First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot, don't rub: press a dry white cloth onto the wine.
- Sponge promptly with cool water or club soda, then blot.
- On a fresh spill, sprinkle table salt on it to absorb some of the wine.
- Keep heat away, including dryers and hot air, until the stain is gone.
Red wine on glass is a tannin stain, colored by plant pigment, and it lifts most easily while it's still wet. Once it dries on the rim or in the bottom of a decanter, the same stain can need several rounds of washing, and some old stains won't respond at all. Keep the scrubbing light and expect to repeat the process if the stain is old.
Keep your pressure light when you clean wine stained glasses, since heavy scrubbing is the mistake most people make. Crystal glass takes the same gentle approach, so skip anything abrasive when you remove red wine stains from crystal glass. Finish with a microfiber cloth, and if the glass is still marked after a few rounds, the stain may be too old for home methods.
Before you start
What glass, windows & mirrors can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care7
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
9 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white cloth or white paper towelsLifts the wine without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Cool water or club sodaThe first sponge on fresh wine. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dish soap with no soap in its ingredientsWashes the glass without making the tannin harder to lift. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaA gentle cleanser for faint marks. (opens Amazon)
- Soft clothWashes and scrubs without scratching. (opens Amazon)
- A plastic or nylon pad (opens Amazon)
- Table salt (optional)Absorbs some of a fresh spill. (opens Amazon)
- Cellulose sponge (opens Amazon)
- Non-abrasive cleanser (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot up the wine first
Press a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towels onto the wine to lift the liquid. Don't rub, because rubbing spreads the stain over a wider area of the glass. On a fresh spill, sprinkle table salt on the wine first to absorb some of it, then blot the salt away.
Step 2 of 6
Sponge with cool water or club soda
Dampen a cloth with cool water, or with club soda if you have it, and sponge the stain promptly. Keep blotting until no wine transfers to the cloth, and don't let the wine dry on the surface.
Step 3 of 6
Wash in warm detergent water
Wash the glass with a mild dish soap that is a detergent with no soap in its ingredients, warm water and a soft cloth, covering the whole surface. Rinse your cloth often so it isn't spreading wine back onto the glass.
Careful. Keep the water warm, not hot. A sudden temperature change can break glass.
Step 4 of 63 to 5 minutes
Use a gentle cleanser on faint marks
If a faint mark is still there, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe the spot gently. For a heavier mark, use a non-abrasive cleanser and let it dwell for 3 to 5 minutes per the package directions before wiping, using only a plastic or nylon pad if you need to scrub.
Careful. Use no metal or other hard objects on glass, and test any new cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area first.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse out every product
Rinse thoroughly with clean water after each cleaner, including the baking soda, so no residue is left on the glass. Keep rinsing until the surface feels clean and no soapy film remains.
Step 6 of 6
Let it air dry away from heat
Let the glass air dry, and keep it away from dryers, hot air and any other heat until the wine is completely gone. Check it in good light, and if a shadow remains, repeat the washing and rinsing.
Careful. Don't set a hot glass on a countertop, metal surface or in the sink.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for red wine on glass, windows & mirrors
Choose a mild detergent and check its ingredients for soap before you buy. Plain baking soda is enough for the gentle cleanser.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
e-cloth General Purpose Cloth
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on glass, windows & mirrors, 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 wine should lift onto the cloth as you blot, and the glass should look clear and bright with no dull film. If a shadow still shows once the glass is dry and in good light, repeat the washing and rinsing before you try anything else.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your glass, windows & mirrors
Glass decanter
A decanter follows the same sequence as a glass, but its narrow neck makes the stain harder to reach. Blot the wine from the outside first, then sponge the inside with cool water or club soda as far as your hand can reach.
Wash the inside with a mild detergent and warm water, swirling the water around to reach the stain. Rinse until no soapy residue is left in the decanter.
Wine glasses
Hold each glass by the bowl rather than the stem while you wash and wipe it. Blot the rim first, then sponge the stain with cool water or club soda before washing.
If a faint ring is left on the rim, give it a light pass with the gentle cleanser from the washing step, then rinse it well. Dry the glass in the open air, away from heat.
Crystal glass
Crystal is still glass, so the same blot, rinse and wash steps apply without change. Keep the water warm rather than hot, and use only a mild detergent and a soft cloth on the cut surfaces.
If the stain sits in a cut pattern, rinse thoroughly and check it in good light before deciding it needs another wash. Scrub only with a plastic or nylon pad, and never with anything harder.
Ceramic mugs and dishes
Ceramic follows the same blot and wash steps, with a non-abrasive cleanser and a plastic or nylon pad for any scrubbing. The one change is that ceramic should not soak or stand in water for long, so wash it quickly and rinse it right away.
For a full look at mugs and dishware, see the Dishes & Mugs guide.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Wine that has sat on glass for a while is harder to lift than a fresh spill, so start with the same blot and warm wash. Give the washing step a bit more contact time before you scrub.
If the wine has dried on, sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge and wipe the mark gently. Rinse thoroughly afterwards, and keep the glass away from heat until it is clear.
Once heat has set a red wine stain, removal may not be possible. If a mark is still there after this, stop and don't reach for harsher products, since a professional cleaner is the safer next step.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on red wine on glass, windows & mirrors?
Some home remedies do lift red wine, but most of them aren't needed on glass. Cool water or club soda, then warm detergent water, handle wine on glass without anything extra.
Works4Helps1Skip3
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub bar soap into the stain
Bar soap and natural soap make tannin stains harder to remove, so keep them away from red wine. Check that your liquid detergent has no soap in its ingredient list before you use it on the glass.
Don't use fluorine cleaners on glass
Cleaners with fluorine compounds damage glass, ceramic and stone. Read the ingredient list before you buy anything for this job.
Don't mix your cleaners
Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar, other acids or rubbing alcohol, because bleach plus ammonia gives off toxic fumes. Rinse each product out with plain water before you move to the next one.
Don't let the wine dry on the glass
Wine that dries on glass becomes harder to lift, so sponge it promptly with cool water or club soda. A quick response makes the rest of the job much easier.
When to call a professional
If a mark stays after several washes and rinses, stop before trying harsher products on the glass. A professional who cleans glassware can advise on the best option for a piece you value.
Questions
Does red wine stain glass?
Yes, red wine can leave a stain on glass because it is a tannin stain colored by plant pigment. Blot it right away, then wash the glass with a mild detergent and warm water.
Can I use bleach on red wine on glass?
No, skip chlorine bleach on glass. If you ever use it, it is the very last step, after everything has been rinsed out.
Is hot water better for removing wine from glass?
No. Use warm water instead, because sudden temperature changes can crack glass. Warm water with a mild detergent lifts the wine without the risk.
Will the same steps work on a crystal decanter?
Yes, the same blot, wash and rinse steps work for a decanter and for crystal. Reach the inside with cool water or club soda, and scrub only with a plastic or nylon pad.
Do I need club soda to remove wine from glass?
No. Cool water works well for the first sponge, and club soda is only an option if you have it. Blot until no wine transfers, then move on to the wash.
What if the wine has already dried on the glass?
Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe the mark gently. Rinse thoroughly, keep the glass away from heat, and check it in good light.
Can I clean wine glasses without a dishwasher?
Yes. Blot the wine, sponge the stain with cool water or club soda, then wash by hand with a mild detergent and warm water. Rinse well and let the glass air dry away from heat.
Red Wine on other materials
Other stains on glass, windows & mirrors
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.