How to Get Blood Out of Most Fabrics

A speedy response to a blood stain can save your garment from being tossed into the rag bin. Everything you need to remove a blood stain is probably in your medicine cabinet or among your household cleaners. There's no reason to invest in a brand-name product when other products work as well and cost so little. Prepare yourself before this happens to one of your garments, and you'll be certain to remove the blood stain without a trace.

Things You'll Need

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Container
• Cold water
• Cleaning cloth
• Household bleach
• 1 tbsp. clear ammonia
• Spray bottle

Instructions

Hydrogen Peroxide

1. Place the stained fabric over a container, old towel or the sink. Pour enough full-strength hydrogen peroxide over the stain to cover the stain.

2. Allow the peroxide to foam and check the stain once the foaming as stopped.

3. Rinse the stain with cold water if you are satisfied the blood stain is gone.

4. Repeat using hydrogen peroxide if the stain is still present. Rinse the stain and wash the garment according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Cold Water

1. Use cold water to rinse the stain when water is all that is available.

2. Place a towel or cloth behind the fabric before cleaning if the garment cannot be removed. Blot the stain with a cleaning cloth and cold water.

3. Check to see if the stain is gone. Rinse the stain with cold water until it is gone.

4. Wash the garment as soon as possible according to washing instructions.

White Fabric and Bleach

1. Dab the blood stain with a small amount of bleach or combine equal portions of water and bleach.

2. Blot the stain with the bleach until the blood is gone. Rinse the spot with cold water to remove the bleach.

3. Wash the garment immediately after using the bleach. Bleach has the capability of destroying fabric fibers when left at full strength.

Carpet

1. Spray the carpet with cool water and blot the stain with a white cloth.

2. Mix 1 tbsp. clear ammonia and 1/2 cup cool water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray generously onto the stain.

3. Rinse the stain with cool water from a spray bottle and blot the stain. Spray the stain again lightly with clear water and allow it to set without blotting.

4. Cover the stain with paper towels and allow the carpet to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Fresh blood is easier to remove than dried blood. Try to treat the stain immediately.

• Soak the stain in milk for two hours and wash according to the care label.

• Wash the garment according to manufacturer's directions after the stain is removed.

• Read the washing instructions on the garment, most fabrics will tolerate a small amount of cold or cool water without harming the fabric.

• Never try to remove a blood stain with hot water or place a still-stained garment in the dryer. The stain will set and turn brown.

• Always use the stain-removal product in a small area first to be sure it does not change the color of the fabric.

• Never mix bleach with any other cleaning product as it can cause toxic fumes.

References

• Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning Central: How to Remove a Blood Stain
• Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning Central: How to Remove Dried Blood Stains