Blood stains look alarming, but they come out more easily than most people think, as long as you avoid one big mistake: hot water. Heat cooks the proteins in blood and sets the stain into the fabric.
Fresh Blood Stains
- Rinse with cold water right away. Run cold water through the back of the fabric to push the blood out the way it came in.
- Rub gently with a little soap. Bar soap or a drop of dish soap worked in with your fingers helps lift what's left.
- Rinse again with cold water and repeat until the stain fades.
- Wash on a cold cycle.
- Air dry and check. Don't use the dryer until the stain is completely gone.
Dried Blood Stains
- Soak in cold water for 30 minutes to an hour to loosen the stain.
- Make a paste of salt and cold water, or use an enzyme-based stain remover, and work it into the stain.
- For white cotton, dab with 3% hydrogen peroxide. It will fizz as it lifts the blood. Rinse with cold water. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach coloured fabrics, so test it on a hidden spot first.
- Wash cold and air dry.
Blood on Sheets and Mattress Protectors
- Strip the bed and treat the sheet straight away with cold water.
- For a mattress, dab, don't soak: use a cloth with cold water and a little dish soap, then blot dry.
- Wash sheets in cold water first, then use your regular wash setting once the stain is out.
What to Avoid
- Hot water or a hot dryer before the stain is gone.
- Scrubbing hard, which can spread the stain and damage fibres.
- Chlorine bleach on coloured fabrics.
Need Help With the Rest?
Heavy bedding like comforters and blankets can be hard to wash at home. We clean them for a flat price: $25 double/twin comforter, $30 queen/king, $18 blanket. See comforter & bedding cleaning.
