Wondering how to get rid of bloodstains out of your clothes? We’ve got you! Whether it’s from your menstrual period or an injury, the hacks in this article should help you get out any type of bloodstain. Be it old bloodstains, dried bloodstains, or even new ones.
Why Are Bloodstains Difficult To Remove?
Blood contains coagulating factors that bind its components quickly when exposed to air. This clotting ability makes it faster for wounds and injuries to heal, but it makes stain removal hard. For this reason, removing blood from your clothes requires a solution that breaks down the blood components.
How To Get Fresh Bloodstains Out Of Clothes
Dealing with fresh bloodstains? Here are some effective bloodstain removal methods to consider:
1: Rinse In Water
Running it in water is one of the first hacks to get rid of fresh blood stains. This is especially helpful for lightweight fabrics like pajamas and underwear. If the blood is fresh, cold water should be able to get rid of it completely or make it easier to wash off later.
2: Rub Stains With Ice Cube
Another excellent remedy for fresh blood stain removal is an ice cube. Rub an ice cube over the stains for some minutes until it disappears. Hot or warm water is the wrong choice for bloodstain removal because it makes the blood go deeper into the fabric.
3: Try Your Saliva
Weird, but it works! The scientific explanation is that saliva contains an enzyme amylase which can also break down food and blood. So if you can get your saliva over the bloodstain, do it!
5: Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a good solution to get rid of bloodstains because it contains bleaching agents. So it’s only right to hit your medicine cabinet if you have a blood stain on your cloth.
Soak a rag or towel in the hydrogen peroxide and blot it on the stained area. Before proceeding, you should perform a colorfast test in an inconspicuous area of the cloth. Rinse the cloth, repeat the process if never and then wash as usual.
Note: Ensure you use mild Hydrogen Peroxide to prevent bleaching the clothes.
5: Try Crushed Aspirin
Aspiring is another thing from your medicine cabinet that can work for bloodstains. Crush about 2 to 3 tablets, add some water and mix into a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and wait at least 30 minutes before washing the fabric as usual.
6: Use White Vinegar
Is there a stain White Vinegar can’t work for? We aren’t sure of that. Vinegar is a powerful agent for all sorts of laundry stains, including ink and blood.
For your bloodstains, simply pour some vinegar over the stain and then leave for about 10 minutes. Use a towel or rag to blot the stain and wash the cloth as usual. You can repeat the process if the stain persists.
7: Apply Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda also works great for stain removal, including bloodstains. To use this, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with water to make it into a paste. Then apply the paste to the bloodstain and let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing it off.
8: Try Some Table Salt
Another remedy for bloodstain remover is salt. Sprinkle some salt over the stains and leave for 10 minutes before washing as usual.
9: Use Toothpaste
Toothpaste can help wash your converse and can also help get rid of blood from your clothes. How do you do this? Rub the toothpaste gel over the bloodstains and leave it to dry. Then, rinse it with cold water and wash it with soap.
10: Rubbing Alcohol Works Too
Alcohol is a good choice for stubborn stains like dried blood. Just apply some drops of rubbing alcohol over the stains and use a paper towel to dab. Next, start blotting the stain in circular motions and wash as usual.
11: Apply Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a great kitchen ingredient that can help clean off stains. Squeeze some drops over the bloodstain and blot with a towel until the stain starts to disappear.
12: Use Cornflour
Another method to get rid of bloodstains is cornflour. Mix cornflour with water until you have a paste, then apply over the stained area. Hang the fabric under the sun until it’s dried. Then, brush off the dried powder and launder the fabric normally.
13: Use Dishsoap or Detergent
Apply soap or detergent over your stained fabric and let it sit for some time. Depending on the kind of fabric you’re dealing with, use a soft toothbrush or towel to scrub the area. Next, launder your garment through the regular wash cycle.
14: Add Ammonia
Ammonia is a great product to get rid of stubborn bloodstains. Mix a teaspoon of ammonia with water and spray it over the stained fabric.
Use a cloth or cotton ball to dab the area until the blood dissolves. Then washcloth through the normal washing cycle.
15: Try Out Enzymatic Cleaners
Luckily, enzymatic cleaners can help remove blood stains. If you’ve tried other methods and can still see the bloodstains, you may consider getting blood removal products.
How To Get Period Blood Out Of Clothes
Period bloodstains are almost inevitable for anyone menstruating. Whether you weren’t keeping track of your period arrival or your sanitary towel was too full, you can get rid of stains on your panties or clothes. Here are some tips to get rid of period bloodstains:
1: Soak The Stain As Fast As Possible
One of the best ways to get rid of a period stain is by soaking in cold water for about an hour. You can squeeze lemon juice or add hydrogen peroxide to the mix.
2: Use Hydrogen Peroxide For Whites
Bloodstains on your whites? Splatter some hydrogen peroxide over the stained area and leave for about 30 minutes before washing as normal.
3: Run Clothes In Cold Water If Blood is Fresh
Dealing with fresh period stains? Rinse your stained panties or clothes in cold water to remove the blood stains. If the stain is still there, mix salt and water, then add the paste over the stain. Allow the paste to dry, brush off the powder and wash the fabric as normal.
