How to Remove Liquor Stains: Tips and Guidelines

It might have been clumsiness, a slippery glass, or it could have been a party that just went on too long. Whatever the cause, now you are left with an unsightly stain on your favorite piece of furniture, memento or shirt. All is not lost; there are ways to save that item from the garbage bin.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Acetate, Burlap Felt, Fiberglass, Rayon,

Rope, Silk, Triacetate, Wool

Blot up any excess liquid. Flush (the method of applying stain remover to loosen staining materials and residue from stain removers) area with cool water. Apply a wet spotter and a few drops of white vinegar. Cover with an absorbent pad dampened with the wet spotter and let stand as long as any stain is being removed. Keep the stain and pad moist, changing the pad as it picks up the stain. Flush with cool water, blotting excess liquid with a clean absorbent pad. Dry thoroughly.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Acrylic Fabric, Cotton, Linen, Nylon,

Olefin, Polyester, Spandex

Sponge (the method of using light strokes with a dampened pad working outward from the center of the stain) stain promptly with cool water. If possible, presoak (the method of soaking in the washer or in a sink or tub before washing) the stain in cool water for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Work undiluted dishwashing or liquid laundry detergent into stain. Rinse well. Launder as soon as possible. Old or ironed-in stains may be impossible to remove.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Acrylic Plastic, Aluminum, Asphalt, Chromium,

Copper, Cork, Enamel, Glass, Iron, Ivory, Jade,

Linoleum, Paint/Flat, Paint/Gloss, Pearls, Platinum, Plexiglas, Polyurethane, Stainless Steel, Tin, Vinyl Clothing, Vinyl Tile, Vinyl Wallcovering, Zinc

Wipe spill immediately with a cloth or sponge moistened with warm sudsy water. Rinse well and wipe dry.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Alabaster, Marble

Wipe immediately and thoroughly with a damp cloth. If a stain remains, make a poultice of water, chlorine bleach, and a mild powder laundry detergent and put it on the stain. Cover with a damp cloth. Let it stand until the stain is bleached out. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Bamboo, Cane, Ceramic Glass/Tile, Gold

Wipe up spill immediately. Wash with a cloth dipped in a solution of warm water and mild pure soap with a few drops of ammonia added. Rinse with clear water and dry thoroughly.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Bluestone, Brick, Concrete, Flagstone, Granite, Limestone,

Masonry Tile, Sandstone, Slate, Terrazzo

Wipe spill immediately. Clean any residue with a solution of washing soda or all-purpose laundry detergent (do not use soap) and water. Rinse well. Allow to dry thoroughly.

In the next section, we'll look at how to remove liquor stains from carpet, wood, wallpaper and other surfaces.

How to Make Wet and Dry Spotters

Dry spotter:

To make a dry spotter, combine 1 part coconut oil (available at pharmacies and health food stores) and 8 parts liquid dry-cleaning solvent. This solution may be stored if the container is tightly capped to prevent evaporation of the solvent. Mineral oil may be substituted for the coconut oil, but is not quite as effective.

Caution: Dry-cleaning solvents are poisonous and may

be flammable.

Wet spotter:

To prepare a wet spotter, mix 1 part glycerine, 1 part white dishwashing detergent, and 8 parts water. Shake well before each use. Store wet spotter in a plastic squeeze bottle.

More on How to Remove Liquor Stains

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Brass, Bronze

Wipe up spill immediately. Wash with a cloth dipped in a solution of hot water and a mild soap. Rinse with clear water and wipe thoroughly dry.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Carpet/Synthetic, Carpet/Wool, Foam Rubber

After blotting up excess, apply Afta Carpet Stain Remover, Spot Shot Carpet Stain Remover, or Stain-X Carpet Stain Remover. An alternate technique is to blot up excess moisture, working from the outside of the spill inward. Spray with a rug shampoo or mix 1 teaspoon of a mild, non-alkali detergent in 1/2 pint lukewarm Water. Add a small amount to the stain and blot until no more is removed. Mix 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts lukewarm water. Apply a small amount of the mixture and blot to neutralize any of the remaining stain. Place an absorbent pad over the stained area and weight it down for several hours. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Fur/Natural, Fur/Synthetic

For quick spot removal, use Afta Spot Remover Wipes, disposable cleaning cloths. Or, blot up spill immediately with a clean dry cloth. Try to prevent the hide or backing from getting wet. Mix dishwashing detergent in hot water and swish to make a great volume of suds. Dip a cloth in only the foam and gently rub with the nap. Rinse with another cloth dipped in clear water and wrung nearly dry. Allow to air dry away from heat.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Grout

Wipe spill immediately. This should be all that is needed, but if the sealer on the grout is gone or old, try dipping a wet toothbrush into a little powdered cleanser. Gently scrub. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Leather, Suede

Blot up spill immediately. On leather, spray on Tannery Vintage Leather Cleaner & Conditioner. Or mix a solution of mild soap in lukewarm water. Swish to make a great volume of suds. Apply only the suds to suede or leather with a slightly damp cloth. Rub gently, but with vigor. Rub dry with a clean cloth. On leather only, condition with Tannery or Fiebing's Saddle Soap.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Silver

Wipe up excess immediately. Wash silver in hot sudsy water with a soft cloth. Rinse well in clear hot water. Wipe dry immediately to prevent tarnish.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Wallpaper

Blot up excess immediately. Wipe stained area very gently with clear warm water (do not use detergent or soap) without over-wetting the paper. Strokes should overlap or wall may become streaked. Carefully pat dry.

Remove Liquor Stains From:

Wood

Wipe up spill immediately. Rub stained area with a liquid or paste wax, boiled linseed oil, or a cloth dampened in water and a few drops of ammonia. Rewax the stained area.

At your next party, have the above stain removal tips handy so you won't be singing the blues when it's all over.