Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Blot the blood stain
• Part 2 of 3: Remove the stain
• Part 3 of 3: Protect your mattress
• Warnings
• Additional articles

Blood contains a large amount of protein, which is why blood stains are so difficult to remove. To remove a blood stain from a mattress, you must first remove the remaining blood and then thoroughly clean the stained area. After that, it is necessary to properly dry the mattress, as mold can quickly start in a damp place.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Blot the blood stain

1. 1 Remove the bedding. To remove a stain from a mattress, you first need to free it from the bed linen. Remove pillows, blankets, sheets, and other bedding from the mattress. Set pillows and other supplies aside so they don't get in your way when cleaning the mattress.
   • If blood gets on sheets, pillowcases, pillows, or other bedding, pre-moisten the stain with an enzyme detergent or stain remover. Wait about 15 minutes for the product to absorb, then wash the laundry in the washing machine.
2. 2 Blot the stain with a damp cloth. Dampen a clean cloth with cold water. Squeeze out excess water to keep the cloth cool and damp. Press a cold cloth into the blood stain and blot it so that the water is absorbed into the stained area. Do not rub the stain or the blood will penetrate deeper into the fabric of the mattress.
   • Use cold water as hot water can set the stain and be more difficult to remove.
3. 3 Blot the stain with a dry towel. After the stain has absorbed moisture, blot it with a clean, dry towel to remove any remaining blood. Continue blotting the stain until it is dry and no more blood marks on the towel. Avoid rubbing the stain with a towel to prevent the blood from penetrating deeper into the mattress.
4. 4 Continue to wet and dry the stain. Rinse a damp cloth with cold water and squeeze out excess water. Blot the stain again with the rag to absorb the water into the mattress. Then take a clean, dry rag and blot the stain with it so that as much blood as possible is absorbed into the rag. Blot the stain until it dries again.
   • Continue to moisten and blot the stain until there are no more traces of blood on the dry cloth.

Part 2 of 3: Remove the stain

1. 1 Prepare a cleaning solution. There are many cleaning solutions you can use to remove blood stains from your mattress. It is best to use oxygenated bleach or a cleaner containing enzymes, as these are specifically designed to break down the proteins that are abundant in blood. You can also use the following cleaning solutions:
   • Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water to ½ cup (125 ml) liquid detergent and beat until foam comes out.
   • Mix one part baking soda with two parts cold water.
   • Add ½ cup (55 grams) starch, 1 tablespoon (20 grams) salt, and ¼ cup (60 milliliters) hydrogen peroxide to form a paste.
   • Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) ammonia to 1 cup (250 ml) cold water.
   • Mix 1 tablespoon (13 grams) of meat tenderizer powder with 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) cold water to form a paste.
2. 2 Saturate the stained area with the cleaning agent. If using liquid, dip a clean rag in it and squeeze out the excess, then blot the stain to soak in the product. If you are using a paste, scoop it up with the tip of a knife or finger and apply it over the stain so that it completely covers it.
   • Memory foam mattresses cannot be wetted at all, so apply as much cleaning agent to the mattress as necessary to soak the stain.
   • Do not spray liquid cleaner directly onto the mattress. Mattresses absorb moisture very well, and if the liquid does not dry completely, it can erode the fabric of the mattress or lead to mold.
3. 3 Leave the solution on for 30 minutes so that it is properly absorbed. This will allow the cleaner to penetrate the stain and break down the proteins, making it easier to remove blood from the mattress.
4. 4 Rub the stain to remove blood particles. After 30 minutes, scrub the cleansed stain with a toothbrush. Alternatively, blot the stained area again with a clean cloth. Under the influence of a toothbrush or rag, the stain should fade and disappear.
5. 5 Blot up any remaining traces of blood and cleaning agent. Dampen a clean rag with cold water and squeeze out excess water. Use it to blot the area you just cleaned to remove any cleaning agent and blood from the mattress.
   • Continue cleaning the mattress with a rag until all traces of cleaning agent and blood have been removed.
6. 6 Dry the area with a clean towel. Take a clean, dry towel and blot it one last time to remove any remaining moisture. Place a towel over the area to be cleaned and press down with both hands to absorb any remaining moisture.

Part 3 of 3: Protect your mattress

1. 1 Air dry the mattress. After removing the stain, do not cover the mattress for at least a few hours, but rather leave it to dry overnight. Allow the mattress to dry thoroughly to remove any moisture that can lead to mold. To make the mattress dry faster, you can do the following:
   • Set the fan to maximum speed and point it towards the mattress.
   • Part the curtains to expose the mattress to sunlight.
   • Open the window to let fresh air into the room.
   • Take the mattress outside and leave it in the sun and fresh air for a few hours.
   • Remove excess water with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
2. 2 Vacuum the mattress. After the mattress is dry, vacuum the entire surface of the mattress to remove dirt and dust. Clean your mattress regularly to keep it like new for longer. When doing this, use the upholstery nozzle. Vacuum the top, bottom, sides and seams of the mattress.
3. 3 Place a cover on the mattress. Mattress toppers are watertight and protect the mattress from liquid, dirt and dust. For example, if you spill something on the mattress, the liquid will remain on the cover and will not wet the mattress.
   • The mattress pillows are easy to clean. If you spill liquid on the mattress pillow or otherwise stain it, clean it according to the care instructions. Some pillows are machine washable, while others should be cleaned with a damp cloth.
4. 4 Make your bed. When the clean mattress is dry and covered, cover it with an elasticated stretch sheet and place other sheets, blankets, pillows, and bedspreads on top as you normally would. The sheets also help protect the mattress from sweat, dust and dirt.

Warnings

• When cleaning the mattress of foreign blood, wear sealed gloves to protect against blood-borne diseases.

Additional articles

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