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After years of trying every product imaginable to get blood out of clothing, I finally found what works. My father-in-law's colleague told him that the person whose blood it belongs to, can "lick" it out. So I tried it. I had a stain on my skirt (cotton) from where a razor cut on my leg had bled. I took a small amount of my own saliva on my finger and began to rub the stain. It took it completely out: not even the faint ring that is often left behind. However, a few weeks later when my son had a blood stain on one of his athletic uniforms, it was his saliva, not mine, that got it out. My amazement at how well it worked overcame my reluctance at how gross it was.
By Cassy from Enterprise, AL
I had two shepherd dogs who were sisters but once in a while would get into an arguments. One day they did and got some blood on one of my favorite pillow covers. Well in our rush to make sure that no one was hurt too badly and to get things cleaned up, the pillow cover was tossed into the laundry basket instead of the wash.
I came across it later the next week and the blood stains were set in good. I was thinking what I could use to clean it, because bleach was out of the question due to the bright colors. I happened to glance at the peroxide and thought why not, it cleans wounds and washes them out. So I had a small spray bottle and put the peroxide in there without diluting it and sprayed the blood stains until they were wet and tossed it into the wash.
Well to my amazement they came out, all but a few of the more heavily stained areas. I sprayed those spots and washed it again and it was clean, no more blood stains. Since then I have been able to remove a lot of really set in stains that are organic based using the peroxide and no problems with colors so far. It is a lot cheaper than the spay laundry cleaners since I buy it in the large pint bottles at the dollar stores and I have found I use much less of it than the spray cleaners.
By AJ from California, MO
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry. Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! Now, where to put the body? LOL!
Source: From a good friend who is a nurse.
By JodiT from Aurora, CO
My husband went fishing the other day, and came home with fish blood stained through his jeans to his underwear and on his white T-shirt. I washed the whites in bleach and dried them, but the stains were still there.
I had a thought about how I used peroxide the other day to whiten my teeth. So I got the white T-shirt an underwear out, poured peroxide on the blood stains, and went about my daily chores. When I came back to check on the clothes, the stains were completely gone. An old trick I almost forgot about worked where bleach did not.
By Sandra B. from Jefferson, OH
Use household ammonia (full strength) to remove blood stains from clothing. Try to catch the stain as quickly as possible, and launder right away in cold water. Stain will disappear.
By CEBush from Phoenix, AZ
To remove blood stains from clothing, follow these steps immediately, if possible:
This will not leave a stain ring, I actually saw it being used on my mom during a chemo session. She had on a satin blouse, neither it nor the camisole were damaged!
Supplies:
Peroxide is perfect for removing blood stains on clothing and other fabric items. This is a guide about peroxide for removing blood stains.
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
How to clean dry blood from cloth?
Earl from TN
If the cloth has not already been washed and dried you can pour peroxide onto the blood, when it stops foaming add more peroxide, continue to do this untill the blood is gone........this works GREAT!
I saw this guy on one of those PBS specials do this: wet the area with peroxide and sprinkle on baking soda to make a paste. Pound it in with a brush. Don't scrub back and forth. Do this from both sides of the fabric adding more peroxide and baking soda till the stain is gone. If the fabric is wool or silk, you may not get it out without damaging the fabric.
I would sincerely like to thank everyone on this page. I had a blood stain on a dryclean only white down comforter and tried the peroxide. I used a cup underneath it to drain through and I am so happy with the results. It took quite a bit, but it really does work. Thank you so much!
How do I remove old blood stains from fabric?
Lorraine from Perth, Western Australia
Hopefully the stain hasn't been set with heat - try to soak it in cold water as you would for any blood stains. Then try to remove the stain with bleach or hydrogen peroxide (a light bleach which works well with heat - so iron over it with a pressing cloth) or then try stain removers such as Shout and Zout to remove the stain. If the cloth is not white, it will be more difficult to remove the stain without also bleaching the fabric a bit.
If the item is washable, try rubbing the stain with a fels naptha bar (found in the hand soap aisle) and launder. I have had good luck with that. Also try the peroxide with it. Can't hurt as the stain has pretty much ruined the item anyway.
409 takes out all blood stains. My sister told me this 30 yrs. ago, works!
You can try soaking the stain in ice water. This works best with fresher stains. This is what we used in the blood bank blood drawing station. We had paper towels at the ready sitting in very cold ice water. Safe for nearly all fabrics.
I have had a blood stain on my bed quilt for a quite a while now. It's dried, but I'm sure there's still a way to get it out. Does anyone know any cheap and easy ways to get it out? And yes, unfortunately, my bed quilt is white. I hope somebody can still help me though!
