How to Remove Blood Stains from Clothes and Sheets

Blood stains may require multiple washings.

It may appear like a permanent mar, but a blood stain requires basic household cleaners and a bit of scrubbing to lift from clothing and sheets. Blood can harden and attach to clothing and bedding fibers, making for unsightly imperfections. Treat new and old blood stains to revitalize your favorite fabrics instead of discarding them.

Things You'll Need

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Toothbrush
• Cold water
• Sink, bucket or tub
• Laundry detergent
• Stain Remover
• Bleach-containing laundry detergent (optional)

Instructions

1. Pour hydrogen peroxide over blood stains. Soak and scrub a fresh blood stain on clothing or sheets under cold water. Brush an old blood stain with cold water, hydrogen peroxide and a toothbrush to loosen it from the fabric.

2. Fill a sink, bucket or tub with cold water. Add laundry detergent and allow the blood-stained clothing or sheets to presoak for 30 minutes.

3. Spray the blood-ridden area with a prewash stain remover. Place the clothing or sheets in your wash machine and set it to a short, cold water cycle.

4. Remove the clothing or sheets and check to see if the stain disappeared. If so, place the material in the drying machine. If not, rewash the material, using a bleach containing detergent.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not place the stained item in the dryer if there is a remaining stain after washing, because heat permanently attaches the stain to the fabric fibers.

References

• House Cleaning Central: How To Remove Blood Stains
• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster -- Blood