First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the wine with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towels, and don't rub.
- Sponge with cool water, or club soda if you have it, then blot dry.
- On a fresh spill, sprinkle table salt on it right away to draw some of the wine out.
Red wine on concrete is a tannin stain, and time works against you here, since a mark that has been drying for a while lifts less easily. Older accumulated stains call for stronger methods with more risk of damage to the surface, so the age of the mark shapes how hard you work at it. If the surface has a water repellent or an unknown treatment, that can get in the way of cleaning.
Check for a sealer first, since that decides how hard you can push on red wine stain on concrete. Once you know what's on the surface, an oxygen bleach powder is the product to reach for on a wine stain that has dried in. If the mark is old and won't lift, stop scrubbing and call a pro before you damage the surface.
Before you start
What concrete, brick & driveways can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
7 items
What you'll need
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- Washing (sal) SodaMakes the cleaning solution: 1 teaspoon per 1 quart of warm water.
- Clean white cloths or paper towelsBlot up the wine without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Table saltDraws some of a fresh spill out of the concrete. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff non-metal brushWorks the solution into the stain without leaving metal marks. (opens Amazon)
- Talc, whiting or fuller's earthMakes a poultice for stains that have dried in. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic sheetingCovers a poultice so it stays moist for 24 hours. (opens Amazon)
- Club soda (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Blot up the spill
Press a clean, dry white cloth or paper towels onto the wine to lift the liquid. Don't rub, because rubbing spreads the stain across the concrete. If the spill is fresh, sprinkle table salt over it right away, let it draw out some of the wine, then sweep it up.
Step 2 of 5
Sponge with cool water or club soda
Sponge the stain promptly with cool water, or with club soda if you have it. Blot thoroughly after each pass so you're lifting the wine rather than pushing it around.
Tip. Work from the outside edge of the stain toward the middle so it doesn't spread.
Step 3 of 5
Wet the concrete first
Saturate the area with plain water before you add any cleaning solution. Keep it wet, so the concrete doesn't soak up the solution before it can work.
Step 4 of 5
Scrub with washing soda solution
Mix 1 teaspoon of Washing (sal) Soda into 1 quart of warm water, then work it into the stain with a stiff non-metal brush. Keep the area wet while you scrub, and don't let the solution dry on the surface.
Careful. Don't rub bar soap or natural soap into the stain. Natural soap makes tannin stains harder to remove.
Step 5 of 5
Rinse and let it air dry
Rinse the whole area thoroughly with plain water so no cleaner is left behind. Let it air dry, then check the spot in good light.
Tip. If a faint shadow remains, move on to the poultice rather than repeating the washing soda solution over and over.
Careful. Heat from a dryer, iron or hot air sets red wine, so keep it away until the stain is completely gone.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for red wine on concrete, brick & driveways
A stain-specific cleaner made for concrete or masonry is a better bet than a homemade mix for deep stains. Check the ingredient list for soap, which makes tannin stains harder to remove.
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on concrete, brick & driveways, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain is gone when the concrete looks the same color as the area around it, even while it's still damp. A faint shadow that stays after it dries usually means the wine has set, so move to the poultice instead of scrubbing harder.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your concrete, brick & driveways
Concrete
Unsealed concrete takes the steps above as written, so the main job is keeping the surface damp. Work in small patches, so the washing soda solution never sits long enough to dry.
The stain may look darker while it's wet, so judge it only once the area has fully dried. Repeat the cleaning only if the mark is still clearly visible.
Sealed concrete
A sealer or water repellent can bead the solution and keep it from reaching the stain. If water beads on the surface, test a small hidden patch first.
Call a professional if the treatment gets in the way of cleaning, since the sealer may need to be dealt with before any stain can lift.
Dried wine
A stain that dried before you got to it skips the washing soda and goes straight to a poultice. Old, dark spots that have been there for a while follow the same route.
Repeat the poultice rather than scrubbing harder. Check the spot once it's dry and scraped off before deciding on another round.
Stone edging or pavers
A fresh spill on stone can be sponged with plain water while you check what the stone is. Stone and concrete don't always respond the same way to the same cleaner.
For the stone itself, the Marble & Natural Stone guide covers the right products and steps.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A stain that has dried into the concrete needs a poultice rather than more wiping. Mix talc, whiting, fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth or clay with a solvent suited to the stain into a paste, then spread it at least 1/8 inch thick over the stain.
Cover it with plastic and leave it for 24 hours, then let it dry and scrape or brush it off. Repeat as needed, and check the spot after each round.
Stain-specific cleaners made for masonry are a better choice than homemade mixes, so try one of those before you mix your own. Older, accumulated stains need stronger methods that carry more risk of damage to the concrete, so partial removal is a realistic outcome.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on red wine on concrete, brick & driveways?
Plenty of household remedies get suggested for wine, but many are meant for fabric. Here's where each one stands on concrete and whether it made it into the steps.
Works2Helps3Skip3
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Baking soda + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's label says not to mix it with other household chemicals.
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Don't use or store the mixture and don't seal it in a bottle. Open windows and leave the room if you notice fumes, coughing, eye or throat irritation. Rinse it away with plenty of water once the area is ventilated. If anyone has symptoms or swallowed it, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use poison.org.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub with a wire brush
Wire or metal brushes damage the surface and can leave rusting particles behind. A stiff non-metal brush does the job without leaving metal flecks in the concrete.
Don't pressure wash the stain
Pressure above 800 psi erodes the surface and can damage it for good. Plain water and the brush are gentler and work just as well on a fresh stain.
Don't reach for muriatic acid
Unbuffered muriatic (hydrochloric) acid and hydrofluoric acid cause further stains and acid burn. They also damage mortar joints, so the steps above are the safer route.
Don't mix bleach with ammonia or acids
Chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia gives off a toxic, dangerous gas, and mixing it with vinegar or rubbing alcohol is also hazardous. Rinse each product out with plain water before you use the next one.
Don't sandblast the concrete
Abrasive blasting can permanently remove the surface, erode the joints and increase water penetration. A poultice is the gentler route for a deep stain.
When to call a professional
Call a professional if the concrete has a sealer that interferes with cleaning, or if the stain is old and deep and won't come out after a poultice. Unknown treatments can be sampled and sent to a testing laboratory before you try anything stronger.
Questions
Does red wine stain concrete?
Yes, red wine can stain concrete, and it gets harder to lift the longer it sits. Blot it right away, then follow the steps above before it dries.
Can I use salt on a red wine spill?
Yes, on a fresh spill. Sprinkle table salt on it right away to absorb some of the wine, then blot it up before you start cleaning.
Is it too late if the wine has dried?
Not necessarily, but it's harder to lift. Use a poultice spread at least 1/8 inch thick, covered with plastic for 24 hours.
How long does a poultice stay on?
A poultice stays on for 24 hours under plastic. Let it dry, scrape or brush it off, then check the spot and repeat as needed.
What if the stain is still there after washing?
A faint mark left after rinsing and drying usually means the wine has set into the surface. Move to the poultice instead of repeating the washing soda solution over and over.
Can I use oxygen bleach on concrete?
It can lift tannin stains like coffee and tea, so it's a possible backup. Patch-test any oxygen bleach on a hidden area first, because it might discolor the concrete.
Red Wine on other materials
Other stains on concrete, brick & driveways
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.