Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 5: Washing with soap and water
• Method 2 of 5: Tender Meat
• Method 3 of 5: Enzyme Cleanser
• Method 4 of 5: Lemon Juice and Sunlight
• Method 5 of 5: Strong remedies
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

It is not difficult to wipe off a stain of dried blood from the fabric, but if it has already been washed in hot water or put in a dryer, it will be much more difficult to do this. There are many methods, from the use of ready-made kitchen or washing utensils to stronger detergents. Be especially careful when trying to remove stains from silk, wool, or other delicate fabrics.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Washing with soap and water

1. 1 Use this easy method primarily for linen and cotton. You don't need any special tools to do this, but you will have to rub the fabric for a long time.This is especially suitable for natural fiber fabrics such as linen and cotton. When washing fabrics that are covered in small balls of matted fibers (called "pills"), you will have to rub them longer and more gently. These fabrics include wool and most man-made fibers.
2. 2 Turn the fabric inside out so the stain is on the wrong side. In this position, the water can wash away the stain, pushing the dirt out of the fabric. Rinsing in this position is more effective than rinsing the stain under running water.
   • You may need to turn your clothes inside out to do this.
3. 3 Rinse the stain with cold water. Even an old stain is likely not yet completely absorbed into the fabric, so start by removing the stain from the surface. Wet the wrong side of the fabric with cold water until it pushes the stain out. Leave the fabric under running water for a few minutes - the stain should diminish slightly.
   • Warning: Never wash a blood stain with warm or hot water, as this can permanently bind it to the fibers of the fabric.
4. 4 Scrub the stain with soap. Flip the fabric over so the stain is on the outside. Rub generously with hard soap to create a dense lather. Any soap can be used, but traditional bar soap can create thicker, more effective lather than softer hand soap.
5. 5 Take the spot with both hands. Twist or squeeze the two pieces of fabric on either side of the stain. Take one edge of the spot in one hand, the other in the other; so you can rub them together.
6. 6 Rub the stain. Grasp two sections of the fabric so that the stain splits into two halves facing each other. Rub the fabric vigorously; if the fabric is delicate, do it gently but quickly. The friction you create should gradually disengage any blood particles that will remain in the foam as they leave the fabric.
   • Gloves can be worn to protect the skin from calluses and blisters. Tight latex or nitrile gloves will make your hands more grippy and dexterous.
7. 7 Change soap and water periodically and continue rubbing. If the fabric dries or the lather disappears, rinse the stain with fresh water and reapply the soap. Continue rubbing the stains until they disappear. If you see no improvement after five to ten minutes, try rubbing harder or use a different method.

Method 2 of 5: Tender Meat

1. 1 Use this method with any fabric, but be careful with silk and wool. Meat tenderizer, sold in grocery stores, can break down proteins in bloodstains. Although this method is recommended by experts in silk washing, meat softener has the potential to damage it by decomposing its fibers (the same goes for wool). Test this method on a small area of ​​tissue to see if it may be damaged.
2. 2 Dilute a meat tenderizer (one that is free of flavor and flavor) with water. Add approximately 15 ml (1 Tbsp) unflavored meat tenderizer to a small bowl. Add water gradually until a thick paste is obtained.
   • Do not use a flavored meat softener as spices can stain the fabric.
3. 3 Rub the paste gently into the fabric. Spread the paste over the clotted blood and rub gently with your fingers. Leave everything for an hour.
4. 4 Rinse off the paste before washing. After an hour, rinse off the paste with cold water. Wash the fabric as usual, but air dry rather than dry as heat can set the remaining stain in the fabric.

Method 3 of 5: Enzyme Cleanser

1. 1 Do not use this method on wool or silk. Enzymatic agents break down the proteins that make up the stain. Since blood stains bind to tissue using proteins, enzymatic cleansers can be extremely effective in removing stains. However, wool and silk fibers are made up of protein and can be degraded by an enzyme.
2. 2 Find an enzyme cleaner. If you find it difficult to find a cleaner labeled "enzymatic" or "enzyme cleanser", try a "natural" or "sustainable" laundry or soak detergent that often contains biodegradable enzymes.
   • Laundry detergents from Nature's Miracle and Seventh Generation also fall into this category.
3. 3 Rinse the cloth under cold running water to loosen any clotted blood. Remember the fabric with your fingers to scrape off the crust, or use a dull knife to scrape it off.
4. 4 Soak a cloth in cold water with an enzyme cleaner. Dissolve approximately 120 ml (1/2 cup) of detergent in a bowl of cold water, then submerge the soiled cloth. The soak time will depend on the age of the blood stain and the strength of the cleaning agent. Soak for at least an hour, maximum eight.
   • Alternatively, you can use a toothbrush to rub the cleaner into the stain before soaking.
5. 5 Wash and dry the fabric. Wash the fabric, but do not put it to dry as the stain can set into the fabric. Air dry and then check to see if the stain is gone.

