Bloodstains on sheets, pillows, and mattresses is not something you would want to see soon after you wake up. However, not one but there are several reasons for such unpleasant surprises that you have to encounter daily.
It can happen if you have scratched a bug bite while asleep or start your period unexpectedly, it could also happen due to a nosebleed.
Though removing blood off sheets and mattresses is tough, it is certainly possible. The thumb rule is to wash the stain immediately. Repeat after me – immediately. If you’re not diligent about cleaning it quickly, a dried stain can hang around forever.
Also, remember removing blood stains is not quite possible with water and detergent only, it needs some extra treatment. If you wash a bloodstain in the washing machine without first treating it, the stain will lighten and not go away completely. You might end up not using the sheet at all.
For mattresses, if you think you can get away by letting stains sit on them, you could have an embarrassing moment if at all a friend or family notices it. Removing stains from mattresses can be tougher because you cannot wash them in washing machines.
Another important thing is that we normally think that warm or hot water removes stains. But in the case of bloodstains, do not wash it in warm water at all. Bloodstains are treated best in cold water.
Now, this is technical information, but you need to know why warm water is not okay to remove blood from sheets. In fact, using hot water can increase your worries of a permanent bloodstain on your bed sheet or mattress.
Blood has proteins that can bind together, like clots. When the linen gets stained with it, the protein elements try to coagulate and, in the process, bind to the fabric. Trying to remove the stain with warm water accelerates the blood to stick to the material. Coldwater, on the other hand, lightens the blood without setting the stain as it does not let the blood adhere to the fabric.
Fortunately, there are several tried and tested ways to remove blood stains on sheets and mattresses, here they are:
Treat the stain right away
Yes, the fresher the stain, the easier it is to clean. If you notice a bloodstain, you ought to deal with it right away. If you’re running late, and can’t treat the stain at the moment, at least soak the sheet into a bucket of cold water. it will be much easier to deal with it later.
Hold the fabric under cold running water
To treat a fresh bloodstain, the first line of defense is running cold water. Hold the blood-stained area stretched under the tap and you will be amazed how much blood a steady stream of cold water can force out of the fabric.
In fact, sometimes water is enough to get fresh blood off sheets entirely.
How to Get Period Blood Out of Sheets?
Use hydrogen peroxide, salt, and corn starch because a little more help will be needed for a large or stubborn period bloodstain. In such cases, table salt and hydrogen peroxide can work like a magic stain removal potion.
Start by treating the mattress first. Hydrogen peroxide can be used full strength by pouring directly onto the mattress, but the liquid will soak through the layers of the foam creating a drying nightmare.
So, creating a paste with salt and hydrogen peroxide is the right way to remove the bloodstain without waiting for long to start using the mattress again. Salt and peroxide work wonderfully to get rid of stain-causing proteins in the blood.
How to remove the stain using salt and peroxide?
- Mix salt, corn starch, and peroxide in a plastic bowl instead of a metal bowl as peroxide can corrode it.
- Apply the paste onto the blood-stained area using a plastic or wood spoon or spatula.
- Once the paste is dry, dampen the blood stain by blotting it with cold water.
- When the bubbling stops, start dabbing it with a clean cloth beginning in the center of the stain and working outwards.
- As soon as the paste is scrubbed, and the stain is gotten rid of, vacuum the mattress.
This process is good enough for getting blood out of sheets.
Try the Aspirin or Baking Soda Trick
Two super-common items are mostly available in all households, one for headaches – aspirin, and other for baking cakes and cookies – baking soda.
Aspirins can not only alleviate headaches but also help in washing blood out of sheets, mattresses, and other garments. All you have to do is to:
- Crush a few tablets and mix the powder with water to form a paste.
- Apply this mixture onto the stain using a spoon, spatula, or your finger.
- Allow the paste to sit overnight.
- Wash the sheet or garment in the washing machine.
You can apply this mixture to a blood-stained mattress as well, but surely you cannot wash it. So, let this mixture sit for at least a couple of hours, after which you can scrub this mixture off using a clean damp cloth. If you have time let it dry naturally, if not air it with a hairdryer.
You can repeat this process if the stain has only lightened.
Baking soda can be used as a universal cleaning agent. It has strong cleaning properties yet does not do any damage to the fabric. all you have to do is to:
- Add an equal amount of baking soda to water. If you take a spoon of soda add a spoon of water to it.
- Apply the paste onto the stain with a wooden spatula and allow it to sit overnight.
- In the morning scrape off the residue and launder the sheet or garment as usual.
This is a strong remedy and can remove blood from sheets in the first attempt itself.
For Heavy Blood Stains Use Ammonia
Remember, do not use undiluted ammonia.
- In a spray bottle add 1 cup of cold water and a tablespoon of ammonia.
- Close the lid and shake it to mix the solution.
- Spray the mixture on the stain and wait for a couple of hours.
- After waiting, dab the sprayed area with a clean cloth and was the sheet or garment in cold water.
This remedy is very effective for removing blood stains but if the sheet is colored, then do not try it. Even undiluted ammonia may fade or bleach colored fabrics.
Salt and Dish Soap Remedy
When combined both these ingredients make a powerful stain remover for bed bug bloodstain on sheets.
- Add two tablespoons of salt and one tablespoon of dish soap and mix it.
- Apply it directly to the blood-stained sheet.
- Let the paste sit for just about 20 minutes.
- Scrub the mixture using a toothbrush gently.
- Wipe the area using a damp clean cloth and let the area dry.
How to Get Dried Blood Out of Sheets?
You may not be able to remove dried blood out of sheets and mattresses in one attempt. The blood protein may have bonded into the fabric fibers making it difficult to clean. You may have to repeat remedies but all of it is worth snuggling into clean cozy sheets and mattresses.
Lemon Juice for Tough Blood Stains
- Scrap dried blood with a blunt knife without much force to avoid tearing the sheet or mattress.
- Rinse the sheet well in cold water to remove residual blood. For mattresses spray cold water and wipe with a clean damp cloth.
- Pour undiluted lemon juice on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse the sheet cold water and spray water onto the mattress. Repeat this process until the stain is gone.
- Launder the sheet as usual. And vacuum the mattress.
Try Readymade Blood Stain Removal Products
There are several stain removal products available in the market. This may be an intimidating task when you’re confronted with all the promises of ‘like new’ and whitens better than other brands’.
So how do you choose? Select the one that doesn’t produce fumes and is safe for your skin and fabric as well.
Peroxide, Water, and Hot Iron Trick
This trick works well on mattresses and bed bug blood stains on sheets.
- Pour a few drops of undiluted peroxide onto the blood stain using a dropper.
- Scrub the stain using a toothbrush.
- Repeat the process until the stain disappears.
- Spray water on it.
- Heat the iron and go over the spot with it till the wetness disappears.
For delicate sheets such as satin do not use ammonia, peroxide, or soda. Saltwater is the ideal solution.
- In one cup of cold water add a teaspoon of salt.
- Pour the solution on the bloodstain, though not all at once.
- Gently scrub the stain with your hands.
- Let the solution sit on the sheets for 10 minutes.
- Rinse the sheet with cold water.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
Do not use force on delicate fabric, you may end up tearing them.
Using the aforementioned tips now removing blood stains can be easier than you expected!