Red Wine Spill in Chichester — How eXteam Cleaning Saved the Carpet

It was a Saturday evening in Chichester when we got the call. A family in the PO19 area had just had guests round for dinner — and a full glass of red wine was now soaking deep into their cream living room carpet. To make things worse, more guests were arriving the following afternoon. They needed a rescue.

The Problem: Deep Red Wine on a Cream Carpet

By the time we arrived, the wine had been sitting for several hours. The homeowner had already tried blotting it with cold water and dabbing it with washing-up liquid — which had spread the stain slightly and pushed it further into the fibres. Red wine contains natural tannins and pigments that bond quickly to carpet fibres, especially on light-coloured pile. On a cream carpet, it was painfully visible — a deep crimson patch roughly 30cm across.

The washing-up liquid hadn't helped either. Soap residue left in carpet fibres attracts more dirt over time and can interfere with professional cleaning solutions. We see this pattern regularly across Chichester and West Sussex.

What We Did — Step by Step

Our first step was a careful pre-inspection. We assessed the depth of the stain, checked the carpet backing, and confirmed the pile type before touching anything.

We applied a specialist enzyme-based pre-treatment solution, designed to break down the tannin molecules in red wine at a molecular level. We gave it several minutes to dwell before starting the extraction.

Using our professional Hot Water Extraction machine, we flushed the area thoroughly — working from the outer edge of the stain inward to prevent further spreading. A second pass with a stain neutraliser lifted the remaining pigment, and a final extraction pass removed all cleaning solution and residual moisture.

Total time on-site: just under 90 minutes.

The Result — Gone, Completely

The stain was gone. Not faded — gone. The carpet looked and smelled completely fresh. The homeowner stood in the doorway and just stared before breaking into a huge smile.

We applied a fast-dry treatment and left a fan running. By the following morning, everything was bone dry. The guests arrived, the house looked immaculate, and nobody was any the wiser.

If you're in Chichester, Selsey, Bognor Regis, or anywhere across West Sussex and you've had a spill — don't panic, and please don't scrub. Call eXteam Cleaning as soon as possible. The sooner we arrive, the better the result. We offer carpet cleaning in Chichester and the PO19 area regularly, with same or next-day appointments often available.

Quick Tip: Before we arrive, blot (don't rub) the stain gently with a clean white cloth to absorb as much liquid as possible — then leave it alone. Avoid washing-up liquid, carpet foam, or hot water. These can set the stain and make our job harder.