How to Remove Dried Blood and Stains: Home Remedies and Tips

Bloody stains on clothing, upholstery or bedding are much easier to wash off if they are fresh. But if for some reason you were unable to immediately wash away the mark with cold water, there is no need to rush to throw away your favorite item. With the help of simple home remedies and modern commercial stain removers, even old, already dried blood stains can be removed.

Features of removing blood stains from white fabric

Blood is quite difficult to wash off, especially when it comes to white fabric. The reason for this is that red blood cells (which are responsible for its color) contain hemoglobin, and its composition, in turn, includes iron. It is this that is absorbed into clothes and leaves rusty-colored marks on them that are difficult to wash off.

Important! Blood should always be washed in cold water. Blood plasma contains a lot of protein, which tends to coagulate in warm water (at a temperature of 42 degrees and above). Thus, if you wash a white item at hot temperatures, you can achieve the opposite result: the blood will coagulate and the stain will only become even more entrenched in the fibers of the fabric.

When washing blood from white linen, you should remember several basic rules and features:

  • After detecting traces of blood on a white fabric item, it is important to begin removing them as soon as possible, since the sooner this process begins, the higher the likelihood of dealing with the contamination and keeping the white item in its original form;
  • Before using any method that will be used to remove blood stains, if possible, it is worth testing it on a small and inconspicuous area of ​​​​white fabric on the wrong side of the product;
  • You need to start removing marks with softer, more gentle ingredients. It is worth using aggressive techniques only if the previous options did not work;
  • It is advisable to apply substances to remove traces exclusively on the contamination itself, while trying not to affect the area around it;
  • When using specialized chemical stain removers, it is important to strictly observe the time of exposure to the stain and not exceed the time interval specified in the instructions for use of this stain remover. Otherwise, the chemical will corrode the clothing, and a hole will form where it interacts with the material;
  • Washing should be done in soft water (boiled or bottled), since hard tap water will negatively affect the interaction of the cleaning agent with the contaminated area of ​​white clothing and, reducing the efficiency of its operation;
  • You should not dry white clothes in the open sun, because if the mark has not been eliminated, then under the influence of solar heat the contamination will penetrate even more into the fibers of the fabric.

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A few words about precautions

First of all, you should pay attention to the fact that washing clothes with hot water and drying them with unremoved blood stains will lead to the blood being completely and irrevocably ingrained into the fabric, and this will most likely force you to say goodbye to your favorite item.


Hot water will “brew” the blood proteins, tightly gluing them to the tissue fibers

Before sending items for washing, blood stains on linen and clothes must be pre-treated - wash off the main contaminants from the inside out under cold running water, soak and wash by hand.

It is recommended to wear gloves when treating stains using industrial bleaches and stain removers, especially those containing chlorine, or homemade solutions with ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.


Gloves will protect the skin of your hands from the negative effects of chemicals

When using aggressive chemicals, it is first better to make sure that they will not damage the item itself, especially if it is made of delicate, thin or woolen fabrics. To do this, a test is made on an inconspicuous area somewhere in the corner on the wrong side. Drop a few drops of the chosen product and see after 5-10 minutes how it behaves - whether it changes the basic color of the fabric or begins to corrode the structure of the fibers.

How to remove fresh blood stains from white

The easiest way to deal with blood stains is, for example, to wash the blood off a white T-shirt before the stain has time to be completely absorbed into the fabric fibers and dry. Therefore, if blood traces are detected on the material, you should immediately begin to remove them.

The algorithm of actions should be as follows:

  • a material should be placed on top of the contaminated area of ​​white clothing that will absorb excess liquid (paper, a piece of fabric);
  • The blood print should be washed in cold water: usually for fresh stains this is enough to completely wash them off.

After washing off the stains from white clothes, further cleaning of the product can be continued either by hand washing or by using an automatic washing machine.

Important! To avoid increasing the size of the blood print on white fabric, do not wet or rub the contaminated area, otherwise it will be more difficult to wash the item.

You can easily remove fresh blood stains from white clothes by following these simple recommendations.

