Removing bloodstains from clothes can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With some tried and true techniques, even stubborn dried bloodstains can be conquerable. Follow these 5 steps to get clothes looking fresh and clean again.
Step 1: Act Quickly
When dealing with bloodstains, time is of the essence. The sooner you can treat the stain after it happens, the better chance you have of getting it out fully. Start by rinsing the clothing item under cold water to dilute the stain and stop it from setting.
Don’t let the clothing item sit or try to scrub out the stain until Step 2. Hot water can set bloodstains, making them harder to remove later on. Cold water helps loosen up the stain so it can be treated more effectively in subsequent steps.
Step 2: Apply Meat Tenderizer
Once the bloodstain has been rinsed with cold water, it’s time to break up some of the proteins. Make a paste with meat tenderizer and cool water. Use approximately 1 teaspoon of meat tenderizer powder per 1 tablespoon of water.
Gently dab the meat tenderizer paste onto the bloodstain. Don’t aggressively scrub or you may damage the fabric. Let the paste sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse under cold running water.
The enzymes in meat tenderizer will help break down the proteins in the bloodstain. This makes the stain easier to lift in following steps. Meat tenderizer is gentler on fabric than other stain removal methods.
Step 3: Make a Hydrogen Peroxide Paste
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that can help lift blood stains without damaging delicate fabrics. Mix together 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of cool water. Add in 1 teaspoon of dish soap.
Use a clean toothbrush or your fingertips to gently work the hydrogen peroxide paste into the stain. Let the paste sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing under cold water.
The chemical reaction between the hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, and the bloodstain helps lift the discoloration from the fabric. Be patient and let the paste work its magic.
Step 4: Tackle with Ammonia
For really stubborn bloodstains, break out the ammonia. Pour some household ammonia into a small bowl. Dampen a clean white cloth with the ammonia, then dab at the stain.
You can also dilute the ammonia first with a bit of water if working with more delicate fabrics. Test an inconspicuous area first, as ammonia can damage some fabrics like wool or silk.
Let the ammonia sit for a few minutes to penetrate the stain before rinsing under cold water. The alkalinity of ammonia helps dissolve and lift blood proteins so they can be washed away.
Step 5: Launder as Usual
After using these stain removal techniques, launder the clothing item as usual with your regular laundry detergent. Make sure to check that the stain is completely gone before drying the item. Heat from the dryer can set any lingering discoloration.
If the bloodstain remains, don’t put the item in the dryer. Repeat the stain removal process instead. With some patience, even dried or older bloodstains can be conquered.
Tips for Avoiding Bloodstains
Once you’ve successfully removed a bloodstain, you probably want to avoid a repeat incident. Here are some handy tips:
- Apply hydrogen peroxide immediately to fresh blood drips or spills on fabric. This can often lift the stain before it sets.
- Store hydrogen peroxide and ammonia sprays in first aid kits and bags so they’re on-hand for stain treatment.
- If you’re prone to nosebleeds, wear an old T-shirt to bed that you don’t mind getting stained.
- Keep spare clothes on-hand for mishaps during that time of the month. Change and rinse stained items in cold water right away.
- Use a baking soda and cold water paste on fabric stained from blood-rich foods like rare meat. The baking soda will help absorb the stain.
Can All Bloodstained Clothes Be Saved?
In most cases, bloodstains can be completely removed from washable clothing and fabrics if treated promptly. However, there are a few instances where stains may be permanent:
- Dried or old bloodstains that have set untreated for weeks or longer
- Stains on silk or wool fabrics that are damaged by chemical stain removal agents
- Fabric with a special finish or treatment that reacts with stain removal chemicals
- Bloodstained clothes that were put in a hot dryer, setting in the stain
- Stains that weren’t properly pre-treated before washing and drying
So while not every bloodstained garment can be restored, acting quickly and using the right stain removal methods will allow you to rescue most pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Bloodstains from Clothes
Removing bloodstains doesn’t have to be a lost cause. Use these tips and techniques to get your clothes fresh and wearable again.
How do I get old or dried bloodstains out of clothes?
For older stains that have set, soak the clothing item first in cold water for 30 minutes up to a few hours. This will rehydrate the stain so you can treat it with hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, or meat tenderizer as you would a fresh stain. OxiClean powder or spray also works well on set-in bloodstains.
How do you remove menstrual blood stains?
Menstrual blood stains can be treated the same way as other blood stains. Rinse with cold water first, then apply a hydrogen peroxide paste. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes before washing as normal. For heavy staining, an ammonia-dampened cloth can also be effective.
What removes bloodstains permanently?
No method will permanently remove a bloodstain if the stained item is then dried at a hot temperature. The heat sets any remaining stain residue. To permanently remove bloodstains, always check that the stain is completely gone before machine drying the item. Air drying is best.
Does hydrogen peroxide remove old blood stains?
Yes, hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove old or dried bloodstains. Rehydrate the stain by soaking in cold water first. Then make a paste with hydrogen peroxide and dish soap and apply it directly to the stain. Let sit 15-30 minutes before washing as usual. The peroxide will bubble up and help lift the stain.
Does baking soda remove blood stains?
Baking soda can help absorb and lift fresh blood stains, especially if mixed into a paste with cold water. For dried or set-in stains, baking soda is not as effective as an active oxygen-based stain remover like hydrogen peroxide or oxiclean. Use it in combination with these products.
Will bleach remove blood stains?
Bleach can damage fabrics and may not completely remove a bloodstain. For a safer whitening agent, use hydrogen peroxide or diluted ammonia instead. Always spot test bleach or hydrogen peroxide on an inconspicuous area first to check for discoloration or damage.
How do you get blood out of cotton?
Rinse the cotton item under cold water as soon as possible after staining. Rub meat tenderizer paste into the stain and let sit 15 minutes before rinsing. Next, apply a hydrogen peroxide and dish soap paste. Let sit 1 hour, then wash as usual with detergent. The peroxide will help lift the blood proteins from the cotton.
How do you remove blood from polyester?
Polyester clothing can be treated the same way as cotton for bloodstains. Rinse under cold water first, then apply meat tenderizer paste. Let sit before rinsing and applying hydrogen peroxide paste. After 1 hour, wash as normal with detergent. Ammonia can also be used for tougher polyester bloodstains.
Does saliva remove blood stains?
There is no evidence that saliva helps lift bloodstains. It may spread and set the stain further into the fabric. For best results, rinse first with cold water only. Then use an active enzyme-based method like meat tenderizer or hydrogen peroxide pastes. Apply these treatments directly to the stained area only.
Conclusion
Dealing with bloodstained clothes might seem like an impossible chore, but arming yourself with the right stain removal products and techniques makes it very doable. By acting quickly and using meat tenderizer, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia to break up those persistent blood proteins, you can keep your clothes looking like new.
With a bit of elbow grease and patience, even dried and set-in bloodstains can be lifted. Give these methods a try next time you have a bloodstained garment. Have your stain removal questions answered in the FAQ. Then it’s just a matter of repeating as needed until no trace of the bloodstain remains.