove as much juice as possible, and then contact a professional upholstery cleaning service. Don't attempt to remove stains from these delicate fabrics yourself.

Additional Tips for Handling Grape Juice Stains

Repeat the cleaning steps at least two times. If, after those attempts, the stain persists, get the help of a professional cleaner. They have special cleaning products that might be able to work. After removing the stain, continue to wash the item as you usually would per the garment care tag or care instructions.

Prevention is the best treatment. Take extra care when handling highly staining beverages or foods like grape juice, wine, or coffee.