How to remove blood from white by hand washing

It is not necessary to resort to using a washing machine in order to remove blood stains, for example, to remove blood from a white shirt. The process of hand washing will allow you to control the removal of traces and help keep the item in its original condition.

Basic rules that must be followed when removing blood stains from white clothes:

  • You need to blot the blood with any absorbent material (for example, a paper napkin, toilet paper) that will absorb excess liquid;
  • The contaminated area of ​​fabric should be placed under running cold water. It should be borne in mind that the greater the water pressure, the easier it will be to wash the clothes, and the less time it will take;
  • If, after manipulating with a stream of water, the trace of blood does not go away, you should rub it thoroughly with laundry soap and soak the clothes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This procedure can be repeated several times until the stain is completely removed from the fabric. You cannot rub the material and wash it in the usual way, as this will only lead to an increase in the size of the contamination;
  • After the mark itself disappears from the white fabric, as a rule, stains appear, which can be easily dealt with using laundry or baby soap or regular washing powder for hand or machine washing;
  • After erasing the mark, the item must be thoroughly rinsed in cool water.

Important! If blood stains cannot be washed off from white clothes, then under no circumstances should they be ironed or exposed to high temperatures, as this will make further removal of the stain impossible, and the item will be hopelessly damaged.

How to Remove Blood from White Fabric Using Machine Wash

A situation may arise that there simply won’t be time to manually wash blood stains. In this case, you should resort to using a washing machine. But to achieve a positive result, it is still recommended to initially remove the stain manually. The sequence of actions in this case should be as follows:

  • Approximately 10 minutes before the start of washing, it is worth treating a blood stain on white clothes with laundry soap or a special stain remover (if the instructions for the stain remover indicate a different period of time, then you must follow the instructions). Before this, the stain should not be wetted or rubbed. Leave everything in this form so that the cleaning composition penetrates into the fibers of the fabric;
  • The washing process in a washing machine should be carried out in a mode that requires an operating temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. It is recommended to turn off the spin and drying mode;
  • It is better to rinse the item manually, under cool running water, in order to make sure that the stain is completely removed or if you need to resort to other methods to help remove stains from white clothes.

How to remove dried blood from white clothes

The above methods dealt with fresh blood stains on white clothes, and they are quite easy to deal with. The situation is different with those contaminants that appeared on clothing or other things quite a long time ago, and the blood had time to dry and be completely absorbed into the fabric fibers.

In order to remove dried blood from white clothes, you must follow the following sequence of actions:

  • It is recommended to soak an item with traces of blood in cool water for about 40 minutes. During this time, you need to change the water a couple of times and, without using any additional means, try to remove the stain by washing it;
  • After the specified period of time, the contamination should be treated with laundry soap (housewives often use regular shampoo instead of soap) and leave the item in this condition for another 40 minutes. In this case, you should not resort to using washing powder, since it does not always cope with the function assigned to it;
  • Next, rinse the item in cool water and look at the result. If necessary, the procedure with soap should be repeated.

If you follow these recommendations, even an old stain on white clothes can be washed off, and the item will retain all its qualities.

Important! When washing white clothes to remove blood stains, do not use substances such as bleach or other bleaches and stain removers that contain chlorine. They will certainly be able to remove dirt, but after using them, yellow stains may remain on white clothes, which are subsequently impossible to remove from the product.

How to remove blood from white fabric with salt

Table salt can be found in every housewife's kitchen, and it will make it quite easy to remove blood stains from white clothes without a trace. There are 2 main ways to use salt for these purposes:

For the first method you will need:

  • 1 glass of cool water (it is better to use boiled or bottled water);
  • 1 tsp. table salt.

How to wash:

  1. Dissolve the salt in a glass of water and then pour the resulting mixture into a spray bottle.
  2. Spray the prepared product onto the stain and remove any remaining residue with a clean napkin.
  3. After the manipulations, it is recommended to wash the item in the usual way using laundry soap or powder.

The second method requires:

  • 1 tbsp. l. table salt;
  • any cleaning product;
  • water.

