Can you get Blood out of Clothes?
Sometimes accidents happen and if you find yourself with a bloody shirt or piece of clothing, don’t worry – you can usually get the stain out or at least lessen its appearance. Just follow these steps to guarantee success in getting out that pesky blood stain:
Steps on How to Remove Blood from Clothes
- If the stain is fresh, work on getting it out with cold water first. Don’t use hot water, as the heat can set the stain instead.
- Grab some salt and rub it into the stain. This will act as a natural detergent, using the properties of osmosis to draw moisture away from the fabric.
- Immediately put the clothing into cold water. This will allow the salt to dissolve, while also acting to flush away the blood.
- Use a regular laundry detergent if salt doesn’t do the job. Rub the detergent into the stain and wait up to 15 minutes. Then, rinse with cold water and inspect to see if the stain has improved.
- Try using an enzyme-based detergent if the stain is still there. Enzyme-based detergents are known to be great at breaking up the protein bonds of a blood stain.
- For more extreme cases, soak in a leak-proof bucket overnight. Fill the bucket with 2 gallons of cool water and combine with a half cup of hydrogen peroxide. Remove the shirt and inspect the stain – if the stain is still there, repeat the process as needed.
Depending on the material and how long the stain has been sitting there, you may need to use different means to get the stain out. Be sure to use only cold water and detergent; never use heat as it could set the stain. With the correct procedures, you can remove the unwanted blood stain from your clothing and be on your merry way.