Blood

Blood is a protein stain. It can be difficult to remove, but it can be amazingly simple as well.

Bloodstains are easiest and best removed if the stain is still wet. Do not let that scare you though. Bloodstains can be removed if they have been set in and dried with a little extra elbow grease. Remember COLD water is a blood stains best friend.

 

Removing Blood from Clothing and Removable, Washable Fabric
Fresh
  1. Run under or soak the fabric in cold water.
  2. If the stain is no longer present, wash as you normally would.
  3. If the stain is still present after a COLD water soak, you can try the next method, peroxide*.
    • Dab the area with peroxide. You will see a bubbly reaction, which is perfectly normal. You will most likely have to repeat this step as the reaction slows. If the stain has been removed wash as you normally would.
*Before deciding to use hydrogen peroxide, note that it may bleach or weaken certain fabrics, and can cause stains itself. So use it cautiously and make sure to pretest the hydrogen peroxide on a small, inconspicuous spot on the stained item.

 

Dried
  1. Gently brush or scrape off any clotted blood that is not firmly attached to the fabric.
  2. Rinse the area with running cold water through the back of the stain to loosen and dissolve the blood. Avoid rinsing through the top of the stain, which can force blood particles deeper into the fabric’s fibers. On fabric surfaces that cannot be rinsed, blot the area with cold water
  3. Soak the fabric in cold water for 10-60 minutes to dissolve as much blood as possible. Only soak the affected area and if the water becomes very tinted, change it to clean water to avoid spreading the stain.
  4. Rinse the fabric with hydrogen peroxide* or blot it with a rag or towel soaked with peroxide to dissolve and remove the remaining stain. For mild stains, this may be effective in completely eliminating the dried bloodstain.
  5. If the blood is not completely removed, treat the stained area with a mild bubble bath or liquid laundry detergent, working it gently into the fibers with a soft toothbrush. Avoid harsh scrubbing motions that could tear or damage delicate fibers.
At any point, once the bloodstain is removed, launder the garment as you normally would.
*Before deciding to use hydrogen peroxide, note that it may bleach or weaken certain fabrics, and can cause stains itself. So use it cautiously and make sure to pretest the hydrogen peroxide on a small, inconspicuous spot on the stained item.

 

Non-Removable Fabrics
Fresh
  • Method 1
    • DAB area with cold water and a white terry cloth. Once the area has been cleaned with cold water, you can then move on to the peroxide method to completely remove the stain. Sometimes with extremely fresh stains cold water is enough.
  • Method 2
    • Make a paste of salt. Place the salt paste on the stain. The salt will pull the blood up and hold on to it. Once you let it sit for 30 minutes, you can vacuum it up.
  • Method 3
    • 2 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub into the stain and let sit. Once it has set for at least 30 minutes you can vacuum the dried paste up.
Also remember that any enzyme stain remover (ie: Zout) will work as well; just remember to rinse it clean.

 

Dried
You can adopt the removable fabrics methods to fit your situation.

 

By Whitney Hogan