Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

Dried blood stains on the fabric can still be removed, although this will be more difficult if the stain has been washed in hot water or placed in a dryer. There are many ways to try removing blood stains like this, from using kitchen utensils or laundry tools to a stronger product. But be especially careful when trying to remove stains from silk, wool, or other soft fabrics.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Rub Stains with Soap and Water

1. 

   Use this simple method for linen and cotton. This method requires no special tools, but only prolongs the scrubbing time. Especially this is a suitable way for stains on natural fabrics such as linen and cotton. Fabrics whose surfaces are ruffled into small lumps, also known as "cotton wool" or "ball-balls", take longer for a more gentle scrubbing. These fabrics include wool and most man-made fabrics.

2. 

   
   
   Flip back of stain. As such, water can work on the stain from behind, helping to remove the stain from the fabric. Washing with the back of fabric is more effective than rinsing water directly onto stains.
   • You may need to turn your clothes on for washing.

3. 

   
   
   Flush the stain with cold water. Even older stains often don't get fully embedded in the fabric, so start by washing off any loose stains that have stuck to the fabric surface. Rinse cold water on the back of the fabric to let it soak into stain. Leave the fabric in the rinsing water for a few minutes, at least the stain will reduce its size slightly.
   • Note: Do not wash blood stains in warm or hot water, as this can permanently adhere to the fabric.

4. 

   
   
   Rub soap over the stain. Turn the stain over. Rub soap repeatedly over the stain to create lather. Any soap can be used, but traditional solid laundry soap can be more lathering and more effective than mild hand soaps.

5. 

   Grasp the stain with both hands. Crumple on either side of the fabric of the stain. Hold the fabric firmly so you can rub them together.

6. 

   Rub stains together. Divide the cloth into two parts and let them face each other. Rub two parts of this cloth vigorously, if the fabric is soft, rub gently but the speed should be fast. The friction you create will slowly cause some of the blood to spill onto the soap bubbles and not stick to the fabric.
   • Wear gloves to protect your skin from scratches and blistering. Medium-sized latex or nitrile rubber gloves will help you grip the fabric better and wash it easier.

7. 

   Change the soap and water regularly to continue rubbing. If the fabric begins to dry or lather, flush with clean water and add soap to the stain. Continue rubbing as above until the stain is gone. If you see no improvement after five to ten minutes, try rubbing harder or move on to another method. advertisement

Method 2 of 5: Use Meat Softener

1. 

   This powder is used on any fabric, but be careful with silk and wool. Meat tenderizer powders, sold at many grocery stores, can break down proteins in every blood stain. But some silk experts believe that meat tenderizer also has the ability to break down silk and wool textures. Try this method on a small corner of the fabric first to see if there is any damage.

2. 

   Wet the whole meat tenderizer. Place about 15 ml of whole meat tenderizer in a small bowl. Pour with water while stirring until a slightly thick mixture is formed.
   • Don't use marinated meat tenderizers, as the spices in them can stain the fabric further.

3. 

   Gently rub the mixture onto the fabric. Rub the mixture evenly over the dry blood and rub it gently with your fingers. Then let it sit for about an hour.

4. 

   Wash the mixture well before washing it. After a few hours, rinse the mixture off with cold water. Washing the fabric as usual, drying outdoors is better than using a dryer, as the heat can permanently blur the blood stains on the fabric. advertisement

Method 3 of 5: Use Enzyme Washers

1. 

   This option should not be used on wool or silk fabrics. Enzyme-based cleansers break down proteins in blood stains. Since blood stains are attached to fabrics thanks to their protein bond, enzyme-containing detergent can effectively clean them. However, silk and wool are made from protein, so they can be destroyed if an enzyme product is used.

2. 

   Look for an enzyme cleaner. If you are wondering about cleaning products labeled as "enzyme" or "enzyme detergent", try "natural" or "eco-friendly" laundry detergent or treatment agent. Before washing, these usually contain decomposition enzymes.
   • Nature's Miracle's and Seventh Generation's bleaches are two that could be used for this option.

3. 

   Flush the fabric with cold water to dry the blood. Use your fingers to shake the fabric to help remove it, or scrape it off with a blunt knife.

4. 

   Soak the fabric in cold water with an enzyme cleaner. Dissolve about 120 ml (1/2 cup) of detergent in a bowl of cold water, then soak the blood stain. The soaking time will depend on whether the blood stain is old, and how strong the cleaning product is. Soak for at least an hour, or possibly as long as eight hours.
   • Not required, but you can rub the detergent on the stain with your toothbrush before soaking it.

5. 