By Buddy
I use a product called LA's Awesome cleaner. You can get it at Dollar General or even the Dollar Tree. It's very inexpensive & it works! I have got blood, gatorade, pet urine stains, grease, red clay & more out of my clothes & bedding. I have even used it in my carpet cleaner. Try it you'll be amazed at the cleaning power it has.
Use regular peroxide out of your bathroom cabinet. People tell you to use it, but not "how" to use it. Hope this helps. First and most important! Do NOT put item in washer or dryer. (Test for color safe first with peroxide.) For your white quilt. Fold a white towel until it is 8 or more layers thick. Put under stain. Soak stain with regular peroxide. Do not POUR on spot(s). Just dab on till it's wet. Wait and count to 20. Do not rub stain or it may get bigger. Dab and PUSH into the underneath towel. Keep spot wet. Keep pushing spot with clean damp rag. Move clean towel under spot as the blood soaks into it. Keep on till it is almost gone. Then you can put a couple of drops of liquid soap on it and let it work. You can wash the whole thing (in washer) or just wash the spot with clean clear water. (Using towel underneath as before.) Press on dry towel to get moisture out and let dry. Laying or hanging. I saved lots of things from the ragbag using this method.
I have used ammonia, sudsing ammonia works best, for dried blood stains. It is usually sold for cleaning floors. I put it in a spray bottle for this use. Wet the stain. Spray the stain heavily with the ammonia. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. You may have to repeat a couple of times, then wash as usual.
I have a green woolen top; how do I get dried blood stain out without using bleach?
By Sonya from Australia
Try household ammonia, blot it on with a cotton ball and rinse with cool water, several times.
Peroxide will absolutely work on the blood stain, however after all the washing you may find the sweater a little rough and not as comfy, in that case soak in a mild solution of hair conditioner, rinse and dry as label directs. I do this every so often with many natural and synthetic fiber sweaters, it allows me to re-shape and restore the softness.
Put in the freezer overnight, wash in cold water, then wash with Ivory bar soap (has to be bar).
How do I remove blood stains from cotton material?
By Merinda G.
Cold water should get out the stains. If you have already washed and machine dried the fabric, look for a protein based detergent like Biz. Recently I used a generic dish detergent on a blood stain. I just let it soak in for a few minutes and rinsed and the stain was gone. it could take a few treatments if it has set in by washing and machine drying.
Peroxide and salt will remove blood, soak it in soapy water and pour peroxide directly on stain and cover stain with salt, rub fabric together. You may have to treat front and back of stain, never failed me yet! Happy cleaning!
Try adding a cup of ammonia to your wash with your detergent. If it has been washed and dried, you may have to do it more than once. Hope this helps!
Paula
Hydrogen peroxide will take out any blood stain if you get to it before the fabric is washed. Nurses used this for years when they wore white uniforms. It will not damage fabric.
How do I get dried blood off of a white top? I don't have any peroxide handy either. I need to clean it asap. I got blood on one of my favorite shirts when I went for a tattoo two months ago and I can't get the stain off. Someone help please.
Sako from England
I've ALWAYS had the best of luck making a paste of white vinegar and baking soda, rubbing it in and letting sit for 15 - 20 mins. Even if it (the blood) has dried.
My dad was a butcher, and would come home with blood stains on his clothing all the time. My mom bought the powder meat tenderizer you put on tough cuts of meat( it dissolves some of the protein chains making it easier to chew. Blood being protein based will be dissolved too) and made a paste for the really bad spots and made a liquid spray she kept in a small spray bottle for every thing else. She used like a teaspoon or so for the liquid in the bottle. Worked like magic too. The liquid also worked to stop bee sting pain too. It is protein based too.
For years I've used 409 Formula cleaner. DO NOT dilute it....just pour it right onto the blood spot and rub fabric together until it comes out, then wash. If it doesn't come out on the first try, keep repeating until you can barely see the spot. Throw in the wash and it should be gone. After years of the MONTHLY CYCLE that we women all go through I found this to work the fastest & the best. P.S. You should use rubber gloves for the rubbing part, as it is strong and can break out the skin.
How do you get dried blood out of a cotton mattress protector? Many thanks.
By Margaret from Brisbane, Qld, Australia
The hydrogen peroxide does work perfectly. You may need to get a bucket or plastic bowl and let it sit in the hydrogen peroxide overnight, keeping it wet. It works better to let it soak. It willl not hurt the fabric. However, if you ever have a fabric with color, stay with it to make sure it doesn't bleach it out. All washable fabrics are usually very safe with this, but I did ruin one shirt by letting it sit too long.
How can I remove a dried, set in blood stain on a white linen shirt? So far I have tried cold water, white vinegar, and ammonia. None have worked. I have a bleach pen, but am afraid it will make a hole in the fabric.
