Getting blood out of sheets can seem daunting, but with the right techniques and products, you can often remove fresh and dried blood stains completely. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to wash blood out of sheets to help you salvage your bedding.
Assess the Stain
When you first notice a blood stain on your sheets, take a moment to assess it before doing anything else. This will help you determine the best cleaning method.
- Check if the blood is wet or dry. Wet blood stains are easier to treat, so you want to act quickly. Dried stains may require extra techniques.
- Note the size and location. Small stains in inconspicuous areas may not require as much effort to remove. Large stains or ones in prominent spots like the middle of the sheet may need more attention.
- Identify the fabric. Blood washes out of cotton, linen, and other natural fibers the best. Stains on silk or satin are trickier to remove.
- Consider the color. Bright white sheets show stains the most, while patterns and darker colors can help camouflage remaining signs of blood.
Act Fast on Fresh Blood Stains
When you catch a blood stain right after it happens, you have the best chance of removing it completely. Here are some tips for fresh stains:
- Blot gently. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing the stain, which can set it. Gently dab it with a clean cloth or paper towel.
- Rinse with cold water. Run cool water through the back of the stain to dilute the blood and prevent it from setting into the fibers.
- Avoid hot water. Heat can permanently set a blood stain. Stick to cool or cold water.
- Apply salt. Pour table salt directly on the wet stain and let it sit for a few minutes to draw out the blood.
- Use hydrogen peroxide. This chemical reaction can help lift blood from fabric. Apply it to the stain and let fizz for a minute before rinsing.
- Try an enzyme cleaner. Look for enzymatic cleaners made specifically for blood stains. Follow the product directions.
- Let it soak. For stubborn fresh stains, soak the sheet in cold water for up to 30 minutes before washing to help loosen the stain.
Remove Dried or Old Blood Stains
Blood stains that have dried or set into the fabric require a little more work. Here are some effective techniques:
Cold Water Soak
- Fill a tub or basin with cold water and submerge the stained sheet. For tougher stains, add a splash of white vinegar or enzyme cleaner to the water.
- Weight the sheet down to keep the stain fully immersed. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes up to a few hours.
- Check periodically until you see the stain lifting. Rinse thoroughly before washing.
Hydrogen Peroxide
- Apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the dried blood stain.
- Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to oxidize and lift the blood.
- Blot periodically with a clean cloth. Once it stops bubbling, rinse thoroughly.
Baking Soda and Dish Soap
- Make a paste with baking soda and dish soap. Apply it to the stain thickly.
- Let it sit for up to an hour, keeping the paste wet. The baking soda will draw out the stain.
- Once it dries, scrape off the paste and rinse. Repeat if needed.
Meat Tenderizer
- Make a solution of 1 tsp meat tenderizer and 2 tsp cold water.
- Use a cloth to work it into the blood stain.
- Let it sit for 15-30 minutes before rinsing. The enzymes will break down proteins.
- For tough stains, let the tenderizer solution sit for hours before rinsing and washing.
Launder Blood-Stained Sheets
Once you have pre-treated the blood stains on your sheets using the methods above, finish the job by washing them thoroughly. Follow these laundry tips:
- Wash sheets in cold or warm water only. Hot water can set in any remaining stain.
- Use an oxygenated bleach alternative like sodium percarbonate for whites and colors. Do not use chlorine bleach.
- Add an enzyme cleaner or detergent booster that contains protease enzymes to help remove proteins.
- For tough dried blood stains, soak sheets again after washing using an enzyme soak product.
- Avoid overloading the washer, which can prevent stains from being fully removed.
- Air dry sheets in direct sunlight, which naturally bleaches and deodorizes. Avoid hot tumble drying.
- For delicate fabrics like silk, wash by hand using a delicate detergent and cold water.
Store Blood-Stained Sheets Properly
After removing blood stains, store the sheets properly until you are ready to use them again. This will prevent any remaining traces of the stain from setting permanently.
- Avoid folding or bunching up the stained area until it is fully cleaned. Hang or lay flat instead.
- Once washed, let sheets fully air dry before storing to prevent mildew growth.