How to wash:

  1. Initially, it is necessary to slightly moisten the blood contamination.
  2. Next, you should fill the stain with table salt and rub it into the material with gentle movements.
  3. Apply a cleaning agent (soap solution or powder dissolved in water) on top of the salt and rub it until foam forms, then sprinkle the area with salt again and rub the entire composition into the material.
  4. After completing these steps, clothes should be rinsed in cool water and washed in any usual way.

How to remove blood stains from white fabric with ammonia

Ammonia can easily remove blood stains from any material, such as white cotton. There are several options for its use.

In the first case you will need:

  • 1 tbsp. l. ammonia;
  • 1 glass of cool water.

How to wash:

  1. Dissolve ammonia in water.
  2. Soak a cotton pad in the prepared solution and treat the contaminated area with it.

In the second, you will need:

  • a quarter glass of ammonia;
  • 1 tbsp. l. dishwashing detergents;
  • 4 liters of cool water.

How to wash:

  1. Dissolve alcohol and detergent in the specified amount of water.
  2. Soak white clothes in this mixture for about one hour, then rinse and wash.

How to remove blood stains on white with soda

Baking soda is used for more than just cooking. It is known for its use in many areas, including in the field of combating pollution of various types. It will also help remove old blood stains on white clothes.

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To do this you need to take:

  • 1 tsp. soda;
  • 2 tsp water.

All ingredients should be mixed together and the resulting concentrate should be applied to the stain. The clothing material must be kept in this form for approximately 30 minutes, and then the remaining cleaning agent must be removed and the item washed.

If it doesn’t work out the first time, you can repeat the procedure.

How to remove blood from white linen with starch

This method is ideal if delicate types of fabrics (silk, chiffon, organza, viscose) have been contaminated. Starch is a very gentle means for removing blood stains and, at the same time, quite effective.

How to wash:

  1. It is necessary to add water to the starch until the mass becomes viscous in consistency.
  2. The resulting product should be applied to the stain and wait until it dries completely.
  3. You need to remove any remaining starch from the item with a special clothes brush, after which all that remains is to rinse the item.

How to remove blood from white clothes with vinegar

Using acetic acid is a fairly easy and effective method of combating stubborn stains.

How to wash:

  1. The contaminated area must be moistened generously with regular white vinegar.
  2. Leave the item in this state for half an hour.
  3. After this, the product must be rinsed.

How to remove blood on white with glycerin

The use of glycerin in the fight against blood marks is a budget-friendly and very effective option.

How to wash:

  1. It is necessary to warm up the glycerin a little in any convenient way.
  2. Using a cotton pad soaked in glycerin, you should treat the blood stain.
  3. Next, the item is washed manually or using an automatic machine.

How to remove blood stains from white clothes using household chemicals

Modern household chemicals will also help deal with incidents such as blood stains on white clothes. There are several effective options for removing blood from white clothes:

  1. Various bleaches (for example, “Vanish”). The principle of their operation is the same: they must be applied to the mark and left on the item for a certain period of time. Then wash the product in the usual way using powder and the same bleach. At the same time, you need to carefully read the instructions for the product and make sure that it is suitable for combating stains on white fabric.
  2. Dishwashing detergent will also help remove the unpleasant effects of blood stains. Oddly enough, they effectively fight not only grease on dirty dishes, but can also help remove traces of blood. To do this, the liquid is poured directly onto the site of contamination and left in this form for 40 minutes. After which the clothes are washed in cold water. If necessary, it is recommended to repeat the procedure.
  3. Antipyatin soap. Helps quickly and efficiently remove stains. It must be whipped into foam and applied to the damaged surface, wait about 20 minutes and rinse the product.

Methods for cleaning local contamination

There are two options for getting rid of stubborn stains:

  • Handwash.
  • In an automatic car.

Are you unplugging your washing machine?

Oh yes! No

Let's take a closer look:

  1. The manual method will be especially effective if the area with the red stain on the clothing is immediately treated with laundry soap. It is quite possible that you will be able to wipe it off right away.
  2. The SMA idea is not such a good idea. The fact is that it is better not to wash clothes with a stain with other things, as blood particles can get on them and leave yellow marks behind them. If you still decide to use the machine, then take the time to first rinse the area of ​​contamination under good pressure of cold water.

Blood stains

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