Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has many household uses. It can react with acidic liquid ingredients to help baked goods rise, as well as being an ingredient in some antacid products.

When it comes to removing red wine stains from carpet or clothing, the first step should be blotting as much as possible. Do not try to scrub at it as this will only push deeper into fabric or rug fabric and push any potential stains further in.

1. Act Fast

Red wine stains can be particularly difficult to eliminate due to their naturally-occurring dye sinking deep into fabric fibers and quickly spreading. As soon as a stain occurs, it's critical that immediate action be taken; otherwise rubbing may further embed itself in fabric fibers; instead use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot blot the stain for best results.

Many household products can help you remove red wine stains from fabric surfaces, such as club soda, salt, baking soda, cold water, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and dishwashing liquid. Blot the stain instead of rubbing as this will absorb excess wine before it sets and prevent further spreading through other parts of fabric. If it has already set, pour cold water on it first to loosen its pigment.

2. Blot the Stain

No red wine spill is too large to manage, and acting quickly is key in order to remove it. Begin by dabbing at the stain with a cloth or paper towel instead of rubbing to minimize further spread of staining.

Rubbing can actually push wine deeper into fabric, setting it and making removal harder next time around.

Once the stained area is dry, apply a mixture of one part washing up liquid to two parts cold water to fully saturate any stains before blotting to soak up excess wine stains - this should be done quickly before any more can set in.

3. Make a Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda works similarly to salt when applied directly to wine stains, altering its pH balance to shift acidic anthocyanins that stain red wine towards blue (this chemistry underpins litmus tests). Combine equal parts baking soda and water into a paste that you can apply directly onto the stain; let it dry, and vacuum up both paste and any wine soaked up by it once dry.

Blot up any excess dilution, and, if needed, follow with liquid stain remover or laundry pre-treat product before laundering as usual. Avoid scrubbing which will only spread the stain into an even larger area while driving it deeper into fabric fibers; although scrubbing may appear helpful at first glance, it only drives deeper into fabric or carpet fibers where stain remains unremoved.

4. Let It Dry

Ideally, it is best to allow the salty soda solution to completely dry before vacuuming up its residue. Although this may take a bit longer, the dried salt acts as an excellent deodorizer - leaving your couch smelling much fresher!

Home cleaning techniques that work for red wine also apply to protein and tannin stains. A multipurpose pre spot formula like those found in laundry detergent should help treat these spots before being washed off with water.

Amy Bates of Merry Maids franchise Amy Bates relies on this multi-prong approach for eliminating red wine stains on color-safe fabrics. First, use a clean rag to blot as much of the stain away before spraying or pouring (preferably cold!) hydrogen peroxide on it and after blotting again generously sprinkle salt over top for extra effect.

5. Vacuum Up the Paste

Red wine stains can also be effectively removed using store-bought stain remover. Simply apply an ample amount and wash as usual.

Hydrogen peroxide may offer another chemical option, but be careful as this could bleach fabric or carpet and leave an unsightly brown spot if used incorrectly (test it first on an inconspicuous area!).

To prevent that from happening, try mixing equal parts water and baking soda into a paste solution, which you then pour onto any red wine stains you find. When the surface dries up, vacuum up any paste remnants. Repeat as necessary until all red wine stains have been completely eliminated - especially carpets or upholstery where traditional methods tend to spread them further outwards. This solution especially works well on carpets where it can be difficult to get every last trace out! This works especially well.