- Store sheets in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, which can yellow fabrics.
- Wash blood-stained sheets separately from other linens the first couple times until stain is fully gone.
- Consider covering pillowcases or stained areas with another fabric while storing to prevent the stain from touching other fabrics.
Tips for Avoiding Blood on Sheets
While blood stains on sheets are a common annoyance, there are some things you can do to avoid them in the first place:
- Use mattress protectors and pads during menstrual periods to absorb blood before it leaks onto sheets.
- Wear pajamas or underwear with feminine hygiene products rather than sleeping nude to reduce leakage.
- Apply styptic powder to shaving cuts or bloody noses before bed to stop bleeding.
- Treat sheets with a stain-resistant spray to make blood and other liquids bead up rather than absorb.
- Replace old, thinning sheets more prone to stains with newer more durable bedding. Higher thread counts resist staining.
- Layer sheets with a washable mattress pad or cover to protect your mattress and make middle-of-the-night changes easier.
- Keep hydrogen peroxide, cold water, and other cleaning supplies on hand for quick treatment of fresh blood stains.
With the right preparation and techniques, blood stains don’t have to mean the end of your favorite sheets. By acting quickly and using cold water, enzymes, hydrogen peroxide and other removal methods, you can often erase the evidence completely. With some care when making up the bed, you may be able to avoid stains in the first place and save yourself the trouble.
Common Questions about Washing Blood Out of Sheets
Wondering how to salvage your blood-stained sheets? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
How do you get period blood stains out of sheets?
Menstrual blood should be treated the same as other types when washing. Apply cold water as soon as possible, let soak in cold water with an enzyme cleaner, dab hydrogen peroxide on any dried stains, and then wash in cold water with an oxygen bleach. Avoid hot water that can set the stain.
What removes old, dried blood stains?
For set-in blood stains, make a paste of baking soda and dish soap. Apply to stain, let sit 1-2 hours, rinse. Soaking in cold water with vinegar or enzyme cleaner helps too. For really tough stains, use meat tenderizer left on for 30 minutes up to hours before washing.
How do you get blood out of white sheets?
Hydrogen peroxide is great for lifting blood from white. Avoid hot water or chlorine bleach. Opt for oxygen bleach. Soak in cold first, then wash sheets in cold with an enzyme detergent booster. Air dry in sunlight to naturally brighten and remove any lingering signs of blood.
Can you wash blood stained sheets with other clothes?
It’s best to wash blood-stained linens separately, at least the first couple times, to prevent any residual stain from bleeding onto other fabrics in the wash. Once the stain is completely gone, you can add the sheets back in with regular laundry.
What temperature should you wash blood stained sheets?
Always use cold or at most warm water temperatures when washing blood stained sheets. Hot water can permanently set blood stains by cooking the proteins into the fibers. Cold water helps loosen and lift blood so it rinses cleanly away.
How do hotels get blood out of sheets?
Hotels often utilize commercial-grade laundry systems and chemicals for removing all types of stains. Many hotels presoak heavily stained linens like sheets using specialty enzyme and oxygen bleach cleaners before washing and drying them. This helps get out even difficult dried blood and other organic stains.
Does hydrogen peroxide remove old blood stains?
Yes, hydrogen peroxide can help lift even older, set-in blood stains from fabric. The bubbling reaction helps oxidize and break down the blood proteins. Apply it directly to the stain, let it sit 10-15 minutes, blot and rinse before washing as usual.
Can you bleach blood stained sheets?
Avoid chlorine bleach when washing blood stained sheets as it can set the stain. Opt for oxygen bleach alternatives safe for colors and whites. Soak first in cold water with dish soap or enzyme cleaner. Then wash in cold water with oxygen bleach like sodium percarbonate.
Conclusion
Removing blood from sheets takes a bit of work, but it can be done with the right approach. By using cold water, enzyme cleaners, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda pastes and other methods, you can often erase the evidence of blood stains and save your bedding. Acting quickly when stains are fresh is key. With some care while making the bed, you may be able to avoid stains in the first place. Armed with the right techniques, you can successfully wash blood out of sheets.