Lift fresh red wine stains with club soda

Pour club soda directly onto a fresh red wine or juice spill and let the carbonation fizz for 1-2 minutes. Blot gently with clean cloths, working from the outside in. Repeat until no more color transfers to the cloth.

Why It Works

The carbonation in club soda agitates stain particles and pushes them to the surface, making them easier to blot away. The sodium in club soda also helps prevent pigments from bonding to carpet fibers. This works best on fresh spills before the stain sets.

Tips

• Use plain club soda, not tonic water or flavored seltzer, which contain sugar that leaves sticky residue
• Follow up with a vinegar-water solution if any discoloration remains after the club soda treatment
• Keep a bottle in the pantry so you can act within the first few minutes of a spill, when this method is most effective