Nobody likes to deal with blood stains, but unfortunately, they’re a part of everyday life. Whether it’s from a bloody nose, shaving cuts, or period blood, your family’s bedclothes are sure to become stained with blood from time to time. If you don’t clean blood stains out immediately, they might stain the fabric forever, so it’s essential to know how to get blood out of sheets.
Never fear, though. We’re here to help! In this guide, we’ll learn how to remove blood stains from sheets with methods that you can use to get your sheets and bedclothes looking brand new again.
We look at liquid treatments that range from gentle to intense, and we also examine some tried-and-true bloodstain treatments that use powders and other solids to pull the blood stains out of your favorite bedwear. Our guide will help you never have to worry about permanent blood stains in silk or cotton sheets again!
Tricks to Get Blood Out of Sheets
You can use a wide variety of liquid treatments to remove your sheets’ blood stains. While many of the liquid treatments are relatively gentle and are a fantastic way to attack stains without damaging the underlying fabric, we also include some powerful liquid stain treatments that will do a number on your stains but should be monitored to ensure that they don’t start breaking down the sheet, too.
Blood Stain Treatments – Liquid Solutions
The more robust cleaning solutions we include can also be used to remove blood from carpet, so you know they’ll be useful on your bed sheets. When cleaning delicate material, it’s always best to start with the most gentle option and slowly ramp up the power until you achieve your goal.
Find a liquid solution that provides you with the minimum cleaning required to do the job. That way, your sheets won’t suffer unnecessary damage. Add essential oils to any of these solutions for a fresh scent and extra cleaning power.
Start With Cold Water
The most straightforward solutions are often the best. When you find new blood stains on a sheet, you can sometimes clean them out without resorting to anything aside from good old water. Use cold water for this method for best results; hot water on a fresh stain can cause the stain to set in the fabric and make it tougher to remove.
Dip a corner of the soft cloth in the water, and dab the stain. If the stain has already begun to dry, get the area completely wet, and loosen the stain with the brush.
After treating the stain, be sure to send the sheets through the washing machine with laundry detergent or dish soap.
Cold water should also be your first “go-to” to clean blood off a sofa. Dab from the outside in to prevent spreading the stain. Keep dabbing until the stain lightens or goes away completely. If you can’t get rid of the entire bloodstain, try one of our other, stronger home remedies.
Try Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a fantastic cleaning agent, especially for light-colored cotton sheets. Peroxide is an oxygen bleach, which makes it ideal for removing stains without damaging the white sheets. You can use hydrogen peroxide for all sorts of stain removal, too.
In addition to cleaning clothes, for example, peroxide is excellent for getting vomit out of carpet! You can use its cleaning power to remove the worst blood stains. Lemon juice is an excellent substitute if you don’t have peroxide on hand.
Fill the spray bottle with the peroxide. If you are cleaning dark-colored sheets, test the solution on an inconspicuous area. Spray the blood spot, wetting it thoroughly, and allow the peroxide to sit for a minute or two.
Scrub with a toothbrush, and blot the peroxide away. Repeat until the stain is gone, and send the sheets through a wash cycle.
Clean Stains with Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most versatile agents you’ll find, and it makes a great cleaner. Vinegar’s mild acidity makes it an excellent way to get dried blood stains out of fabric. Vinegar is a fantastic next option when you have a blood stain that peroxide or cold water won’t clean away.
Fill the container with the water and vinegar. Spray any stains until soaked, and allow the mixture to sit. Blot away the liquid with the dry cloth, and repeat until the stain is gone. Wash the sheets in laundry detergent.
Get Rid of Blood Stains with Ammonia
Ammonia is a great way to get blood out of sheets. Its powerful cleaning action can harm your sheets if you’re not careful, though, so if you use ammonia for cleaning period stains off of your bedsheets, keep a close eye on the fabric. Test out the ammonia solution on an inconspicuous area before applying it to the stain.
Combine hot water and ammonia in the spray bottle and spray the stain thoroughly. Use the brush to work the stain remover into the dried blood, and allow the mixture to sit for ten minutes.
Rinse the area with the remaining water, and repeat if needed. Washing machines will usually remove any remaining blood, so send the sheets through your wash cycle afterward.
