Red wine stains will break down seconds with 1 item - not baking soda or vinegar

If you have ever been enjoying a glass of red wine only to drip some of it on your shirt or spill it on the carpet, then you know the panic that takes over. You dash around trying to find anything that will get the stain out.

From baking soda, to seltzer water all the way through to expensive custom carpet cleaner, many wine lovers have tried everything to remove stains. However, according to John Kelliher, Co-Founder of Grapeline Wine Tours, there is one thing that will eliminate these stubborn stains better than anything else.

He said: "After two decades of wine tours and seeing every possible spill scenario, I've found that the fastest way to stop a red wine stain from setting is actually white wine.

"It doesn't magically erase the stain, but the liquid helps dilute the red wine before it has a chance to bind tightly to the fabric. That early dilution makes it much easier for proper cleaning agents to do their job later."

White wine contains acids that can neutralise the compounds in red wine, essentially breaking down the very chemicals that cause the staining.

John said: "White wine has the perfect pH level to counteract red wine's staining properties.

"The acids in white wine dilute the pigments and prevent them from setting permanently into the fabric."

One thing you should never do is pour boiling water on the stain which essentially cooks the stain into the fabric.

Club soda might provide some dilution, but it lacks the acid content needed to neutralise red wine's staining compounds effectively.

However, milk can work as the proteins in the milk can help lift the stain - just make sure it gets a thorough wash or it will start to smell like off milk.

The best thing you can do is act fast.

John said: "The biggest mistake I see people make is waiting too long to act. Even with the best techniques, a stain that's been sitting for hours is going to be much harder to remove than one you tackle immediately.

"The white wine method has saved countless shirts, tablecloths, and even car seats during our tours. It's become such a reliable solution that our guides always keep a bottle of cheap white wine specifically for spill emergencies."