It is quite common to find blood stains on the sheets and certainly not for a murder. It is not uncommon for people to suffer from nosebleeds, scratch an insect bite in their sleep, blood oozing from a bandage, or feminine sanitary pads do not do their job perfectly. However, you don't have to throw away the bedding for a bloodstain; you can eliminate all traces by cleaning the area as soon as you notice that it is dirty, before the blood settles in the fibers.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Remove Fresh Blood
Step 1. Rinse the stain as soon as possible by running cold water on the outside of the fabric
First, remove the sheets from the bed and then rinse them with cold water. Do not use the hot one, otherwise the stain will set indelibly. Perform this procedure regardless of the washing technique you decide to use among those described here.
Step 2. Treat major blemishes with hydrogen peroxide
Pour the hydrogen peroxide directly onto the blood, wait 20-25 minutes, and then gently pat the residue with kitchen paper. If you don't have hydrogen peroxide available, you can use sparkling water.
- If you don't have anything better, you can also use white vinegar.
- Light transforms hydrogen peroxide into plain water. If the room is very bright, cover the treated area with cling film. Secure the edges with adhesive tape and finally cover everything with a dark towel. The latter will protect the hydrogen peroxide from light, while the transparent film will prevent the towel from absorbing the liquid.
Step 3. Try an ammonia-based glass cleaner
Simply spray it on the area to be treated and wait 15 minutes. Finally, rinse off the stain by running cold water from the back side of the fabric.
Step 4. Use diluted ammonia for major stains
Fill a spray bottle with 15ml of ammonia and 240ml of cold water. Close the bottle and shake the contents. Spray this solution on the stain and wait 30-60 minutes. Absorb any residue with a clean cloth and then wash the sheets in cold water.
Be careful with colored fabrics. Ammonia can whiten or discolor colored sheets
Step 5. Give the baking soda a try
Mix one part of baking soda with two parts of water to form a paste. Rub the latter on the stain and let it dry, preferably in sunlight. Finally, brush off any residue and then wash the sheet in cold water.
Alternatively, you can use talc or cornstarch
Step 6. Try a mixture of salt and dish soap as a pre-treatment
Mix two tablespoons of salt with one tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Wet the stain with cold water and then wet it thoroughly with the solution. Wait 15-30 minutes before rinsing the fabric using cold water.
You can also use shampoo instead of dish soap
Step 7. Make a homemade stain remover with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water
Fill a spray bottle with two parts of baking soda, two parts of hydrogen peroxide and one part of normal cold water. Close the container and shake it to mix the ingredients. Spray the stain remover on the dirty fibers, wait five minutes and then rinse the area. Repeat this procedure two more times before washing the sheets in cold water.
This method is most effective on mixed cotton and polyester fibers
Step 8. Wash the sheets in the washing machine, setting a cold cycle after each pre-treatment
Always use cold water, a neutral detergent and the normal wash cycle. As soon as the laundry program is finished, remove the laundry from the appliance, but do not put it in the dryer. Instead, spread it out in the air or in a sunny spot.
- Treat the blood stains again if there are streaks left after washing. You will have to repeat this process many times until the blood is completely gone. Only then will you be able to dry the sheets as usual.
- Consider using bleach on white fabrics.
Method 2 of 3: Remove the Dry Blood
Step 1. Remove the sheets from the bed and soak the stain in cold water for several hours or even overnight
Cold water helps soften all dry spots. You can also machine wash the fabric using cold water and mild soap. This procedure may not be able to remove the stain, but it will certainly dissolve it a little. After this step, follow one of the methods described below.
Remember that the stain may be permanent, especially if you put the sheets in the dryer. Heat fixes blood proteins; if you dry the fabrics with the appliance, you will no longer be able to get rid of the streaks
Step 2. Give white vinegar a try
If the stain is small, fill a bowl with white vinegar and soak the area to be treated. If you need to clean large areas, put a rag under the stained fabric and then pour the vinegar directly onto the stain. Wait 30 minutes (regardless of the size of the stain) and then wash the fabric as usual in cold water.