Method 4 of 5: Lemon Juice and Sunlight

1. 1 Use this method on sunny days. This method uses common ingredients, but requires sunlight to complete the process. You will also need to wait until the fabric dries in the fresh air, and only then it will become clear whether you have removed the stain - as you already understood, this is the slowest method.
   • Warning: Lemon juice and the sun can damage delicate fabrics, especially silk.
2. 2 Soak the stained cloth in cold water. Submerge the fabric in cold water for a few minutes. While she is soaking, collect the necessary materials. These include lemon juice, salt, and a zippered plastic bag that will hold the item.
3. 3 Gently wring out the item and transfer it to the bag. Twist the garment to remove excess liquid. Unscrew it and transfer it to a large, zippered plastic bag.
4. 4 Add lemon juice and salt. Add 500 ml (2 cups) lemon juice and 120 ml (1/2 cup) salt to a plastic bag and close it.
5. 5 Massage the fabric. When you have closed the bag, squeeze the contents, paying attention to the stained areas to allow the lemon juice to penetrate the fabric. Some of the salt should dissolve and help the lemon juice penetrate the fabric (the salt itself will also help wipe the stain off the fabric).
6. 6 Pull the fabric out after ten minutes. Leave it in the bag for ten minutes. Remove the cloth from the bag and squeeze out the excess lemon juice.
7. 7 Dry the fabric in the sun. Hang the fabric on a string or dryer, or spread it on a flat surface and leave to dry. Do this in the sun, not just next to a battery. The fabric may be rough when dry, but this will correct after a normal wash.
8. 8 Wash the fabric with water. If the blood stain is gone, wash the cloth in water to remove any remaining lemon-salt solution. If there are traces of blood, dampen the cloth and dry it again in the sun.

Method 5 of 5: Strong remedies

1. 1 Remember, you are taking risks. The substances used in this section are powerful stain removers. They have a side effect: they can discolor fabric and damage fibers. These methods are best used on white items made from delicate fabrics or as a last resort if other methods have not worked.
2. 2 First, do the test on an inconspicuous area of ​​clothing (for example, in a corner). Once you have prepared one of the solutions below, use a cotton ball or paper towel and apply a small amount to a corner or hidden part of the fabric. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes to check for stains.
3. 3 Consider using white vinegar. Vinegar is not as aggressive as the options below, but it can still ruin fabric. Soak the stained cloth in white vinegar for half an hour, then rub the stain with your fingers while rinsing the cloth in cool water.Repeat if the stain is noticeably smaller but not gone.
4. 4 Try hydrogen peroxide. 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (this is the standard concentration) can be poured directly onto the stain or applied with a cotton ball. Note that colored fabric is more likely to fade. Place the cloth in a dark place for 5-10 minutes (light decomposes hydrogen peroxide) and then blot with a sponge or cloth.
5. 5 Use an ammonia mixture instead. Start with "household ammonia" or "ammonium hydroxide", which is sold as a cleaning agent. Dilute with water (one to one) and leave on the stain for fifteen minutes, then blot and rinse. If tissue changes are visible in the test area, you can soak it in a weaker solution, such as 15 ml (1 tablespoon) household ammonia per liter of water and a drop of liquid dishwashing liquid.
   • Warning: Ammonia can destroy the protein fibers of silk or wool.
   • Household ammonia contains approximately 5-10% ammonia and 90-95% water. More concentrated ammonia solutions are extremely toxic and should be diluted more.

Tips

• Test the solutions you are going to use on a small area of ​​fabric in an inconspicuous place to make sure the fabric does not fade or become damaged.
• Some stain removal methods can also be used to remove blood from carpets and upholstery. However, it is best to blot them with a damp sponge rather than soaking them, as excess water can damage them.

Warnings

• Always wear protective gloves when handling other people's blood. This will protect you from the risk of contracting blood-borne diseases.
• Do not put the fabric in the dryer unless you are sure you have removed the stain. The heat of drying can permanently set the stain in the fabric.

What do you need

One or more items from the list:

• Soap (preferably laundry soap in a bar)
• Household ammonia and liquid dishwashing detergent
• Enzyme Laundry Detergent or Similar Pretreatment Product
• Lemon juice, salt and a plastic bag with a clasp
• Pipeline peroxide and cotton swab
• Powder for tenderizing meat
• White vinegar