As the festive season gets into full swing, many across the UK will be enjoying a relaxing glass of red wine. However, the fear of a dreaded spill on a light-coloured sofa or carpet can put a damper on the celebrations. Fortunately, a leading cleaning expert has stepped in to debunk a persistent myth and share a remarkably simple, two-ingredient solution.
The White Wine Myth Debunked
Lynsey Crombie, the home expert familiar to viewers of ITV's This Morning and known as the 'Queen of Clean', has issued a stark warning against a popular hack. She advises households to avoid the oft-repeated advice of pouring white wine over a red wine spill at all costs. "That doesn't work," she stated unequivocally in an interview with Yours magazine.
Crombie explains that the key to successful stain removal is to act correctly from the outset. Using hot water, for instance, is a common mistake as it will permanently set the stain into the fabric or carpet fibres. Instead, the crucial first step is to reach for something cold.
The Correct Two-Ingredient Method
Lynsey Crombie's effective strategy requires just two everyday household items: ice-cold water and salt. Her step-by-step guide is straightforward but requires patience for the best results.
First, gently dab the fresh spill with a clean, absorbent cloth to remove as much liquid as possible. Avoid rubbing, as this can spread the stain. Next, cover the affected area generously with salt, rubbing it in gently. The salt acts to draw the wine out of the material. Leave the salt to work its magic, ideally overnight.
"It isn't a 10 minute fix," Crombie emphasises, highlighting that tackling a wine stain properly demands time. The following day, you can rinse the area with cold water to wash away the salt and the lifted stain.
Additional Expert Advice and Alternative Absorbents
Crombie's advice is supported by other professionals in the field. Laura Harnett, founder of the eco-cleaning brand Seep, concurs that running the stain under a cold tap from the back can help push the wine back to the surface.
For those who don't have salt to hand, several other absorbent household powders can be used in the same way. Experts suggest baking soda, talcum powder, or even clay-based cat litter as effective alternatives to lift the pigment from carpets and upholstery.
For frequent spillers, Lynsey Crombie also recommends a specialist product called 'Red Wine No More', which chemically alters the stain, turning it blue as it works.
Bonus Tip: Tackling Festive Hot Chocolate Stains
With winter in full force, red wine isn't the only seasonal drink hazard. Crombie has also shared her method for dealing with hot chocolate spills, which leave behind both a stain and a sour milk smell.
For clothing, rinse the stain with cold water to flush out milky residue, then pre-treat with liquid laundry detergent for 20 minutes before washing as normal. For carpets, dab with a white cloth, clean from the outside in, and use a spray bottle of water and a cloth with a little washing-up liquid to blot the area clean, finishing with a damp cloth to remove any soapy residue.
Armed with these expert tips from Lynsey Crombie, whose book 15-Minute Clean was a best-seller, Brits can enjoy their festive tipples with a little less anxiety about potential accidents.
