Last Sunday I dribbled some communion wine on my almost brand new ruffle and lace blouse. I soaked it in cold water with some success, but not enough. It dried to a light blue stain (a little lighter than the blue smilies on here). How do I get that out? I can’t bleach it because it’s synthetic. I’ve heard that detergent and set some stains. Help?!
Once washed and dried, I think you may be out of luck. At this point I’d take it to a good cleaner/dry cleaner and see what they can do.
What specific fibers is the shirt made of?
I don’t know, and I am at work and can’t look.
Good suggestion!
If all else fails, I heard an interesting tip about coffee stains once. If you can’t get the stain out, and the blouse is ruined otherwise, soak the whole thing in coffee. (Or in your case, the blood of Christ.) In essence, you’re dyeing the whole thing to match the stain.
I’ll admit, I’ve never actually tried it. I like it as an outside-the-box sort of solution; always been kinda curious if it works. I don’t know if you’d have any use for a light blue, ruffle and lace blouse, but as a last resort it couldn’t hurt to try.
Another helpful tip, you can use red wine to remove seltzer stains.
For wine, I use vinegar. Soak the item in vinegar (well, diluted vinegar in water) for a day, and then wash. You can also try Potassium Metabisulfate which is commonly used by vintners.
Thanks for all the ideas. Headed home and will stop at the grocery store to see what they have as well. I really want to save this blouse.
Oh, and don’t forget Wine Away. This might just be pre-mixed Potassium Metabisulfate.
Do NOT use vinegar if the fabric contains nylon. If the fabric is nylon this may set the dye permanently!! You are effectively creating a dyeing process called “acid dying”; the acid allows the dye to “strike” or be fully absorbed into the fiber (as opposed to marking the surface which is what a stain is). This is permanent on nylon and animal fibers (not cotton or other synthetics).
Of course, it probably doesn’t matter because most wine is acid enough to strike on its own. But the vinegar will not help in the least on nylon; it facilitates the uptake of the color into the fiber.
Dishwashing detergent applied directly on a stain and rubbed into the fibers can be surprisingly effective at getting them out of clothes - especially grease stains.
Didn’t know that. Thanks, I’ve only used this on natural fibers-- don’t own any shirts or pants made from Nylon.
Well, I decided to try the cheapest method first, vinegar, not knowing what Hello Again said. It worked! I picked up some detergent booster as well at the grocery store. Didn’t end up having to use it. I was fully prepared to stop by the local dry cleaners for their solution as well.
I swear, vinegar is the best and cheapest all around multi-purpose thing to have on hand. I already use it in laundry because it really freshens up smelly bath towels (if you can’t use bleach). Cleans scum out of stuff, is an ingredient in homemade glass cleaner. Love it.
Thanks everyone.
Like dissolves like, as the saying go, and vinegar is just wine gone bad.
First laugh of the day. Thanks!
You could have used white wine, and I’ve had some whites that I wouldn’t use for anything else 
, but vinegar is cheaper…
Excellent! I should have thought of trying white vinegar because I also use it as a general-purpose cleaner and laundry softener.
It’s also AWESOME for neutralizing pet urine odor, by the way.
Now if it would remove AND sanitize dog puke, I’d be the happiest girl on the planet.
It does, actually.