How to Remove Blood Stains from Clothes?

Do you have any questions about how to remove blood from clothing, bed linens, or even a mattress? Here, you can find tried-and-true methods to remove blood from clothing as well as other stains, depending on how old they are.

Any clothing, including white blouses, blue jeans, sundresses, and even lingerie, needs to be cleaned using the same method whether it is from an injury or your period. Here are some of our best laundry advice for removing blood stains from clothing.

Blood stains present a challenge because they are not just any red marks. Proteins are designed to bind together when heated, which causes blood stains to set fast into our clothing. As an organic stain, blood is full of proteins and is therefore an organic stain. This means it’s crucial to resist the urge to wash blood stains away with hot water and instead approach with a little more caution.

Check out How To Remove Different Types Of Stains From Clothes?

Emergency Action for Removing Blood Stains

How can blood stains be removed, then? Run a cold wash over the stain as soon as possible after the accident (or at least after you’ve finished consoling your patient). We’ll repeat that: Cold water. All those proteins will be encouraged to set the stain into the fabric with hot water.

You should dab the stain with an absorbent material like a paper towel or cotton handkerchief to soak up as much blood as you can if it is not possible to remove the garment to rinse it (few kids would be happy to be seen in a public park in their underwear while you rinse their pants). To prevent the further spreading of the stain, work from the outside inward.

How to Get New Blood Stains Out of Clothing?

Here are steps to get new blood stains out of clothing:

Run Lightweight Fabrics under Cold Water

Try holding the stained area taut under cold running water first when trying to remove period blood from clothing, especially lightweight clothing; you’ll be surprised at how much a steady stream of water can remove!

Fresh blood stains can occasionally be completely removed with just cold water, especially if you move quickly! The sooner you act, the easier it will be to remove the stain because blood is a stain that fades with time.

Throw the item in a bowl of cold water to soak if, for example, you are running late and really can’t deal with the stain right now. If the blood didn’t have a chance to dry out first, it will be much simpler to deal with later.

Apply Hydrogen Peroxide Or Lemon Juice to the Blood Stain

For more deeply embedded period stains, you might require something stronger than water. Thankfully, you can get rid of tough stains with a ton of common household items! Lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide are excellent options for lighter-colored clothing.

Just be aware that using them on darker items may result in color loss, so test them first in a hidden location to ensure that they are safe. Here’s how you’ll use ‘em:

1. Put some lemon or hydrogen peroxide on a sponge.
2. Blood stains should be blotted.
3. Submerge the stained area in cold water.
4. Repetition will help you remove as much of the stain as possible.
5. Grab an ice cube.

My best friend’s mother taught her how to remove blood stains and she told me about it. (Thank you, Angela!) Next, grab an ice cube and rinse the stained fabric with cold water, allowing as much blood to wash away as you can.

Given that they are the coldest form of cold water, ice cubes are excellent for removing protein-based stains, including blood. Simply rub the stained area with the cube’s edge.

And while we’re talking about ice, here’s something to remember about its opposite: hot water will actually make blood stains worse.

Warm water is also acceptable, but hot water heats the stain and, in the case of blood, encourages blood to seep further into the fibers of the fabric. Additionally, delicate fabrics should never be washed in hot water because it can cause them to warp or shrink.

Try Sponging the Stain With Aspirin Or Baking Soda

Aspirin and baking soda, two other extremely typical items, can also be used to remove blood stains. Crush a few aspirin tablets, then combine the powder with water to create a paste that can be applied to the stain.

The baking soda works the same way; simply combine some with water to create a paste (the quantity you need will largely depend on how big of a stain you have!). Launder the item as usual after letting the paste sit for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.

If Nothing Else, There’s Always Saliva

The final option, your own spit, may actually work if you have no access to any of the aforementioned resources. Although it may seem gross, saliva actually serves as a powerful cleaning agent.

That’s because our spit contains amylase, an enzyme that’s helpful for breaking down food and for breaking down other organic stains, blood included, too! When you’re on the go and have nothing else with you, it’s a helpful hack to keep in mind.

Up Your Laundry Game With Blood-removal Products

You’ve used cold water to wash the stained fabric, and you’ve given household products like hydrogen peroxide a chance to work their magic. If the stain is still visible, pretreat the item with a laundry product that is effective at ghosting unsightly blotches before throwing it in the washer.

Enzymatic cleaners and oxygenated bleaches are two all-purpose stain removers that work wonders on blood stains. Given that it comes in such tiny bottles and that a little bit goes a long way, Carbona Stain Devils #4 is a fantastic product for people who live in dorm rooms as well.

You can also treat leftover blood stains with whatever soap you happen to have on hand; liquid and bar hand soap, as well as liquid laundry detergent or a laundry bar like Fels-Naptha, will all do the trick.

Another #ProTip: When removing blood stains, toothbrushes are fantastic to use after scrubbing with liquid soap. (Particularly when you take into account the fact that using your finger pads as an alternative is an option.)

If at First, You Don’t Succeed

You may need to give blood stains, or really any stains, more than one attempt in order to keep your clothes clean. And occasionally you just have to give something new a shot! It’s crucial to keep in mind that not all hope is lost if a stain cannot be removed the first time.

Give it another shot, and remember not to put your garment in the dryer until you’re totally happy with your stain-removal efforts. Your stain will be permanently set with heat! When you’re finished, reward yourself with some chocolate. You earned it.

How to Get Dried Blood Stains Out of Clothing?

Here are steps to get dried blood stains out of clothing:

Rub Salt Or Saline Solution on the Stain

Unfortunately, there are times when blood stains occur while you are outside the house, and at that point, soap and laundry detergent won’t help you. Thankfully, salt water or saline can be used as a last resort.

After the stain has dried, period blood can be easily removed from clothing using cold water and regular table salt. If you wear contact lenses, you can accomplish the same thing with saline solution, which comes in handy when you’re on the road. Who knew?!

Soak It, Then Soak It Some More

This is essentially the golden rule for removing dried blood stains from clothing. Put a teaspoon of an enzyme-based stain remover in your sink after filling it with cold water. Proteases are excellent for destroying proteins, such as blood stains, so look for products that contain them.

Allow the garment to soak now for at least three to four hours. Apply a little more stain remover now if the stain is still visible, then scrub to loosen the particles. This is another situation where toothbrushes come in handy! — before throwing the garment in the wash.

Give it another soak if the stain persists after a standard wash in cold water. Repeating the process may be annoying, but with a little perseverance and patience, you can save your favorite pair of underwear from the trash!

Meat Tenderizer

Here’s an absolutely bizarre method for getting rid of blood stains. Meat tenderizer without seasoning, are you ready? I warned you it was strange! On more deeply embedded blood stains, it works really well.

To use it, mix the tenderizer powder with enough water to make a paste and sprinkle it over the stain. After about 30 minutes, let that sit on the stain before finishing with a cold water rinse and regular washing.

Still Can’t Get Blood Stains Out?

Okay, let’s make sure no one can see those stubborn blood stains if removal really isn’t going well (and sometimes they just won’t budge). When diluted 1 part to 6 parts cold water, a 20% hydrogen peroxide solution can be used to bleach stains.

However, before using a bleaching agent, always make sure to test your clothing’s colorfastness on a hidden area. Always read the label and product information before using biocides.

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