The Best Ways to Remove Red Stains, Just in Time for Valentine’s Day

UPDATED January 23, 2026 | Seasonal, Cleaning Tips, Innovation

We love Valentine’s Day. Between the cards, the flowers and the candy hearts, we love the holiday of love, but there are some things we don’t love about Valentine’s Day and that is red stains. Between the red wine and the chocolate covered strawberries, you may be left with more red stains than you bargained for this Valentine’s Day. Here are some tips on how to easily remove all of those stubborn red stains.

Note about red stains and all stains in general: The sooner you can pre-treat the stain the better the chances you have of removing the stains from your clothing garments.

How to remove red stains and chocolate stains from floors

Spills happen, which is why we make sure to keep the H2prO Flat Mop on hand. This small but powerful mop is perfect for quickly wiping up kitchen messes and is always ready to go.

Why H2prO?

The H2prO mop features 100% separation of clean and dirty water – which means you’re always cleaning with clean water and never putting dirty water back on your floor.

It’s all possible due to a two-tank system: first, wet your mop pad with clean water in the first tank. Then, wring the dirty water out into the bottom tank. For a superior clean, add up to 2 tsp of your favorite cleaner to the water tank.

Small size, big clean

The H2prO system is small enough to fit under your sink – and only weighs 5 lbs when filled with water… making it easy to grab and clean! The H2prO effortlessly wipes up tough stains of all types.

Use it on your floors and all hard-surfaces in your homes, including cabinets, walls, and baseboards. No surface is safe from stubborn red stains.

Cleaning tip: Stock up on mop pads so you’re always prepared

The H2prO Flat Mop features machine-washable and reusable mop pads. When you’re finished cleaning, toss them into the washing machine, air dry and use again!

Choosing H2prO over a mop with disposable pads can save over $50 annually in cleaning costs.*

Bonus tip: Sweep up glitter with O-Cedar Flex & Catch ✨

Maybe you went all out on handmade cards, sparkly décor, or a last-minute craft fueled by love. Valentine’s Day magic is sweet—but it does tend to shed a little glitter everywhere. Clean it up fast so the only thing sparkling tonight is your Valentine.

The O-Cedar Flex & Catch Duster is your confetti conqueror. This flexible duster captures up to 3x more dust than a traditional feather duster and its patented, flexible head easily wraps around objects (including those covered in glitter).

How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Clothing

Nothing pairs better with Valentine’s Day dinner than a glass of your favorite beverage of choice, but sometimes it can make a splash (and not the good kind of splash). Here’s how to remove red beverage stains from clothing:

STEP 1: Cover the red stain with a handful of table salt, which will absorb the red liquid. You know it’s working when the white salt begins to turn pink.

STEP 2: Soak the red stained garment in cold water with an enzyme detergent and let it soak overnight.

STEP 3: If you are enjoying Valentine’s Day away at a restaurant and can’t get your garment cleaned right away, use a stain remover pen immediately then treat your garment once you get home starting with step two as listed above.

How to Remove Strawberry and Raspberry Stains from Clothing

Whether you’re dipping strawberries in chocolate for a romantic Valentine’s Day treat or adding fresh raspberries to champagne for a celebratory toast, the red juices from these berries can leave behind notoriously stubborn stains. Here’s how to remove strawberry and raspberry stains from clothing:

STEP 1: Flush the red berry stain with cool water.

STEP 2: Mix one tablespoon of white wine vinegar, a half a teaspoon of your choice of liquid laundry detergent and one quart of cool water. Soak clothing garment in this solution for 15-20 minutes then rinse with cool water.

STEP 3: If the stain remains, apply rubbing alcohol to a sponge and lightly dab the red stain thoroughly, but gently.

STEP 4: Wash your garment using chlorine bleach, only if it is safe for the fabric.

How to Remove Tomato-Based Stains from Clothing

Whether you whip up a homemade meal or dine out at your favorite restaurant, the possibility for red stains at the dinner table can be prevalent on Valentine’s Day. Here’s how to remove tomato-based stains:

STEP 1: Rinse the red stain under cold running water immediately if possible.

STEP 2: Soak the clothing garment in warm water then lightly dab with a sponge and dishwashing soap.

How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Clothing

Okay so chocolate is not a red stain, but chocolate is one of the best parts of Valentine’s Day, so here’s how you can remove chocolate stains from clothing.

STEP 1: Remove any excess chocolate from the clothing.

STEP 2: Pre-treat the chocolate stain with your choice of liquid stain removing laundry detergent.

STEP 3: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to help spread the detergent into the garment’s fibers. If you don’t have a soft-bristled toothbrush, simply rub the fabric together. Let sit 10-15 minutes.

STEP 4: Leave the liquid stain removing detergent on the clothing then wash according to the garment's care label.

In closing

Valentine’s Day may leave behind glitter, crumbs, and a few sticky surprises—but cleaning up doesn’t have to kill the love.

Stock up on O-Cedar to make post-celebration cleanup quick and easy, so you can get back to enjoying the romance. Shop our favorites and keep the sparkle where it belongs 💖✨

*Average cost of H2prO microfiber mop pads vs average cost of refills, solution and batteries for the leading disposable mop over a 2-year period. Excludes the cost of system itself. Source: Numerator, October 13, 2025