Get Blood out of Sheets

Finding blood on sheets is fairly common, and not because of murder and mayhem. It can happen if you get a bloody nose, scratch at a bug bite in your sleep, or bleed through a bandage. This does not mean that you need to throw away your bedding, however. It would be best if you treat the blood as soon as you see it, but it is possible to remove dried blood as well. This article will show you how to get rid of both.

Steps

Removing Fresh Blood

1. Rinse the stain out from behind using cold water as soon as possible. Take the bed sheet off the mattress first, then rinse the stain out using cold water. Do not use hot water, as this will set the stain. Follow this step with any of the stain-removal treatments listed below.
2. Treat heavy stains with hydrogen peroxide. Pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the blood stain. Wait 20 to 25 minutes, then lightly pat the residue with a paper towel. If you don't have any hydrogen peroxide at home, you can use club soda instead.
   • White vinegar will also work in a pinch.
   • Light can turn hydrogen peroxide into water. If it is very bright in your room, cover the treated area with plastic wrap, then drape a dark towel over it. The towel will hide the area from light, and the plastic wrap will prevent the towel from soaking up the hydrogen peroxide.
3. Try an ammonia-based window cleaner. Simply spray the window cleaner onto the stain. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse it out from behind using cold water.
4. Use diluted ammonia for heavy stains. Fill a spray bottle with 1 tablespoon of ammonia and 1 cup (240 milliliters) of cold water. Close the bottle and shake it to mix. Spray the mixture onto the stain and wait 30 to 60 minutes. Blot up any residue with a clean cloth, then wash the sheets in cold water.
   • Be careful with colored sheets. Ammonia may fade or bleach colored fabrics.
5. Make and use a baking soda paste. Mix one part baking soda with two parts water to form a paste. Dampen the stain with water, then rub the paste onto the stain. Let the fabric dry, ideally in the sun. Brush off any residue, and then wash in cold water.
   • Talcum powder or cornstarch/cornflour will also work.
6. Consider using salt and dish soap as a pre-laundry treatment. Mix 2 tablespoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Dampen the stain with cold water first, then soak it with the soap mixture. Wait 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse the stain out using cold water.
   • You can also use shampoo instead of dish soap.
7. Make your own stain remover using baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water. Fill a spray bottle with 1 part baking soda, 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and ½ part cold water. Close the bottle, and shake it to mix. Spray the mixture onto the stain, wait 5 minutes, then rinse it off. Repeat 2 more times, then wash the sheets in cold water.
   • This works best on polyester-cotton blends.
8. Launder your bed sheets in cold water after any stain-removal treatment. Use cold water, a mild detergent, and your usual wash cycle. Remove the wet sheets as soon as the cycle ends. Do not place them in the dryer. Instead, let them air dry either by hanging or in the sun.
   • Treat the blood stains again if they do not come out after the first wash cycle. You will need to continue treating and washing until the blood is no longer visible. Once you get the blood out, you can dry the sheets as you normally would.
   • Consider using bleach on white sheets.