   Wash the cloth and dry. Wash the fabric as usual, but don't put it in the dryer as the heat will permanently build up the blood stains. Hang out in the sun, then check to see if the blood is still there. advertisement

Method 4 of 5: Use Lemon Juice and Sunshine

1. 

   Use this method during the dry season. For this method, you'll use ingredients that are popular, but need sunlight to complete the process. You also have to wait for the fabric to dry outside to determine if the stain is completely gone, which can slow the process down from other methods.
   • Note: both lemon juice and sunlight can damage all soft fabrics, especially silk.

2. 

   Soak the blood-stained cloth in cold water. Soak the fabric in cold water for a few minutes. During that time, please prepare other necessary ingredients. Includes lemon juice, salt, and large locking plastic bag to put the cloth in.

3. 

   Squeeze the water and place the cloth in the plastic bag. Squeeze the cloth to remove excess water. Then shake it out and place it in a large plastic bag with a lock.

4. 

   Add lemon juice and salt. Pour about 500 ml (2 cups) lemon juice and 120 ml (1/2 cup) salt into the plastic bag and lock.

5. 

   Squeeze the cloth. When the plastic bag is locked, squeeze the inner cloth to let the lemon juice apply to the fabric and stain. The salt is then dissolved, and the lemon juice is rubbed onto the fabric as well as the stain.

6. 

   Remove the fabric after ten minutes. Leave the plastic bag for ten minutes. Then take out the litchi and squeeze all of the lemon juice.

7. 

   Dry the fabric in the sun. Hang the cloth on a rope, clothes drying rack or lay the cloth on a flat surface to dry. Dry in the sun, not in front of a hot oven. The fabric may become stiff after one drying, but this should disappear once the fabric is washed normally again.

8. 

   Wash the fabric with clean water. If the blood stain is gone, wash the fabric with clean water to clean all the salt and lemon juice mixture. If the blood stain persists, moisten the cloth and dry in the sun again. advertisement

Method 5 of 5: Try the Stronger Method

1. 

   Perception of risk. The substance used in this section is an extremely powerful stain remover. However, it is the strength that can discolor the fabric or cause permanent damage to the fabric. Any of the methods here should be best applied to raw white fabrics, or only as a last resort if all other methods have not worked.

2. 

   Try it on a corner of the fabric first. After you have selected one of the solutions below, use a medical cotton or tissue to dab a very small amount on the corner or hidden corner of the cloth. Let it sit for five to ten minutes, then see if the detergent fades the color.

3. 

   Consider using white vinegar. Vinegar isn't usually as strong as the other solutions below, but still has the potential to damage fabrics. Soak the blood stains in white vinegar for about thirty minutes, then rub the blood stain with your fingers while pouring cold water over the fabric. Repeat if the stain has improved significantly but has not completely disappeared.

4. 

   Try hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is usually sold as 3% strength, which can be poured directly onto the stain or dabbed on with medical cotton. Be careful as this can discolor the fabric. Leave the fabric in the dark for 5-10 minutes, as the light will make the hydrogen peroxide lose its effect, then blot the stain with a cotton bath or cloth.

5. 

   Alternatively, try an ammonia mixture. Start with “indoor ammonia” or a “ammonium hydroxide” solution, which are sold as cleaning products. Dilute this detergent with an equal amount of water, then pour it on the stain and let it sit for fifteen minutes before absorbing the water and rinsing it off. If the “cloth corner tested” shows signs of damage, you should soak the fabric in a much thinner mixture, such as 15 ml of household ammonia, 1 liter of water, and one drop of hand sanitizer.
   • Note: ammonia can disrupt silk or wool texture.
   • Indoor ammonia is approximately 5-10% ammonia and 90-95% water. Stronger ammonia mixtures are more destructive, so you should dilute them more to use them.
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Advice

• First check the solution you are going to use on a small part and hidden corner of the cloth to make sure that the fabric is not discolored or the fibers are not damaged.
• Some of the above cleaning methods can also be used for dry blood stains on carpets or upholstery. However, soak it with a wet bath cotton pad, not soak it, as too much water can damage the fabric.

Warning

• Do not leave the cloth in the dryer until you are sure the blood is gone. The heat from a dryer can permanently stain the blood stains on the fabric.
• Never mix ammonia with bleach, as this can create a dangerous gas.
• Always wear gloves when handling blood stains that are not yours. This helps to protect you from possible blood-borne infections.

What you need

One or more of the following:

• Soap (preferably solid laundry soap)
• Ammonia for home use and dishwashing liquid
• Laundry detergent or pre-wash treatment contains enzymes
• Lemon juice, salt, and plastic bag with buckle
• Hydrogen peroxide and medical cotton
• Whole meat tenderizer
• White vinegar