4: Use Bloodstain Removal For Dried Blood
Took you long before noticing the stains? Add some vinegar or bloodstain removal to the stained part and leave for an hour. Next, wash in a machine or with your hand using cold water.
5: Try Any of The Blood Removal Method Above
From white vinegar to stain removal and salt, there’s always a solution to remove blood stains. Pick one or more of the solutions explained above and follow the process to get rid of bloodstains.
How To Get Dried Blood Out Of Clothes
If your blood is already dried, you need some effort to remove it. Dried blood is more difficult to remove, but it is possible with some tips and tricks. Here are some tips to remove dried blood from your clothes:
Step 1: Soak Your Fabric
A good trick for dried blood is to soak your fabric in cold water with detergent or soap for about 3 hours. You can also use an enzymatic stain remover or ammonia instead to break up the stains.
Step 2: Try Salt, Hydrogen Peroxide, or Meat Tenderizer
If your stain doesn’t disappear after Step 1, consider treating the stains with any of the methods explained above (e.g., Hydrogen Peroxide). Afterward, wash as usual.
You can also use a meat tenderizer for dried bloodstains. Sprinkle the tenderizer powder upon the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing off with cold water.
How To Get Rid Of Period Blood Stains From Beddings
Sometimes, period blood may come in the middle of the night when you are unprepared. This may stain your sheets and bedding, leaving you with a stain to attend to. Here are some steps to get rid of period blood out of your bed sheets;
Step 1: Treat The Stain On Your Sheets
Before anything else, you should treat the stains as you would your normal fabric. You can consider treating it with vinegar, salt, or even alcohol. For white sheets, you can use bleaching liquid or hydrogen peroxide.
Be careful of using hydrogen peroxide, especially on dark-shade clothes, to avoid bleaching them.
Step 2: Dab The Stain on Your Mattress
If you have blood on your mattress, the best is to dab the stain with a damp clean cloth or cotton ball. You can add a little detergent or stain removal to make the process easy. Once you dab the stain, allow the mattress to dry before making your bed.
Step 3: Wash Your Sheets Multiple Times
If the stain on your sheets persists after trying different methods, consider repeating the process.
How To Get Bloodstains Out Of Delicate Fabrics
Fabrics like silk, cashmere, and wool require extra care while washing. If you happen to have stains on your delicate fabrics, consider the following procedures:
Silk:
Step 1: Mix a teaspoon of salt with water and then pour it into a spray bottle
Step 2: Spray the stain with the solution and leave it in for at least 10 minutes
Step 3: Rinse the cloth with water and then wash your silk as directed by the manufacturer’s care label.
Wool:
Step 1: Pour some Hydrogen Peroxide over the stained blood and use a rag to rub it in.
Step 2: Leave for 10 minutes, then wash out with cold water
Step 3: You may retry the process until the blood is completely gone, then wash per the care label requirements.
How To Get Rid Of Stains From Jeans
Jeans are a thick and difficult fabric to wash, so you should try a different approach if you want to get out bloodstains.
Step 1: Blot The Jeans From Inside Out
Your denim fabric is thick, so blotting from the outside only may not do the job. Instead, it would help if you blotted from inside out with cold water.
Step 2: Soak Your Jeans
Once you’ve blotted the stains to some extent, you can then soak for about an hour in cold water. Also, you can add detergent, soap, or baking soda to the water for added effectiveness.
Step 3: Treat The Stain With A Home Remedy Removal Method
Pick any of the removal methods explained above (depending on the fabric type) to treat the bloodstains on your jeans. Meanwhile, it’s best to avoid using hydrogen peroxide because it may bleach your denim.
Tips To Keep In Mind While Getting Rid Of Blood Stains
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when getting rid of bloodstains from your clothes.
1| Always Follow The Manufacturer’s Label
The care label on your fabric isn’t just there for show. It contains instructions on how you can wash your clothes properly. Always follow these instructions to avoid damaging your clothes, especially the delicate fabrics.
2| Do A Spot Test
Not all solutions can work for your fabric type, so it’s best always to do a spot test. This involves testing an inconspicuous area of your fabric with the solution to see if there’ll be a negative reaction.
3| Act Fast
Fresh blood is the easiest to remove, so it’s best to attend to bloodstains as fast as possible. You can still remove dried blood stains, but it may take more time and solutions.
4| Use Cold Water Only
Cold water is best for removing bloodstains because warm water sets the stains making it harder to clean.
5| Try Again Before Giving Up
Before writing off your clothes after the first try, consider repeating the process. Also, you can consider trying out different methods until you find what works. For instance, if you tried salt to no avail, you can then try using hydrogen peroxide for the bloodstains.
6| See A Professional If All Else Fails
If you’ve tried to get rid of the stains to no avail, or you can’t deal with your fabric type yourself, then see a professional dry cleaner. A professional should know how to get rid of all kinds of stains regardless of the fabric type.
7| Prevention is Best
The best way to get rid of bloodstains is by avoiding them in the first place. Track your period arrival to prevent leakages, use panty liners to catch leaks, and use very absorbent overnight towels or tampons if you have a heavy flow.