How To Remove Blood Stains

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Tips For Removing Blood Stains

If you are able to treat the blood stain immediately, it's much easier to clean up than if it is allowed to set for several hours or longer.  Blood dissolves easily in water - cool or cold water. Don't use hot water as it will cook the blood and you may never be able to get it out.

Kids are responsible for most unexpected blood stains in homes. Many mothers tell about children who, for no reason at all, begin spouting from the nose. All have experienced the "blood-curdling" cry of a child who has fallen while running, from a tricycle or bicycle, and come running in with blood streaming from skinned arms, elbows and knees. The first order of business is always to determine how badly the little varmint is hurt, treat the "owie" and then treat the clothing.

Neutralize The Stain

Depending on the fabric (if in doubt, look at the manufacturer's suggested cleaning method on the clothing tag), and if it is, indeed, washable, fill a sink with cold water and put the garment in. While wet, scrub the stained spot with your fingers or knuckles to loosen as much of the blood as is possible. Then immediately put the garment in the washer, add detergent, and launder the garment as usual. This should completely eliminate the blood stain.

If the blood stain has dried on the clothes, you may need to either pre-soak in the washer or pre-soak in a pail of cold water. It will be okay to leave the garment soak overnight in a pail, then drain out the bloody water, and wash the garment using a short cycle.

You may not want to put the clothing through the clothes dryer, though, as the heat from the dryer will set any vestige of the stain that remains - if there is any. Allow the garment to either air dry on a hanger inside, or lay it flat on a picnic table or railing to allow the sun to draw any remaining stain and dry it at the same time.

Removing Dried Or Old Blood Stains

It isn't always possible to immediately treat blood stains. This is especially true of bedding, sheets and even mattresses when sometimes menstrual blood has leaked. If this happens, soak the sheets in cold water for several hours to loosen and dissolve as much of the stain as possible. You might even run it through a complete cold water wash with a very mild detergent or pure soap flakes - not detergent. Check for remaining stain, then try this:

• 1 Tablespoon Meat Tenderizer
• 2 Teaspoons Cold Water
• Mix to make a paste

Spread the paste on the blood stain and work in with your fingers. Allow it to sit for a half hour to an hour. Shake off excess and wash in cold water.

Removing Blood Stains From Mattresses

• 1/2 Cup Cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoon Salt
• 1/4 Cup Hydrogen Peroxide  or Water
• Make Paste

Using a spoon, daub the paste onto the mattress, directly on the stained area. Allow to air dry until the paste is completely dry. Scrape off and examine the stain. If the stain is still there, reapply paste and repeat.

You may never be able to fully remove the stain and it's best to prevent such stains from happening (including urine stains on mattresses) by investing in a mattress pad that can be removed and washed as necessary.

General Tips For Blood Stain Removal

Usually blood stains are removed very easily with a sponge or paper towels dipped in cold water. If the blood stains are on a counter surface, sink or other area where germs may congregate and come in contact with people, be sure to use a sanitizer spray or wipe thoroughly with Clorox. 

Hydrogen peroxide is highly recommended for treating blood stains as is common household ammonia. The peroxide may be used full strength and poured directly from the bottle. Ammonia should be diluted with water - one tablespoon to a cup of water, applied and blotted up or the garment washed as soon as possible.