Premium Wine

John K. Nakata 'Old Wine Barrels' Wood Framed Art Print	John K. Nakata 'Old Wine Barrels' Metal Framed Art Print	Wilson Studios Oak Wine Barrels Wall Clock
$170.99 Overstock.com	$150.99 Overstock.com	$42.99 Walmart

Wilson Studios Three Piece Oak Wine Barrels Laminated Framed Wall Art Set - 36'' x 48''	Old Wine Barrels Framed Art Print	Wine Barrels
$314.99 Walmart	$245.99 Walmart	$171.84 Murals Your Way

What is the best way to clean a red wine barrel for use as a planter?

I have a half wine barrel that was used for a dark red wine (the inside is stained red). I have heard that these can be hazardous for the plants. What is the best way to clean it out so that I can use it as a planter without killing my plants?
I live in wine country and yes, this is recently cut open. You can still smell the VERY strong smell of burgundy from the barrel – just by standing near it.

I really don’t think the residue that is left in the barrel will hurt anything.
But you can clean it with, vinegar, even use baking soda. The vinegar about a cup and scrub the surface If you use baking soda wet the barrel and sprinkle the dry baking soda on and use a brush to clean it. Either way you will need to rinse it out well. Let it dry completely. before you use it.
You might want to consider if you haven’t already having holes drilled into the bottom.

http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/splitbarrelplanter.htm

The red wine stain remains in the barrels are natural and do not effect your planting in any way if you do use these barrel planters as water garden containers. The red stains can be minimize by using baking soda to clean out some of them, but complete elimination of the stains will take several times of water change.

Used Wine Barrels – Napa Valley Oak Barrel – Planter Barrel – Rain Barrel – barrel head