How to Remove Dry Blood Stains From Clothes

Remove dried blood stains from clothes.

Dried blood set into clothing is a formidable laundry challenge. When you find dried blood on clothing, you might think the clothing is ruined. Try a few stain-busting techniques to dissolve the dried blood before you give up. Add power to a commercial pre-soak product with simple household products, which work effectively to break up the protein enzymes in the dried blood.

Things You'll Need

• Cool water
• Salt
• Laundry detergent
• Washing machine

Instructions

1. Fill a sink with cool water. Add the soiled clothing to the sink of cool water, and push the clothing underneath the surface of the water.

2. Allow the clothing to soak in the cool water for approximately 30 minutes.

3. Drain the sink, and rinse the stained areas with cool water to remove as much blood as possible.

4. Fill the sink with more cool water. Add approximately ½ cup of salt to the water, and swish the salty water around to mix.

5. Add the soiled clothing to the water, and allow it to soak for another 30 minutes.

6. Drain the sink again, and rinse the stained area again with cool water.

7. Wash the stained clothing in a regular washing cycle in the washing machine. Set the washing machine to warm, and use a regular wash setting.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of soaking the stained clothing in salt, soak it in diluted ammonia. Mix equal parts of ammonia and water in the sink, and soak the clothing for five minutes. Pre-treat the stain with a commercial spray product that does not contain bleach, and launder the clothing as usual.

• Try hydrogen peroxide to lift stubborn blood stains even if the stains are set in. Saturate the stained area with full-strength hydrogen peroxide, and wash the clothing in a normal wash cycle.

• Do not place clothing with blood stains in the dryer because the heat can set the stains permanently.

References

• Learn How to Remove: Blood on Clothes