We all know that red wine stains leather. But what about white wine? Does it have the same effect? Let’s find out!
Although white wine will not stain your leather immediately, it will cause discoloration, watermark stain, or leave a sticky residue on your leather. This is because the tannins in white wine are more acidic and they can break down the natural oils in your leather causing a stain.
If you do spill white wine on your leather, be sure to clean it up right away! Use a damp cloth to blot the liquid, then follow up with a leather cleaner.
Last but not least, remember that all wine will stain your leather eventually! If you want to avoid stains altogether, use coasters to protect your furniture.
For the rest of this article, I will share with you more details on why white is able to stain leather, how to clean it up, and some preventative measures you can take.
What Is White Wine Made Of?
As you may know, red wine is made from the dark-purple skin of grapes, but white wine comes exclusively from the grape’s flesh.
The pulp or “must” that remains after this process contains high levels of natural sugars and acids, which are what help give wines their color.
These acidic chemicals also help create tannins, which are the compounds that give the wine its bitter flavor.
Why White Wine Stains Leather?
There are a few reasons why white wine can stain the leather.
1. White Wine Is Acidic
The first reason why white wine will stain leather is that it’s acidic. Just like red wine, white contains high levels of tannins and acids that help give it color and flavor.
These compounds are what cause discoloration over time by breaking down the natural oils in your leather furniture.
Grapes as we all know contain high levels of sugar and acids. So, in the manufacturing process for white wine, these attributes are intensified to give it its unique flavor profile that we all love.
This however will cause a wine to gradually break down the natural oils in leather over time and cause discoloration.
2. White Wine Stains Trap Dirt
Another reason why white wine can stain leather is that the tannins in it create a sticky surface.
This means that any dirt or dust that comes into contact with the wine will be more likely to stick and not come off easily.
This is one of the reasons why red wine is notorious for staining porous surfaces such as carpets and furniture.
This means that when you have whine stains on your leather items you will have staining that will not only come from the wine itself but from the accumulation of dirt around the wine.
Usually, the stain you have on your leather will be a combination of both wine and dirt stains but the good news is, these types of stains are easy to get rid of.
3. White Wine Contains Natural Colorants
White wine also contains natural colorants that can also leave a slight discoloration or stain on the surface of your leather items.
The white wine itself can leave a slight yellow or brown stain when it is allowed to dry on the surface of the leather.
Also, the tannins in the wine will bind with these colorants and create a dark brown or black mark on your leather furniture or jacket.
In some instances, the white wine can also seep deep into the leather fibers to react with the tanning agents in the leather to create a permanent stain if proper care is not given to the leather.
Over time, these marks will become more pronounced as the tannins continue to break down the natural oils in your leather.
Are White Wine Stains Hard To Remove From Leather?
How hard or easy it is to clean white wine stains from leather depends on how long the white wine has been on the surface.
Typically, removing white wine stains from leather is much easier than removing red wine stains.
If the stains are fresh, you should be able to remove them with mild soap and water or even just your fingers.
But, if the white wine stains have been on for an extended period of time it will require some more effort to get rid of them completely.
This becomes a challenge because the tannins in the wine will have already started to break down the natural oils in your leather and cause it to become dry, brittle, and cracked.
In these cases, you might need to use a commercial leather cleaner or a specialized home remedy to restore the condition of your leather item.
How To Clean White Wine Stains From Leather
Since there are several types of leather I going to share with you how to remove white wine stains from different types of leather so that no matter what type of leather items you have, they will be easy to treat.
How To Clean White Wine Stains From Leather, Patent Leather, And Faux Leather (Using Dish Soap)
Here we will discuss how to clean white wine stains from regular smooth, finished, unfinished leather, faux, or patent leather.
These types of leather are used for all leather goods such as shoes, jackets, belts, and furniture.
These types of leather are very easy to clean when you have a white wine stain on them especially if the spill has been fresh or recent.
However, if you have old white wine stains on your leather it is still possible to clean it without a lot of effort – especially if you follow this cleaning method.
Using mild dish soap is not only easy and safe it is also very effective in removing white wine stains from any type of leather except suede and nubuck.
Here are the steps to follow to clean white wine stains from leather using mild dish soap and some warm water;
Things Needed:
- Mild Dish Soap
- Microfiber Cloth
- Paper Towels
Procedure:
Step 1:
- Start by blotting as much as you can of the white wine stain with a paper towel.
- You want to get as much of the wine off the surface of the leather as possible before you start to clean it.
- You will not be able to do this step if the wine stain is old.
Step 2:
- Put a tablespoon of dish soap into a bowl of warm water and mix it together to create a soapy solution.
