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No Stain, No Gain . . .

Greetings again, Newt Fans! Since I am new to blogging, I was elated to receive my first-ever response this week. I must say, though, I was equally surprised at the subject. Carol in Cheboygan writes: "How do you manage to get the wine stains out of your t-shirt?" Great question, Carol!

There are certainly a slew of products on the market claiming to remove wine stains, and I have probably tried them all. The real answer is that since I am usually covered from head to toe in wine here in the cellar, I try to wear as much black as possible, and not worry about it. Think of it as a practical stain-covering approach, as well as an hommage to the late, great Johnny Cash.

Unfortunately, I suppose we can't get away with this all the time. I recall many a time in public when I rushed to the bathroom after spilling Cabernet on my shirt, screaming, "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" like Lady MacBeth in Act 5. What to do then? Like any stain, timing is everything. Hot water alone will usually do the trick if treated immediately - remembering to always blot, never rub. Oxiclean works nicely on clothes if the stain has dried, or basically the same thing, hydrogen peroxide and water.

But what about everyone's favorite party nightmare, a full glass of red wine spilled on white carpet? Even though the host probably deserves a nice stain for not choosing to serve white wine on white carpet, there are a few weapons you can politely choose from your cleanup arsenal. If Oxiclean is not available (which also works marginally well on carpet), try a baking soda/water paste to lift the color, then warm water and detergent. Some people swear that adding white wine removes red wine. Be careful with this one, though, because with time white wine will turn brown if not completely removed. Last, but certainly not least, is my all-time favorite: Wine Away. This stuff works, folks - clothes, carpet, upholstry - you name it. They make a purse-size bottle that I keep in the car at all times. I have a yellow Lab at home who loves wine, and this product is 100% pet safe, too, just in case she attempts to help with the clean-by-licking method.

That's how I deal with the wine that doesn't make it from glass to mouth. If you have any tips you'd like to share, please let me know. Thanks for the great question, Carol, and keep 'em coming!