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.
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.
Can't tell what that stain is, but still want to remove it? Try this sure-fire remover: Mix a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a little cream of tartar or a dab of non-gel toothpaste, rub the paste on the stain with a soft cloth, and rinse. The stain, whatever it was, should be gone.
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.
If the stain is super fresh, place it under cold running water and try to flush out as much of the fresh blood as you can. Sponge the stain with hydrogen peroxide, or rub bar soap into the stain. Pour the hydrogen peroxide onto the sponge, not directly on the stain. Scrub the stained garment by hand in cold water.
Hydrogen peroxide
Time for a little science lesson. OxiClean contains several ingredients, but the important one for boosting and brightening laundry is sodium percarbonate — basically, dry hydrogen peroxide plus washing soda (also called sodium carbonate, which is very similar to but not exactly baking soda).
Hydrogen peroxide is stronger than carbamide peroxide. To compare, if you are considering buying 16% carbamide peroxide, it is roughly equivalent to 6% hydrogen peroxide. There are a variety of active ingredients to whiten teeth: from sodium fluoride to hydrogen peroxide and even carbamide peroxide.
The legal limit for a dentist to use is between 0.1% and 6% hydrogen peroxide. These higher percentage products used by a dental professional will produce a safe, effective and long-lasting tooth lightening result.
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.
This is because blood and most living cells contain the enzyme catalase, which attacks hydrogen peroxide and converts it into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2).
It is best to prepare these stains ahead of time as the beef blood "ages" rapidly, even under refrigeration. These stains will react almost immediately on addition of the hydrogen peroxide and produce white frothy bubbles.
If you have ever used hydrogen peroxide to disinfect a cut, you may have also noted some bubbling since blood can decompose hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The catalyst this time is not an enzyme, but the “heme” portion of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying compound in red blood cells.
If the fabric passed the spot test, go ahead and cover the blood stain with hydrogen peroxide, then let it sit for a few minutes. After a few minutes, dab the stain with a clean cloth, working from the outside of the stain inward.
“To maximize the effects of hydrogen peroxide – and to use it safely – you must first dilute it,” Williams, Daily & Frazier Dental writes on its website. “The familiar brown bottle found in stores contains 3% hydrogen peroxide, which is too strong for oral use.”
The 6% Hydrogen Peroxide is equivalent to 18% Carbamide Peroxide and is the strongest at home whitening solution allowed by EU Regulations and is recommended to be used for 30-90 minutes at a time. The length of full treatment is prescribed by the dentist.
When you use peroxide, go for medical-grade peroxide, which is 3% strength. That means it's 97% water and 3% peroxide. “Medical grade is strong enough for household use,” says Dr. Beers.
Don't mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together in the same mixture. This can create peracetic acid, which may be toxic and can irritate your throat and lungs, eyes and skin. You can, however, alternate spraying hydrogen peroxide and vinegar on a surface. Just make sure to wipe the surface between sprays.
Using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are natural, non-toxic ways to clean many surfaces in your home. The two products can be safely combined or used separately to whiten laundry, remove odors, disinfect surfaces, and much more.
According to BISM, the ingredients that make up Oxiclean can cause serious injury if breathed in, swallowed, or gets in your eyes.
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.
Scientists have shown that traces of blood in various materials are eliminated completely when they are washed with detergents containing active oxygen. The conclusion of the study points out that these new products alter blood to such an extent that this cannot be detected by reagents used in forensics.
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.