Break Out the Enzyme Cleaner
If your other liquid cleaning agents don’t get rid of the blood stain, you can always turn to enzyme cleaners to attack stubborn stains.
Organic enzyme cleaners make excellent blood cleaners because they are designed to attack any organic matter without damaging the surrounding inorganic material. Always wear safety gear when working with enzyme cleaners to avoid skin or eye irritation.
Put on the protective gear. Test the cleaner on a hard-to-see spot to make sure it won’t damage your sheets. Soak the stains in the enzyme cleaner for thirty minutes, then rinse the area with water. Repeat as needed, and send the sheets through the wash when the stain is gone.
Blood Stain Treatments – Solid Solutions
Believe it or not, some of the most effective blood stain treatments are in solid form, often as a powder. Use these cleaning solutions to attack blood stains without breaking out the messy liquids; these options are quick-acting and reliable.
In this section, we find out how to get blood out of sheets using a variety of solid products. Like our liquid solutions, the solid cleaners range from mild to robust.
Because some of these stain removers can damage your sheets, be sure to test them out before applying them to your stains. You’ll be amazed at how quickly these blood stain removers clean your sheets!
Clean Your Sheets with Salt
Good old table salt is a fantastic cleaning agent for a variety of items. You can use salt to clean cabinets, to get mildew out of clothes, and to get your silver jewelry sparkling, and it is perfect for blood stain removal. Use salt as a first step when turning to solid cleaners, as salt is unlikely to harm the fabric.
Mix the salt and water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stain, and scrub it in with the brush. Allow the solution to dry, and then rinse it away with the water. For tough stains, add salt to the water bucket, and soak the sheets in the mixture.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a great way to get dried blood stains out of fabric. Baking soda is an excellent natural cleaner and will pull the blood away from the cloth without hurting the sheet.
Use baking soda when you’re worried about damaging your fabric. If you’re wondering how to get dried blood stains out of fabric, you’ll be astonished at how useful baking soda can be.
Combine the water and baking soda into a paste. Use the fabric to paint the stain with the paste, and allow the mixture to air dry. After about thirty minutes, brush away the residue, and repeat if needed. Send the sheets through a wash cycle afterward.
Clean the Blood Away with Cornstarch
Cornstarch is an excellent blood stain remover. It soaks up any surrounding liquid and collects blood and other organic matter quickly from cotton fabric. If you don’t have any cornstarch, potato starch is a substitute for cornstarch.
Use cornstarch instead of baking soda. If using cornstarch on dark fabrics, test the solution on an inconspicuous area first when removing blood stains.
Mix cornstarch with enough water to form a thick paste, and use the cloth to paint it onto the stained area. Allow the solution to dry, and then brush away the residue. Repeat as needed.
Attack the Stain with Meat Tenderizer
You might be surprised to learn that meat tenderizer makes an excellent blood stain cleaner. Use an unseasoned tenderizer; you don’t need to treat your sheets with pepper or other spices, after all! Test the tenderizer on a hard-to-see spot before treating the stain to ensure that you don’t harm your sheets while cleaning away the stain.
Sprinkle the meat tenderizer on the stains, and add enough water to form a paste. Use the toothbrush to mix the liquid and tenderizer, and allow the mixture to air dry. Rinse the area with the remaining water and repeat if necessary.
Clean Your Stains with Aspirin
Of all of the unlikely cleaning agents, aspirin is near the top. This tree bark derivative is terrific at relieving mild pain, but it also makes a beautiful stain remover. Use powdered aspirin to clean the most stubborn blood stains without trouble. As with other solids, test this solution on an inconspicuous area first.
Make sure the aspirin is a fine powder. Sprinkle the aspirin on the stain, add enough water to make a paste, and scrub the area with the toothbrush.
Allow the mixture to air dry, and then, brush away the residue and rinse the cloth with the remaining water. Repeat as needed, and wash the sheets in laundry detergent afterward.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article on how to get blood out of sheets. While nobody enjoys cleaning out bloodstains, it’s crucial to your family’s comfort and cleanliness to know how to remove blood stains from sheets. Our guide will help you find the best method for your needs. Before long, you’ll be knocking out blood stains like a pro!
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