- If you are using a spray bottle, you can add the dish soap directly to the bottle and then fill it with water.
Step 3:
- Once your cleaning solution is ready, dip a microfiber cloth into the bowl or spray the solution directly on to the white wine stain.
- Let the solution sit on the stain for about 30 seconds to a minute for the soap solution to dissolve the white wine stain.
- Due to the soap solution being warm, it will break down any sticky or gummy residue the white wine may have left over the leather surface.
Step 4:
- Gently rub the microfiber cloth in a circular motion over the stain to help lift it up.
- Continue to rinse the microfiber in the soap solution and re-apply it to the stain as needed until the stain is gone.
- If the stain is old, you might have to repeat these steps at least one more time to completely remove it.
Step 5:
- Once all of the stains are gone, dampen your microfiber with clean water and use it to clean all soap and white wine residue from the leather.
- Be sure to remove all soap residue and follow up by drying the surface with a clean dry cloth.
Step 6: (Optional)
- With the execption of faux leather and patent leather, you would want toapply a leather conditioner to your leather at this point.
- This will help restore any lost oils the white wine seeped out of the leather or leather oils stripped off due to the cleaning process.
Step 7:
- Now leave your leather to thoroghly air dry before wearing, sitting, or putting it to use. You can now enjoy your clean leather item without worrying about it getting stained again.
How To Clean White Wine Stains From Suede And Nubuck (Using Rubbing Alcohol)
Suede and nubuck are generally a lot more delicate than other types of leather and as such, they require a different cleaning method when it comes to removing white wine stains.
Using rubbing alcohol is one of the best ways to clean white wine stains from suede and nubuck because it does not leave any residue behind nor does rubbing alcohol linger on the surface of the suede leather after it has done its job.
It quickly evaporates leaving the suede leather nice and clean. Here are the steps to follow when cleaning white wine stains from suede or nubuck using rubbing alcohol;
Things Needed:
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Cotton Balls
- Paper Towels
Procedure:
Step 1:
- Start by blotting as much of the white wine stain with a paper towel.
- You want to get as much of the wine off the surface of the suede or nubuck before you start to clean it.
- As stated before you will not be able to do this step if the wine stain is old.
Step 2:
- Spritz some rubbing alcohol onto your cotton ball and then start dabbing at the white wine stain.
- Do not rub the cotton against the suede or nubuck as it will cause the dye to come off and stain your cotton ball.
- You want to dab at it until the wine comes up on the cotton ball.
Step 3:
- Repeat steps one and two until the white wine stain is gone.
- Once all of the stains are gone, use a clean paper towel to blot the area dry.
Step 4:
- Once your suede leather is free from the white wine stain, apply your suede spray protector to keep it safe from any future spills.
Important Tips To Remember When Cleaning White Wine Stain From Leather
Now let’s quickly go over some tips to keep in mind when cleaning white wine stains from leather:
- If the stain is still wet, use a paper towel to blot it as much as possible.
- Do not use any harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions when trying to remove the white wine stain from leather as it can damage the surface.
- If you are not able to remove the white wine stain using any of the methods provided, it is best to purchase a leather cleaner like the ones made by Chemical Guys or Leather Honey.
- Make sure to condition your leather after it has been cleaned in order to restore any lost oils.
- Always test a small, inconspicuous area of the leather before starting any cleaning process to avoid any damage.
- Never clean suede stained with white wine using water as it will only cause the dye to run and make the stain worse.
- Using rubbing alcohol is the best way to clean white wine stains from suede and nubuck.
- If the white wine stain is set in, you will need to purchase a leather cleaner like those found at a hardware store.
- Apply a suede protector after you have cleaned the suede to keep it safe from any future spills.
That’s it! You have now successfully cleaned white wine stains from your leather item.
Important Tips On How To Prevent White Wine Stains On Leather
As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. And the same thing applies when it comes to preventing white wine stains on leather items, especially leather furniture.
There are a few things you can do to prevent your leather furniture from getting stained by white wine:
- Place a coaster or placemat under all glasses and bottles of wine when serving. -This will minimize the chances of any liquid spilling over and staining the surface.
- Make sure to wipe up any spills as soon as they occur using a clean, absorbent cloth.
- If the spill is large or if it has already set in, use a leather cleaner to clean the affected area.
- Apply a suede protector after cleaning to further protect your furniture from any future spills.
By following these simple tips, you can help prevent any nasty white wine stains from ruining your leather furniture.
Final Thoughts
This was such an awesome article to write. I went through why white wine stains leather, how to clean it, and also some preventative tips. I really hope you all found this helpful!
Check out other articles on the website. Thanks for reading! 🙂
