How to Get Dried Blood Out of Fabric & Clothing

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Your guide to washing blood out of cotton, linen, silk, and more

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Soap and Water

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Meat Tenderizer

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Enzymatic Cleaner

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Lemon Juice and Sunlight

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Stronger Treatments

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Expert Interview

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a nosebleed or an unexpected period, getting blood stains out of fabric is a chore that no one likes. Fortunately, by using a few household products you may already have on hand, you can banish blood stains and get your fabric looking brand new again (even if the blood is old and dried). For our top tips and expert advice on removing blood stains from fabric, keep reading.

Things You Should Know

For linen, cotton, silk, and most other fabrics, rinse the item in cold water, then use bar soap to gently scrub the stain.
For dried stains on linen and cotton, use a mixture of meat tenderizer and water to scrub the stain out of the fabric.
For harsh stains on cotton and linen, use an enzymatic cleaner, then let it sit for 15 minutes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Soap and Water

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1
Use this simple method primarily for linen and cotton. This method requires no special tools, but does take a significant amount of prolonged rubbing. It is especially suited to stains on natural fibres like linen and cotton.
- Fabrics whose surfaces fragment into small round surface balls, known as "bobbles" or "pills," require a longer period of more gentle rubbing. These fabrics include wool and most artificial fibres.
2
Turn the fabric so the stain is face-down. In this position, water can work at the stain from the back, pushing it outward and off the fabric. Rinsing in this position is more effective than running the water directly onto the stain.^{[1]XResearch source}
- You may need to turn clothing inside out to achieve this.
- If you’re cleaning furniture, like a mattress or a couch, don’t worry about this step.
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3
Flush the stain with cold water. Even an old stain typically hasn't worked its way into the fabric completely, so start by removing the loosely attached surface portions. Run cold water over the back of the fabric, so it pushes through the stain. Hold the fabric in the running water for several minutes.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If you’re removing blood from furniture, wet a sponge with cold water and gently dab the area.
- Warning: never wash a blood stain in warm or hot water, which may cause it to bond permanently to the fibres of the fabric.^{[3]XResearch source}
Turn the fabric over so the stain is face-up. Rub bar soap into the stain generously to produce a thick lather. Any soap can be used, but traditional solid block laundry soap may have a stiffer, more effective lather than milder hand soap.^{[4]XResearch source}
Roll or scrunch up two areas of fabric, on either side of the stain. Grip one in each hand to provide a good grip on the area, allowing you to rub it together.^{[5]XResearch source}
6
Rub the stain against itself. Turn the 2 handfuls of fabric so the stain is in 2 halves and facing each other. Rub the stained fabric against itself vigorously, or gently but quickly if the fabric is delicate. The friction you generate will slowly loosen the remaining particles of blood, which will remain in the lather rather than re-adhering to the fabric.
- If you’re worried about blisters, wear gloves to protect your hands. Tight-fitting latex or nitrile gloves will provide the least hindrance to grip and dexterity.
7
Replace the water and soap and continue rubbing. If the fabric starts getting dry or losing its lather, flush the stain with fresh water and re-apply the soap. Continue rubbing each stained area in this way until it is gone. If you see no improvement after 5 to 10 minutes, try rubbing more vigorously or move on to a different method.^{[6]XResearch source}
- If the stain is gone, rinse the fabric with cool water and let it air dry.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Meat Tenderizer

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1
Use this on any fabric, but cautiously on silk and wool. Meat tenderizer powder, sold in grocery stores, can break down the proteins found in blood stains. While it is recommended by some silk experts, meat tenderizer does have the potential to break down silk and wool fibres as well.^{[7]XResearch source} Test this method on a small corner of these fabrics first to see if damage occurs.
- If you notice that the fabric changes color at all, don’t use this method.
- For a less harsh way to remove blood stains from silk, simply use a mixture of laundry detergent and water.
2
Wet unseasoned meat tenderizer. Put about 15 mL (1 tbsp) of unseasoned meat tenderizer into a small bowl. Gradually add water while stirring until a thick paste is formed.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Do not use seasoned meat tenderizer, as the seasonings may stain your fabric.
- Don’t have meat tenderizer? Try baking soda instead.
Spread the paste on the dried blood stain and gently rub it with your fingers. Let it sit for about an hour.^{[9]XResearch source}
After the hour is up, rinse the paste out with cold water. Wash the fabric as usual, but air dry rather than using a dryer, since the heat can cause remnants of the stain to set permanently.^{[10]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Enzymatic Cleaner

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Enzymatic cleaners break down proteins that form stains. Since blood stains bond to the fabric using proteins, enzymatic cleaners can be highly effective at removing them. However, wool and silk fibres are made from proteins and may break apart if exposed to an enzyme product.^{[11]XResearch source}
2
Use an enzymatic cleaner. If you are having trouble finding a cleaning product labeled "enzymatic" or "enzyme cleaner," try a "natural" or "earth-friendly" laundry detergent or laundry pre-treatment, which often contain biodegradable enzymes. Enzymatic cleaners destroy the proteins that make up human blood.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Nature's Miracle and Seventh Generation laundry detergent both fall in this category.
- Blood protein spotters are also useful products.^{[13]XExpert SourceRobert Shapiro
  Laundry SpecialistExpert Interview. 24 August 2021.}
Agitate the fabric with your fingers to help scrape off the crusted material, or scrape it off using a blunt knife.^{[14]XResearch source}
4
Soak the fabric in cold water and enzymatic cleaner for 1 hour. Dissolve about 120 mL (1/2 cup) of the cleaner in a bowl of cold water, then submerge the stained fabric. The soaking time will depend on how old the dried blood stain is, and how strong the cleaning product is. Soak for at least 1 hour, or for as many as 8 hours.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Optionally, scrub the cleaner into the stain with a toothbrush before submerging.
Wash the fabric as usual, but do not put it in the dryer, which may cause the blood to be permanently set. Let it air dry, then check whether the stain is still present.^{[16]XResearch source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Lemon Juice and Sunlight