Step 3. Make a paste of cooking water and enzymes to soften the meat
Mix one teaspoon of this product with two of water to create a paste. Smear it on the stained areas by lightly rubbing the fibers. Wait for the mixture to dry for 30-60 minutes and then brush it off. When finished, wash the sheets in cold water.
Step 4. Use water and laundry detergent on light stains
Dissolve one part of laundry soap in five parts of water in a bowl. Stir the mixture and apply it to the stain. For this, use a brush or a brush with soft bristles. Wait 10-15 minutes before blotting the surface with a wet sponge or cloth, then dry the fabric with white cloth.
Step 5. Try hydrogen peroxide on stubborn stains
Pour some directly onto the fabric to be treated and dab it with a soft bristle brush. Wait for it to work for 5-10 minutes and then blot the sheet with a wet rag or sponge. When finished, use a clean, dry cloth to absorb the moisture.
- Light turns hydrogen peroxide into ordinary water. If the room you work in is very bright, cover the stain with cling film and then with a dark towel.
- If the fabric is colored, test it in a hidden corner. Hydrogen peroxide fades or bleaches colors.
- Use pure ammonia as a last resort, but not on colored sheets.
Step 6. Soak stubborn stains in a water and borax solution for several hours or even overnight
Follow the instructions on the borax package to create a cleaning mixture. Leave the stained area in this liquid for several hours or even overnight; the next day rinse the sheet with water and spread it out to dry.
Step 7. Wash the sheets in the washing machine after each stain removal treatment
Use cold water, mild soap and the usual washing program. Remove the fabrics from the washing machine as soon as the cycle is finished, but do not put them in the dryer. Let them dry by hanging them out in the air or in the sun.
- Blood stains may not disappear immediately. In that case, you will need to repeat the process.
- Consider using bleach on white fabrics.
Method 3 of 3: Treat the Mattress and the other Bedding
Step 1. Don't forget the mattress and mattress cover
If you have stained the sheets, you will also need to check the mattress and its cover. The chances are high that these items have also become dirty and you will need to treat them.
Step 2. Moisten the stains on the mattress cover with cold water
If the blood is fresh, just a little cold water may be enough. If it has dried out, you will need to soak the area (several hours or even overnight) to soften the stain and make it easier to remove.
If the stain is on the mattress, moisten it slightly with cold water, do not soak it completely
Step 3. Use a dough made with cornstarch, hydrogen peroxide and salt
Mix 65 g of cornstarch in 60 ml of hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of salt. Sprinkle it on the stain and let it dry. Finally brush off any dried residue and repeat the treatment if necessary.
Step 4. Blot the stains on the mattress with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide
Do not pour the liquid directly on the area to be treated, but first wet a clean cloth with peroxide or white vinegar. Then squeeze it to remove excess moisture and then gently dab it on the fibers of the mattress. If the cloth gets bloodied, fold it so that it always uses a clean part. This way you avoid constantly transferring blood to the mattress.
Step 5. For the duvets and mattress topper, use the same cleaning techniques you would use for the sheets
When the stain is almost completely removed, place these items separately in the washing machine using cold water and a mild soap. If you can, set up a double rinse.
Put a tennis ball or specific balls in the dryer to make the duvet puffy and bulky again
Advice
- When treating colored sheets, try the cleaner on a hidden corner, such as a seam or hem. This way you are sure that the method you choose will not fade or bleach the fabric.
- You can find many products on the market for stubborn stains, including blood stains. Look for a stain remover containing ammonia, which is capable of clearing the blood.
- Sprinkle lemon juice on the stain before using a commercial spray or stick product. Let it sit for a few minutes before washing the fabric.
- If it's a small spot, you can try saliva. Just spit on the stain and then dab it with a clean cloth.
- To avoid getting your mattress dirty, buy a mat or sheet to cover it.
- Try enzymatic cleaners, but only if the sheets aren't silk or wool.
Warnings
- Never put stained sheets in the dryer, otherwise the heat will set the halos. Make sure the stain is gone before drying the fabrics in the appliance.
- Never use hot water as the high temperatures set stains in the fibers.
