How to Get Blood Out of Clothes, Sheets, and Mattresses

Blood is a protein stain, and heat “cooks” protein into the fabric. Always use cold water, and the stain will usually come right out.

In this guide

1. Fresh blood on clothes or sheets
2. Dried blood
3. Blood on a mattress
4. What not to do
5. FAQ

Fresh blood on clothes or sheets

1. Cold water, inside out. Hold the stain under cold running water from the back.
2. Rub gently with bar soap, dish soap, or a paste of salt and cold water.
3. Rinse again. Repeat until the water runs clear.
4. Wash cold with an enzyme detergent. Most “bio” or stain-fighting detergents contain enzymes that break down protein.
5. Air-dry and check before you put the item in the dryer.

Dried blood

1. Soak the item in cold water for 30 minutes to a few hours. Adding an enzyme detergent or oxygen booster helps.
2. Rub the stain against itself, or scrub it gently with a toothbrush.
3. For marks that won’t budge, dab on 3% hydrogen peroxide. It will fizz. Blot, then rinse. Test it first on colored fabric because peroxide can lighten dyes.
4. Wash cold.

Blood on a mattress

You can’t soak a mattress, so use as little liquid as possible.

1. Blot with a cloth dampened in cold water.
2. Mix 1 part dish soap with 2 parts cold water, or use a little hydrogen peroxide on a white mattress. Dab it on and blot. Don’t pour it.
3. Blot with a clean, damp cloth to rinse.
4. Let it dry completely. A fan helps prevent mildew.

For the whole mattress, see How to Clean a Mattress.

What not to do

• Hot water or the dryer
• Chlorine bleach on colored fabric
• Scrubbing hard on delicate fabric, which can damage it

FAQ

Does salt really work? Salt paste helps loosen fresh blood. Cold water does most of the work.

What about meat tenderizer? The enzymes in unseasoned meat tenderizer can break down blood. Make a paste with cold water. Enzyme detergent does the same job.