Don't cry over spilled wine

Many of us are very afraid of red wine stains. But it shouldn't be that scary; most stains can be removed just fine.

If you spill red wine, the best you can do is act immediately. BUT take a breath first - in a panicky state you might just spill more wine... More to clean, less to drink, and very unnecessary.

If you are at home and you have stain removing liquid, just spread some stain removing liquid on the marks, chuck it in the washing machine and run a cold cycle. Be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle and also on the clothing label - some items are delicate and should be washed with care. You can also just use washing detergent, but it might not be as effective.

If you're not somewhere you can undress, or you don't have stain removing liquid, dab away the excess wine (do not rub!) and pour some salt on the marks. Wash as soon as you can, following the same method as above.

Now, DO NOT do the following:

- Don't use white wine. It can also stain.

- Don't rinse or wash using warm or hot water. Red stains turn blue.

- Don't use stain removing liquid if the label tells you not to. You'll end up with worse blotches.

- Don't wait for the marks to dry, even if you used salt. Wash as soon as you can.

So go ahead, relax, and have your glass of red without the worry - that's why you're having it in the first place, isn't it?

#wine #diy