How to Get Blood Stains Out of Clothes
Blood stains can be a real pain.
Whether they are from a bloody nose or a bloody knee, getting blood on your clothes can mean a stain that stays for good if you don’t take care of it right away.
If you’ve got kids and they are like most kids, you’ve probably dealt with your fair share of blood stains and you know how frustrating it can be when their favorite shirt gets ruined because of blood.
Why Are Blood Stains So Hard To Remove?
Blood stains are essentially protein stains and protein holds tight to the fibers in fabric. It’s not as simple as removing mud or dirt which stays on the surface of the fibers and these rinse out with just water, even after they've dried into the fabric.
With blood stains, the best bet is to get to the stain before it has a chance to become set in the fabric and become permanent. What you don’t want to do with a blood-stained item is to throw it directly in the washer and dryer.
Once the garment is heated in any way, it will be just about impossible to remove the stain from the clothes.
Some Tried and True Methods:
The best possible advice for a blood stain is to take care of it right away, as soon as is possible. The quicker you get to the stain; regardless of which method you try, the better your chances of removing it.
The second piece of essential advice is to keep it cold. Never run the stain under hot water or you will effectively lock it in and make it permanent. So, remember, always use cold water with blood stains, not even lukewarm.
Science or Old Wives’ Tales?
When it comes to removing blood from fabric, there are several methods that can be used, all without using any special commercially produced cleaner. You won’t find stranger advice than this one, and it’s not for the squeamish. You can actually spit on the stain to remove the blood. Proponents of this method even suggest the spit that works the best is the spit of the person whose blood is on the stain.
If you have young boys in the family, they're really going to think you are so cool. The science of this does, in a weird way, make sense. After all, the enzymes that break down the proteins in our food are the ones that would break down a blood stain. Of course, if you are talking about a sizable stain, you would need a lot of spit.
Hydrogen Peroxide:
Hydrogen Peroxide is cheap and is the ultimate multi-tasker. When it comes to blood stains, it works quickly and its effects are pretty amazing.
- Just pour the Hydrogen Peroxide right onto the stain and don’t be stingy.
- It should immediately start bubbling and eating away at the proteins in the blood.
Often, with this method, the bubbles will sit on top of the fabric. Just scrape it off and pour more. You can follow up with a simple soap and cold water to finish the job.
Pure Soap and Water:
It doesn’t get much more basic than this next method. Cold water and pure soap. Don’t reach for the fancy cleanser, just pure old fashioned soap will do the best job. That and elbow grease will get out the blood stain.
- Just wet the garment with COLD water, add soap and lather up.
- Use your hands to scrub the fabric against itself.
- Keep using cold water and soap until the stain disappears.
These are a few of the best bets for getting out blood stains, but if you’ve got a stain that has set into the fabric, you may be willing to try anything to get it out. Some other methods are:
- Use toothpaste to get the blood stain out - apply a some toothpaste and wet with a little water. Using a toothbrush scrub the stained area, occasionally add a little more water.
- Soak in meat tenderizer and water - put some meat tenderizer on the stain and sprinkle with a little water, how long you leave it on depends on how set in the blood is, rinse with cold water.
- Pour ammonia over most fabrics - ammonia does not damage fabrics the way bleach can - let sit a few minutes and rinse with cold water.
Whatever method you choose for removing blood stains, be sure to remember to work quickly - and use cold water.
