How to Remove Blood Stain of Clothes

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By Olivia Lily

Blood is a difficult stain to remove. Other bodily fluids like vomit, sweat, and urine are also easy to treat. The protein in blood is what causes it to stain. The blood stain changes over time. As hemoglobin’s oxidize when the blood leaves the human body, it turns from bright red into dark brown. Many methods exist to remove blood stains. Some are unconventional. Which methods are the most effective? Find out how you can remove blood from clothes by reading on.

Do Home Remedies Work for Blood Stain Removal?

The tricky thing about bloodstains is the fact that so many people swear that they can remove them. This includes everything from rubbing aspirin together to create a stain-removing poultice up to soaking blood-stained items in milk. The confusion can arise when deciding which of these methods you should use.

You should be aware of two things about these stain removal treatments: These types of treatments are effective, and they work. No single remedy is sufficient to eliminate blood stains. Certainly, some methods work better than others. If you want to find the right one, think about what’s been stained, whether the stain has set in or is large, and also which products are available for removing it.

Some of the ways you might be told to remove a stain from blood include:

  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Oxygen bleach
  • Enzymatic stain removers
  • Pet mess Stain Removers
  • White vinegar
  • Milk
  • Lemon
  • Meat tenderizer
  • Baking soda
  • Aspirin
  • Salt
  • Contact/saline contact solution
  • Saliva

Although each method works to a different degree, we will provide instructions on how to remove set-in blood stains and blood stains in clothing.

Blood Stain Removal

How to Remove Blood Stains Using Soap and Water

The best way to remove blood stains is with soap and warm water.

Step 1: Flush the Stain

Start by flushing with cold running tap water. If possible, run the water down the backside of the stained clothing so the stain gets pushed off the fabric and not through it. If you flush the stain out with water, it may remove it.

Step 2 – Apply soap to the stain

Use your thumb and index finger to rub in a small amount (such as liquid hand or dishwashing soap) of liquid detergent into the material. If you’re using bar soaps, wet them and rub them directly on the stain. Work the soap with your fingers into the stain and, if it is possible, rub the stained fabric together.

Step 3: Use alternate soap and water

To remove stains from fabric, alternately massage soap into the stain area and rinse the area with cold running tap water.

Step 4: Wash as You Normally

Repeat the process as necessary until the stain disappears. Rinse the garment with cold running water and wash as normal. Don’t put the item in the dryer until all stains have been removed.

How to Remove Blood Stains Using Hydrogen Peroxide

Peroxide can be used to remove blood stains, whether they are fresh or set in. Although hydrogen peroxide is a great stain remover, it can cause bleaching on some textiles. Therefore, it’s a good idea to do a test patch before you use it.

Step 1: Check the color of your carpet.

If you want to be sure that hydrogen peroxide won’t fade your color, test it on a small area.

Step 2: Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain

Apply hydrogen peroxide to a soft, light-colored cloth. Gently dab the stain. To treat larger stains, spray hydrogen peroxide on the stain using a sprayer. To treat smaller stains, dab hydrogen peroxide onto the stain using a cotton swab.

Step 3: Rinse

To remove the hydrogen peroxide residue, rinse with clean water after the stain removal.

Read: How to Use the Color Wheel to Pick the Right Palette for Any Room

How to Remove Blood Stains Using an Enzymatic Stain Remover

Washable clothing can become stained with blood when using enzyme stain removers.

Step 1 – Flush Stains with Cold Water

The stain should be flushed with running cold water prior to applying stain treatments.

Step 2 – Apply Enzymatic stain Treatment

Apply an enzymatic treatment to the stain. More set-in stains may benefit from using a laundry brush to penetrate and break up the stain.

Step 3 – Launder

Launder using cold water with the normal machine settings, unless the tag specifies otherwise.

Step 4: Before drying, check the stain.

After washing a stained item, make sure the stain is completely gone. If there is staining on the item, avoid putting it in the tumble dryer because heat will set the stain.

How to Remove Blood Stains from White Clothing

To remove blood stains on White Clothes, it is important to treat the stain and wash as soon as you can. If you have white clothes that are stained with blood, avoid using bleach because it can cause a reaction that will intensify blood stains. If you cannot wash the bloody garment right away, try blotting it with water. You can also flush the stained area with cold running water if that is an option.

Step 1 – Flush Stains with Cold Water

The stain should be flushed with running cold water prior to treatment.

Step 2: Apply Enzymatic Stain Treatment

Apply an enzymatic treatment to the stain. More set-in stains may benefit from using a washing brush.

Step 3 – Launder

The garment care tag will tell you how to wash it.

Step 4 – Check for Stain and Dry it

Check to see if the blood stain has been completely removed from the item after laundering. If there is staining, never put the item in a dryer. Heat will set it.

How to Remove Set-in Blood Stains

The oxygen bleach solution can be used to remove stains on large, bulky items like white jeans and hoodies. Or, it can be used to remove large stains that have been left behind by smaller items like a white shirt.

A solution of oxygen bleach can be used as a way to remove blood stains. This is especially useful for large, bulky clothing items such as white jeans or hoodies. However, even smaller items that are heavily stained, such a tee, can benefit from this method.

Step 1: Determine a location to soak the garment

In a tub, bucket, sink or washing basin large enough to accommodate both the water and item that needs cleaning, soak the stained item. If you own a top loading washing machine, you can soak your item in the wash basin.

Fill the Basin with Hot Water

Fill the basin no more than two-thirds full of hot water.

Step 3: Add Oxygen Bleach

oxygen bleach can be dissolved with hot water. However, if a garment needs to be soaked and cannot handle hot water then the solution must cool first before introducing it. Dosage is determined by the instructions provided on the package.

Step 4 – Submerge the stained item

Put the item in oxygen bleach solution and submerge with your hands. Then, agitate your item with your hand so that it can absorb the solution.

Step 5 – Soak Garment

The item can soak up to a night, and then be washed as normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does vinegar remove blood stains?

It is best to use distilled vinegar for blood stains on fabric, especially when they are still very fresh. Pour a solution consisting of two parts vinegar to one part water over the stained area and allow it to soak for about 10-20 minute. Then, rinse with a damp towel or blot. Use undiluted vinegar for blood stains. Be aware, however, that frequent use can cause your fabric to lose its fibers.

Can I use a salt solution to remove bloodstains?

Salt can also be used to remove bloodstains. This is useful for when you travel or are away from home. Mix plain table water with salt until it becomes a thick paste.

Can toothpaste remove blood stains?

Even if you have a brand that contains hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, toothpaste (white non-gel) may be able to work in an emergency on small bloodstains. Rub toothpaste into the stain gently, let it dry completely and then rinse your fabric with cold, running water. It is best to avoid using this solution for fabrics which are not washable, since the paste could cause additional stains and the smell might linger.

How can you remove blood stains?

Use liquid detergent for denim to remove bloodstains. Soak the item, then apply the detergent and massage the fabric. Let the detergent soak for 10 mins, then wash as usual.