How to Clean Up Blood Stains

Blood can leave dark red stains on fabric, carpet and upholstery. Protein stains, such as blood, become more difficult to remove the longer they are left to absorb into surfaces. Promptly remove blood stains to prevent them from ruining clothing, upholstery and carpet.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Scrub brush
• 2 plastic bowls
• 2 white cotton cloths
• Enzyme laundry pretreatment spray
• 1 tbsp. liquid dish soap
• 1 tbsp. household ammonia
• Clean sponge
• Clean towel

Instructions

Fabric

1. Blot up fresh blood with paper towels. If the blood has dried, brush off the crusted blood debris using a scrub brush.

2. Fill a plastic bowl with cold water. Dampen a white cotton cloth in the water.

3. Blot the fabric with the damp cotton cloth to wash out as much blood as possible. Frequently rinse the cloth with fresh water to prevent reapplying blood to the fabric.

4. Apply an enzyme laundry pretreatment spray directly to the stained portion of the fabric. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the product's label.

5. Launder the fabric in a washing machine with warm water. Follow the instructions on the fabric's care tag.

6. Allow the fabric to air-dry. Repeat the process if any trace of blood remains on the fabric.

Upholstery and Carpet

1. Blot up fresh blood with paper towels. If the blood has dried, use a scrub brush to remove the crusted debris.

2. Fill a plastic bowl with 2 cups of cold water and 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap. Thoroughly mix the solution.

3. Dampen a white cotton cloth in the soapy water. Blot the stain with the cloth repeatedly until no more red transfers to the white cloth.

4. Inspect the carpet or upholstery for remaining blood. If the stain has not entirely gone, fill another plastic bowl with 1/2 cup of warm water and 1 tbsp. of household ammonia.

5. Moisten another white cotton cloth in the ammonia solution. Blot the stain with the moistened cloth until the ammonia solution is completely absorbed and the stain disappears.

6. Dampen a clean sponge with cold water. Blot the carpet or upholstery with the damp sponge to wash out the detergent and ammonia solutions.

7. Blot the carpet or upholstery with a clean, dry towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use hot water; the stain will become more difficult to remove.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster - Blood
• Ohio State University: Quick and Easy Stain Removal
• Real Simple: How to Remove Blood Stains