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1
Use this method in sunny weather on sturdy fabrics. This method uses common ingredients but requires sunlight to finish the process. You will also need to wait for the fabric to air dry before you can tell whether the stain was successfully removed, making it slower than most other methods.
- Use this method on fabrics like denim, cotton, and canvas.
- Warning: lemon juice and sun are both capable of harming delicate fabrics, especially silk.
Submerge the fabric in cold water for a few minutes. While it is soaking, gather up the other materials you will need. This includes lemon juice, salt, and a zip-lock plastic bag large enough to contain the clothing.^{[17]XResearch source}
Twist the clothing to remove some excess water. Untwist it and transfer it into a large, resealable plastic bag.^{[18]XResearch source}
Pour about 500 mL (2 cups) lemon juice and 120 mL (1/2 cup) salt into the plastic bag and seal it.^{[19]XResearch source}
With the bag closed, press the contents together to work the lemon juice into the fabric, focusing on the stained areas. Some of the salt will dissolve and may help rub the lemon juice into the fabric or the stain itself.^{[20]XResearch source}
Take out the fabric from the bag and squeeze out the excess lemon juice.^{[21]XResearch source}
Hang the fabric on a clothesline or clothes horse, or spread it on a flat surface and leave it to dry. Do this in a sunny area, not just in front of a heater. It may feel stiff once dry, but this will go away once the item has been washed normally.^{[22]XResearch source}
If the blood stain is gone, wash the fabric with water to remove all the lemon salt solution. If the blood stain remains, moisten the fabric and let it dry under the sun again.^{[23]XResearch source}

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Stronger Treatments

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The substances used in this section are powerful stain removers. However, due to their strength, they may bleach your fabric or cause permanent damage to the fibres. These methods are best used on white, non-delicate items, or as a last resort after other methods have failed.
2
Test the remover on a corner of the item first. Once you've decided on one of the following solutions, use a cotton ball or paper towel to dab a small amount on a corner or hidden area of the fabric. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes to see whether it stains your fabric.
- If it does stain your fabric, immediately rinse the product out and stick to soap and water.
Vinegar is not typically as strong as the options below, but still has the potential to harm fabric. Soak the stained fabric in white vinegar for about 30 minutes, then rub the stain with your fingers as you rinse it in cool water.^{[24]XResearch source} Repeat if the stain is noticeably improved but still present.
Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide solution directly onto the stain or apply it with a cotton ball. Be aware that it will likely bleach colored fabric. Keep the fabric in a dark place for 5-10 minutes, since light breaks down hydrogen peroxide, then blot with a sponge or cloth. Then, rinse the stain with cool water.^{[25]XResearch source}
5
Use an ammonia mixture on cotton or cotton blends. Start with "household ammonia" or "ammonia hydroxide," sold as a cleaning product. Dilute this with an equal amount of water, and leave it on the stain for 15 minutes before blotting and rinsing. If your "test corner" showed signs of damage, soak the fabric in a much weaker solution, such as 15 ml (1 tbsp) household ammonia, 1 L (1 quart) water, and a drop of liquid handwashing detergent.^{[26]XResearch source}
- Warning: ammonia may destroy the protein fibres that form silk or wool.
- Ammonia works very well on stains that have resisted other methods.^{[27]XExpert SourceRobert Shapiro
  Laundry SpecialistExpert Interview. 24 August 2021.}
- Household ammonia is approximately 5—10% ammonia and 90–95% water.^{[28]XResearch source} Stronger ammonia solutions are highly caustic and need to be diluted even more.

Expert Q&A

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Question
Can I use baking soda for this?
Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. Seatown Cleaners offers standard, deep, and move-in/out cleaning services using green products and cleaning techniques. Every cleaner is thoroughly vetted and every cleaning is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Answer
Yes! Pre-treat the stain by soaking a clean cloth in cold water and gently blotting the area with it. Then, make a paste by thoroughly mixing 1/2 cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of liquid dish soap and 4 cups of water. Using a clean cloth, dip it into the foamy solution and soak the affected area. Take another clean, dry cloth and blot the area to lift the stain from the upholstery. Alternate between saturating the area with the baking soda solution and blotting with the clean cloth until the stain is gone. Make sure you check the manufacturer’s label for specific care instructions first since some materials can't be treated with water.
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Tips

Pretest the solutions you are going to use on a small, hidden part of the fabric to ensure there is no discoloring or damage to the fabric fibers.
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Some of the removal methods above can also be used for carpets or cloth upholstery with dried blood stains. Dab them with a slightly wet sponge rather than soaking them, however, as too much water may damage them.
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Warnings

Do not put the fabric in the dryer until you are sure that the stain is gone. The heat from the dryer may cause the stain to set on your fabric permanently.
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Always wear protective gloves when you are handling blood that is not yours. This is to protect you from the risk of catching blood-borne diseases.
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Never mix ammonia with bleach, as it creates extremely dangerous fumes.
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