Removing Dried Blood

1. Take the bed sheet off, and soak the stain in cold water for several hours to overnight. The cold water soak will help loosen any dried blood. You can also wash the bed sheets in your washing machine. Use cold water and a mild detergent. This will not necessarily remove the stain, but it will help loosen it. Follow this step with any of the stain-removal treatments listed below.
   • Keep in mind that the stain may be permanent, especially if it has been through the dryer. Heat sets stains, so if you put your stained bed sheets into the dryer, the blood may have been baked into the fabric.
2. Try using white vinegar. For a small stain, fill a bowl with vinegar first, then soak the stain in the bowl. For a larger stain, place towel or rag under stain first, then pour vinegar over the stain. Wait 30 minutes (for both small and large stains), then wash the bed sheet as usual using cold water.
3. Consider using a paste made from meat tenderizer and water. Mix 1 tablespoon of meat tenderizer and 2 teaspoons of cold water into a paste. Spread the paste onto the stain, making sure to work it into the fabric. Wait 30 to 60 minutes, then brush the paste off. Wash the sheets in cold water.
4. Use laundry detergent and water on light stains. In a small cup, combine 1 part laundry detergent and 5 parts water. Stir to mix, then apply the solution to the stain. Pat it in with a soft-bristled brush and wait 10 to 15 minutes. Blot the stain with a damp sponge or towel, then pat it dry with a white towel.
5. Use hydrogen peroxide on stubborn stains. Pour some hydrogen peroxide onto the stain, and pat it with wait a soft-bristled brush. Wait 5 to 10 minutes, then blot the stain with a damp sponge or rag. Pat the stain again with a clean, dry towel.
   • Light turns hydrogen peroxide into water. If it is very bright in your room, cover stain with plastic wrap, then place a towel over it.
   • Do a spot test on colored sheets first. Hydrogen peroxide may fade or bleach colored fabrics.
   • Use full-strength ammonia as a last resort. Avoid it on colored bed sheets.
6. Soak extra stubborn stains in borax and water for several hours to over night. Follow the instructions on the box of borax to create a soaking solution. Dunk the stain in the solution for several hours to overnight. Rinse it out the following day with water, then hang it up to dry.
7. Launder your sheets after any stain-removal treatment. Use cold water, a mild detergent, and you usual cycle setting. Remove the wet sheets as soon as the cycle ends. Do not place them in the dryer. Instead, let them air dry either by hanging or in the sun.
   • The blood stains may not come out right away. If this happens, simply repeat the stain removal process.
   • Consider using bleach on white sheets.

Treating the Mattresses and Bedding

1. Don't forget about your mattress and mattress protector. If your bed sheets got stained, you may want to take a peek at your mattress and mattress protector as well. There is a chance that they got stained as well. You will need to treat them as well.
2. Dampen stains on mattress protectors first with cold water. If the stain is fresh, a bit of cold water may be all you need to get it out. If the stain has already dried, a good soaking (several hours to overnight) will help loosen the stain and make it easier to get out.
   • If the stain is on a mattress, lightly spray the stain with a bit of water. Do not soak the stain.
3. Try a paste made from cornstarch, hydrogen peroxide, and salt. Mix ½ cup (65 grams) of cornstarch, ¼ cup (60 milliliters) of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon of salt. Spread the paste onto the stain, let it dry, then brush it off. Repeat the treatment if necessary.
4. Blot stains on mattresses with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Do not dump the white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide onto the stain. Instead, soak a clean cloth with the white vinegar/hydrogen peroxide first. Squeeze out any excess liquid, then gently dab the stain. If the cloth gets dirty from the blood, use a cleaner part of the cloth. This way, you won't be transferring the stain back onto the mattress.
5. Use the same stain-removal treatments on comforters and mattress protectors as you would on a bed sheet. Once you have the stain off, load them into the washing machine separately, and wash using cold water and mild detergent. Use a double rinse cycle, if you can.
   • Toss a tennis ball or dryer ball into the dryer along with your comforter to help fluff it up again.

Tips

• Do a spot test on colored sheets in a hidden area, such as the seam or hem. This will ensure that the method you are using won't fade or bleach the fabric.
• There are several products on the market that can remove difficult stains, including blood. Look for something that contains ammonia, which will help remove blood.
• Spray lemon juice onto the stain before you put a commercial stain spray or stain stick on the area. Let it sit for a few minutes before you wash.
• If the stain is small, try some saliva. Simply spit onto the stain, then blot it dry with a clean cloth.
• Get a mattress pad or mattress protector to keep your mattress from getting stained.
• Try an enzyme-based cleaner, but avoid using it on sheets made out of silk or wool.
• For light blood stains, use a stain-remover stick and let the stain sit for a couple hours (or even days), and then scrub it with a wet washcloth.

Warnings

• Never put stained sheets in the dryer, as the heat will set the stain. Make sure that the stain is gone before you put them in.
• Never use hot water. This will set the stain.

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Sources and Citations

See also

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• Remove Blood Stains from Silk Fabric
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• Remove Dried Blood Stains from a Couch

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