How to get blood out of sheets and bedding
Waking up to blood stains on your sheets can be an unwelcome surprise. There are a number of reasons why you may find blood stains on your bedding, and often, you may be unable to treat the stain until hours later, but that doesn’t mean your linens are ruined. While blood stains can be tricky to remove, there is still hope.
Keep reading for tips on how to remove blood from sheets.
Why blood stains can be tough to remove from sheets
Blood stains can be challenging to remove from fabric. Similar to other bodily fluids like sweat and urine, proteins in blood are what make it a stubborn stain. Add in the complexity of blood’s changing color and composition as it continues to set in the fabric, and you’ve got quite the laundry conundrum.
Unfortunately, the longer blood sets, the more difficult it can be to remove, so even if you happen to discover it later, try to work on the stain as quickly as possible.
Quick fixes for fresh blood stains on sheets
Methods for removing blood stains can vary depending on the type of fabric, but no matter your approach, you will want to act quickly. If the blood stain is still fresh, try rinsing it with cold water and treating it with one of the following prior to washing: laundry detergent, vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, bar soap, baking soda or oxygen bleach.
It’s always important to consult your care label before washing your sheets to make sure the quick solution you choose for cleaning is appropriate for the fabric. You will also want to take care not to mix stain-fighting ingredients, since certain chemicals should not be combined.
Top methods for removing dried blood stains from sheets
As blood dries and sets, the color may change from bright red to rusty brown. The protein in blood can quickly bind to fabric fibers, which is why it can be so difficult to remove.
To remove older stains:
Start by scraping any dried blood off the fabric.
Soak the sheets in cold water with an enzyme laundry detergent and scrub occasionally
Wash the sheets in a cold water cycle with oxygen bleach.
Repeat the process without drying until the stain is gone.
It may take more than one round of soaking and washing to remove the stain. You may opt to further spot-treat the stain after soaking it in cold water with detergent and before you put it in the wash.
Methods for spot-treating stains
There are different solutions you may want to try for removing blood stains, depending on what you have on hand. But first, make sure to rinse the bedding with cold water. Also be sure to check your care tag instructions before trying any of the methods below:
Bar soap: Simple soap and water is a common recommendation for removing blood from fabric. Spot-treat your sheets by dabbing soap on the stain and massaging the soap into the fabric with your fingers. Rinse and repeat, as needed.
Vinegar: A mixture of one part vinegar to two parts cold water can be used to spot-treat the stain. Rinse with cold water before placing in the wash, as vinegar can erode the rubber seals and hoses in your machine.
Hydrogen peroxide: You can apply hydrogen peroxide on its own or create a paste by adding baking soda and salt. With either option, use it as a spot treatment. Before adding hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain, you may want to spot-test it on an inconspicuous part of your sheets. Rinse the sheets thoroughly before tossing them into the wash.
Baking soda: You can use baking soda as a spot treatment by mixing it with cold water and applying it as a paste. Gently blot the blood stain with the baking soda mixture, then soak it in cold water.
Lemon juice: Lemon juice can be used to help remove blood from white sheets but can contribute to fading or be tough on delicate fabrics. Be sure to check your care tag, and just as with hydrogen peroxide, spot-test this method on a small sample area first. To use lemon juice on blood stains, saturate the affected area, let it sit for five minutes, then rinse.
If you want to try more than one spot-treating method, make sure the garment has been cleaned or rinsed before trying a new tactic.
Care tip: temperature matters
Remember to use cold water and opt out of drying your sheets until the blood stain is gone. Cold water will help to break up the blood stain so that it’s easier to remove, while dryer heat can set the stain.
How to remove blood stains from a mattress
Sometimes sheets or mattress protectors may not be enough to shield a mattress from stains. That’s ok—accidents happen. If you need to remove blood from a mattress, start by blotting the stain with a rag dipped in cold water before spot-treating it with an enzyme-based solution.
To spot-treat the stain, you can try diluting either baking soda or vinegar with water, similar to the instructions for cleaning sheets, before applying it to the affected spot on the mattress. You can also try an enzyme-based stain remover or laundry detergent. Regardless of the method you choose, be sure to check the care tag on your mattress or contact the manufacturer before treating any mattress stains.
After treating the stain, you may need to dab off excess detergent or baking soda residue with a damp cloth and blot up as much moisture as possiblebefore letting the mattress air dry.
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Blood stain removal FAQs
Below are answers to common questions about how to get blood stains out of sheets.
Can blood be washed out of sheets?
It may take some tenacity to remove blood from sheets, but it’s possible. If the stain is fresh, rinse it in cold water before soaking it in a mixture of cold water and detergent. If you’re dealing with dried blood, scrape off as much as possible first. You may need to pretreat the stain before washing the sheets in a cold water cycle.
If the stain persists, you may need to repeat the above steps. Reminder: Refrain from drying your sheets until the blood is gone, as heat may set the stain.
Does vinegar remove blood stains?
Vinegar can be used to try to remove blood stains on certain fabrics if used correctly. Always check your care tags first. Use a 1:2 mixture of vinegar to cold water to treat the stain. Thoroughly rinse the vinegar mixture from your sheets before washing them to prevent the acidity from damaging the rubber components of your washing machine.
How can I get blood stains out of bedding made from delicate materials?
It’s important to be mindful when treating delicate fabrics for blood stains. Some fabrics may not react well to certain treatments, so sticking to a mild detergent is typically your best bet. Before treating delicate materials for blood stains, check the care tag for specific instructions.
Explore Whirlpool® Washers
Whirlpool brand offers a variety of washer options that can help you tackle tough stains. Explore a variety of select Whirlpool brand models that can assist in the stain removal process, from top load washers with built-in faucets and soaking cycles, to front load washers that feature automatic detergent dosing capabilities.
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