First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the wine with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towels. Don't rub, which spreads it.
- Sponge with cool water, or club soda if you have it, then blot thoroughly.
- Optional: sprinkle table salt on a fresh spill right away to absorb some of it.
- Keep heat away, with no dryer, iron or hot air, until the stain is gone.
Granite handles plain water well, so fresh wine is mostly a matter of speed, since red wine is a tannin stain that resists removal more the longer it sits. Plain water and a soft cloth handle most fresh spills, so blot first and rinse before you reach for anything else. A stain that has already set needs a poultice, and some marks may never come out completely.
If you're trying to remove wine stains from granite countertops after it has dried, switch from rinsing to a poultice. Repeating the water rinse won't do much once the wine has set. If the red wine stain on granite still hasn't changed after several rounds, call a professional before you try anything harsher.
Before you start
What granite can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid1
- Scrubbing and abrasives
8 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white cloths or white paper towelsThey lift the wine without spreading it or leaving color behind. (opens Amazon)
- Soft clothFor drying and buffing the stone. (opens Amazon)
- Cool waterThe first sponge on a fresh spill.
- Club soda (optional)A fizzy alternative for the first sponge. (opens Amazon)
- 12% hydrogen peroxide (hair-lightening strength)The stronger treatment for a stain that has set. (opens Amazon)
- Ammonia, a few dropsAdded to the peroxide for an indoor stain. (opens Amazon)
- Powdered poultice material, distilled water, plastic wrap and tapeTo make and seal the poultice.
- 3% hydrogen peroxide (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot up the spill
Press a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel onto the wine and lift it away. Switch to fresh sections as they fill, and keep going until little or no wine comes up.
Step 2 of 6
Sponge with cool water
Dampen a clean cloth or sponge with cool water, or with club soda if you have it. Work from the outer edge toward the middle, then blot the area thoroughly.
Step 3 of 6
Rinse with plain water
Flush the area with plain water and rinse several times, blotting between rinses so the water doesn't sit on the stone. Plain water is all this stage needs.
Careful. Soap makes a tannin stain harder to remove, so leave it out even if you usually use it on counters.
Step 4 of 6
Dry the spot thoroughly
Dry the area with a soft cloth until no moisture is left, then check the spot in good light. A stain that is still visible needs another round of rinsing or the poultice.
Careful. Heat sets the stain, so keep the dryer, iron and hot air away until it is gone.
Step 5 of 6
Repeat the rinse and dry
If the wine still shows, sponge with cool water again and dry the spot as before. Repeat the cycle as necessary, and stop once the wine has stopped lifting.
Step 6 of 6
Check whether it has set
If the spot still shows after a few rounds, the wine has set and cleaning alone won't finish it. Move on to the peroxide poultice further down rather than scrubbing harder.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for red wine on granite
Keep a powdered poultice material, 12% hydrogen peroxide and plastic wrap on hand for the set-in step. Skip stone cleaners that contain acid for this stain.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on granite, 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
A clean spot leaves nothing on the cloth and looks the same as the stone around it once it's dry. If a faint shadow remains after drying, the stain has set and the peroxide poultice is the next step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your granite
Granite countertop
On a countertop you can't lift the item away, so work on the spot where it sits and keep the wine from running into the seams. Blot first, then sponge with cool water as in the main steps.
If the wine has set, the poultice takes the same 24 to 48 hours under plastic. Warm water is fine for routine cleaning of the counter afterward, but save the stronger methods for the stain itself.
Countertop spill
Wine that lands on a counter often gets wiped toward the edge, so blot from the outside in and keep the spill off the sink edge and the grout lines.
After the spot is clean, a warm-water wipe is the routine cleaning, and the poultice is the only step for a stain that stays.
Dried wine
Wine that has dried overnight or longer has had more time to soak in, so the quick steps are less likely to finish it. Go straight to the peroxide poultice rather than repeating the rinses again and again.
Give the poultice its full 24 to 48 hours under plastic before you judge the result. Repeat rounds of it are the only way to lighten the stain further.
Sink edge
The edge of the sink collects water, and wine that runs there can leave a dull ring on the stone. Blot and dry the sink edge right after a spill, and keep the poultice on the stain itself rather than along the edge.
If a dull area stays once the wine is gone, that calls for stone restoration rather than another round of cleaning. Work on the wine first, so you can see clearly what's left.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A wine stain that has dried for days has had time to soak into the stone, so the quick steps won't finish it. Start by cleaning the spot with 12% hydrogen peroxide (hair-lightening strength) and a few drops of ammonia, since this is the indoor treatment for organic stains.
For a poultice, mix a powdered poultice material with the 12% hydrogen peroxide solution until it forms a paste. Spread it 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, reaching about one inch past the stain, then cover it with plastic, tape the edges to seal it, and let it dry thoroughly, usually 24 to 48 hours.
Remove the poultice, rinse with distilled water, and buff dry with a soft cloth. If the stain is still there, repeat the poultice, which can take up to five applications for difficult stains. Some stains may never be completely removed, so a faint shadow can be the realistic result.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on red wine on granite?
Most home remedies come from fabric guides, and several of them don't belong on stone. Here is how each one fits red wine on granite, so you know which to skip.
Works1Helps2Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub with scouring powder or pads
Scouring powders, creams and scrub pads can scratch granite. Keep to a soft cloth and the methods above, which lift the wine without abrasion.
Don't mix bleach with ammonia
Chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia gives off a toxic, lethal gas. If you use bleach elsewhere in the kitchen, rinse each product out with plain water before the next one.
Don't use rust removers with hydrofluoric acid
Rust removers containing hydrofluoric acid attack granite and quartzite. If you have rust on the stone, call a specialist instead of reaching for a strong product.
Don't use improper cleaners on the sealer
Cleaners that aren't made for stone break down the sealer. Once the sealer is worn, the stone is less protected from the next spill.
When to call a professional
Call a stone supplier, installer or restoration specialist if the stain resists poulticing, or if you see deep rust or copper stains, deeper scratches, or etching you can't polish out. That is the point to stop trying at home.
Questions
Does red wine stain granite?
Yes, red wine can stain granite, and a fresh spill is the easiest to clear. Wine is a tannin stain, so it gets harder to lift the longer it sits. Blot it and sponge it with cool water right away.
Can an old wine mark be lifted for good?
It can be, but not usually on the first try. Some stains may never be completely removed, so a poultice is the best next step for an old one. It can take up to five applications before you decide it's permanent.
Does hot water help lift red wine from granite?
Warm water is used for routine counter cleaning, but the first sponge on a wine spill should be cool water. Hot water doesn't belong on the stain itself while it is still visible.
Do I need bleach to clear up wine from stone?
You don't need it. Skip bleach on stone; the peroxide poultice is the stronger option for a stain that has set.
How long does a poultice take to work?
Each poultice needs about 24 to 48 hours under plastic to dry thoroughly. After you remove it, you can repeat the application, which may take up to five applications for difficult stains.
Can rubbing alcohol remove red wine from granite?
No, skip it on granite. Use the cool-water steps first, then the peroxide poultice if the stain has set.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Red Wine on other materials
Other stains on granite
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.