Wine stains on your linen tablecloth: What to do?

Summer is coming to an end, and we at Linenshed hope that you have enjoyed those moments of rest, but also of gathering with family and friends around a barbecue, long evening meals laughing or remaking the world. Maybe even those moments were spent around a linen tablecloth that had a few setbacks. Linenshed guides you to find a solution to those little wine stains, so you can reuse your pristine tablecloth for your next family meal.

How do you clean up that stain?

Good meals are often accompanied by wine, and it is not uncommon for the general atmosphere to be clumsy. A spilled glass, a few drops escaping from the bottle: accidents happen!

Don't panic! Several methods are available to you. The most effective is to soak the cloth directly in cold water. The fresher the stain, the easier it is to treat. This method can be easily applied to linen towels but very little for the tablecloth, so as not to interrupt the event.

It is therefore advisable to firstabsorb the stain quickly, with absorbent paper, a microfiber, or a towel. Then dab the stain directly with a damp cloth. You can also apply carbonated water. The application will dilute the wine stain and ensure that it does not settle in the heart of the fabric.

Also beware of the old belief of applying coarse salt directly to the stain. This method will not work. Since coarse salt has no absorbent power, the stain will continue to be embedded in the heart of the natural fiber and will be even more difficult to remove later on.

As soon as your meal is over, you can continue to treat the stain on your linen tablecloth completely. How to do it? A very simple method is available to you.

The first solution: White vinegar! Essential element of the household, white vinegar has a proven effectiveness also for washing linen (and fabrics in general) Ecological and economic solution, its action will be once again demonstrated on the treatment of the wine stain. Here is the method to follow:

• With a cloth, or directly, impregnate the spot of the stain with white vinegar
• Let the white vinegar act for 1 hour
• Rinse and put directly in the washing machine

Find your tablecloth impeccable at the end of its drying, ready for your next festivities. The white vinegar will have acted directly on the stain while respecting the beauty of your linen tablecloth. This method applies to red wine stains, but also to white wine stains, which will be much less difficult to remove.

The wine stain is older, what should I do?

Wine stains can be stubborn, and the first method did not work. Don't worry, two other methods exist for more stubborn stains. Two very simple methods, with two other star household ingredients.

The first is baking soda. An ecological and very economical product, it is useful for cleaning but also for cooking and gardening. It can be found very easily in supermarkets and will be perfect to help you remove that nasty stain.

Here is the method:

• A good spoonful of baking soda that you mix with the juice of a lemon (its acidic action will also lighten the stain)
• Soak the stain directly with this mixture and leave it to act for an hour, just like the first method.
• Rinse and put directly in the washing machine
• Dry your tablecloth or towel.

The stain will have disappeared and will leave a spotless tablecloth.

As for the second method for stubborn wine stains, the ingredient is Marseille Soap. Soda based, it is also a very good base to treat your stain very ecological and cheap. Marseille soap will perfectly respect the natural fiber of your linen tablecloth or towels while acting directly at the heart of your stain.

Here is the method:

• Soap the stain with your Marseille Soap directly. You can also add a little lemon for the properties mentioned above. Soak the stain well with the soap mixture for an optimal result.
• Let it act for 1 hour
• Rinse
• Put in the washing machine and let dry.

All these methods will allow you to find your tablecloth or your towels perfect, while respecting the natural fiber of linen. It is possible that the stubborn stain resists these methods, and in this case, do not hesitate to contact a professional to use a more aggressive chemical stain remover while not damaging your table linen. Don't hesitate to test beforehand!