Hydrogen Peroxide is commonly used to get rid of blood stains because it works for both fresh and dried blood. The process is easy. You only need to apply a small amount of the cleaning solution to the affected area and let it sit for five minutes. Now grab a towel and blot to absorb the material.
Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent blood stain remover that works well on both fresh and set-in blood stains. However, hydrogen peroxide can have a bleaching effect on some textiles, so it's important to perform a spot test before using it for stain removal.
A baking soda paste (two parts baking soda to 1 part water) is also a good trick to help lift blood stains. Apply the poultice directly to the stain and leave it for up to 30 minutes. After you've removed the paste, carefully blot the area with a damp cloth or paper towel then wash as normal.
The trick to removing dried blood is trying a simple method (soap and water) and moving on to more complicated methods if needed. If at first you do not succeed… Use an enzymatic cleaner. If soap and water do not adequately remove the stain, move on to an enzymatic cleaner, which will biodegrade the stain.
Are Dried-in-Blood Stains Harder to Remove? Yes, unfortunately they are, and this task often needs something stronger than soap and water. The most effective method is to use hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizing agent that removes old blood stains via a chemical reaction, breaking it down.
Dawn. If you have some Dawn dish soap, you can also use that to help remove blood stains. Dawn recommends applying a few drops of dish soap directly onto the fabric, covering the entire stain, and then rubbing it in with your fingers.
These stains are removed by using a bleaching agent, for example, hydrogen peroxide. These oxidizing agents break down the color-causing components of chemical structures so that the stain becomes invisible!
Old blood stains can be especially difficult to remove, however it's not always impossible. If the blood stains have been washed in hot water or put through the dryer, this could have set the stain and made them permanent.
Natural products like vinegar can actually help get out blood stains from clothing. To use vinegar to remove blood stains, all you need to do is pour the vinegar over the stain until it is completely covered and start gently blotting at it with a clean cloth or sponge.
Vinegar: White vinegar can break down blood stains while also disinfecting the area. Dilute one part of vinegar with one part of cold water and soak the stained item in the solution for 30 minutes before washing with warm soapy water.
The types of cleaning solutions used to remove blood stains are upholstery cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, water and soap mixtures, and rubbing alcohol.
If your stain remains even after pretreatment and a cold wash, you can treat your sheets with hydrogen peroxide. Because hydrogen peroxide may bleach your fabric, be sure to test it out first on an inconspicuous spot. The peroxide will start foaming upon contact with the blood stain — that means it's working!
Just apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain and watch as the red blood stain disappears. In the case of old or stubborn stains, reapply as needed. After the stain is removed, rinse the area with cold water to remove any peroxide that may be left behind.
Unfortunately, sometimes blood stains happen when you're out of the house, and at that point, soap and laundry products won't do you any good. Luckily, salt water or saline can come in handy in a pinch. Plain old table salt and cold water do really well for getting period blood out of clothes after the stain has dried.
First, scrape off all the remnants of dried blood over the garbage can or sink with a dry sponge or scrub brush. Cover the discolored area with hydrogen peroxide. It will bubble up as it attacks the stain, just like it does with fresh blood.
After scrubbing, allow the peroxide to soak into the stain for about 10-15 minutes. You'll probably seem some fizzing happening, which is the hydrogen peroxide breaking down the proteins in the blood.
Blood stains and hydrogen peroxide
But it's better than straight-up bleach because it's usually color-safe. Still, you should always make sure it won't discolor the fabric in question by placing a small dot on a hidden area.
Since the solution is basic, a pink colour develops indicating the presence of blood. The test is very sensitive, but is not specific for human blood. Animal blood will also yield a positive reaction as will oxidizing agents such as some metal ions.
Even when you can't treat a stain immediately, the five powerful Stain Fighters in OxiClean™ Max Force™ Spray tackle tough stains like dried-in blood. Rinse blood stain in cold water. Spray directly onto the spot or stain until saturated.
Finding and documenting blood residue
Freshly dried bloodstains are a glossy reddish-brown in color. Under the influence of sunlight, the weather or removal attempts, the color eventually disappears and the stain turns grey. The surface on which it is found may also influence the stain's color.
Mix a tablespoon of dish soap with two cups of cold water. Take a sponge and dab the solution into the garment until the blood stain disappears. Use the sponge again with clean water to clean off the remaining dish soap, then wash the garment as usual.