By Cisco's Mom
I'm a 40 year old male and live on my own. My washing experience is putting clothes in the front loader and then in the dryer.
I'd just like to say that this site works. I had a $400 shirt and I got a large blood stain, after falling on a chair and after an emergency visit, I forgot about the shirt for a few weeks.
As a result of this site and others, I have basically removed the stain, which was the size of a hand.
The way I did so, was I tried to cold wash it out after spaying with oxy and pre wash products. It came out of the machine the same.
I then got a bucket of cold water and some peroxide, I put the shirt in the bucket of cold water (approx 1/3 a bucket) and approx 100 ml (or not very generous dash of Peroxide). I left for 3-4 days, as I was busy.
I pulled the shirt out of the 3-4 day bucket and the stain was significantly reduced. I wish I poured all the peroxide in, as I might not have need to continue with this story.
Once out the shirt was still not wearable, but with a bit of baking soda/peroxide and a toothbrush, we are rocking.
I didn't measure out the above, just put a dash (few tablespoons of peroxide and a heaped tablespoon of baking soda) mix it all around and then use a toothbrush to put on like brushing your teeth, wait a few minutes and rinse or launder.
I'm an idiot single man that got blood on a valuable and hardly used shirt, so use the above at your own risk.
I washed and dried a load of laundry and after it dried I discovered that I had left a lipstick and a pen in a pocket. Also, one baby sheet has a blood stain. Is there anything that I can try to remove the stains; they are mostly baby items.
How can I get a drop of dried blood out of a pink dress?
Jai from Chatsworth, GA
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
How do you remove blood stains from fabrics?
By nickyleroux from South Africa
You have to wash it right away in cool water (Not Hot). Spray n wash will work if it is not too dried on, also peroxide. (06/21/2009)
By taka
Oddly enough what removes blood is saliva, the only catch is it has to be the Spit from the person who the blood belong to, this is great for quilters who keep pricking their fingers and leaving little dots of blood if it's a big spot it may take a lot is spit , this even works on minstrel blood. (06/21/2009)
By BABBIE
Run cold water over it then pour some Hydrogen Peroxide on it I rinse and repeat a few times and then wash it in the washer with detergent and cold water. Hydrogen Peroxide will take out just about any protein based stain. (06/21/2009)
By loralea
Oxy Clean has worked miracles for us. (06/22/2009)
By donjweiser
The best way I've found is to soak the item in cold milk overnight and then wash as normal. This idea came from my Grandma. No bio detergents in her time. (06/23/2009)
By blackbess
I use a product called Z'Out. I've had a bottle forever. I bought it at a uniform shop for nurses who need to get blood and vomit out of their uniforms.
Susan in Omaha (06/23/2009)
In the U.S. it's called Shout. Look in your store for an enzyme-based cleanser. I find it better than peroxide. (06/24/2009)
By tennesue
I found this cleaner at my parents house called Off cleaner and it worked perfect at getting the blood out of my shirt. (02/12/2010)
By jane1212
OMG! I wish I had found you sooner! Seriously, where have you been all my life! lol. Last night I tried a little bit of Tide and a little bit of Head and Shoulders on some dried blood and it worked! Thank you from my brand new knickers! hehe. (07/03/2010)
By tlb1383
Please help! My favorite skirt got blood on it. It's 100% cotton and khaki in color. The stain remover (ERA) isn't doing anything. I hope you can help me. Thank you for your time all the same.
By Elizabeth from Oswego, NY
Personally, I would try Shout or Resolve to get the stain out. You can try this thriftyfun.com, but I don't know how successful it will be. (08/18/2010)
By Suntydt
When I get blood on clothes at work, I soak them in an old, clean bowl with cold water (the stained part only), then pour peroxide straight on, and scrub the fabric well. Run it under the tap with flowing, cold water. Then I wash in cold water only. Be sure to check the stain out before putting in the dryer. You may have to repeat several times, but it has always worked for me. (08/19/2010)
Peroxide is a miracle on blood stains. Put it on, let it soak and it'll be gone! (08/24/2010)
By PainterLee
I use a mix of 1/3 water, 1/3 hydrogen peroxide, and 1/3 clear dish washing liquid. I usually have to spray and leave it sit for a while, spray again and let it sit. I sometimes have to spray it 4 or 5 times before it all disappears. I then wash the clothing as usual and the stain is gone. It also works for many other stains, juice, grass, etc. (08/24/2010)
The best way I know to remove a blood stain is to get to it as soon as possible and rinse in cool water (hot water sets the stain), then put a few drops of Ivory dish soap on the stain and scrub the material together until you can see the stain start to disappear. Repeat until the stain is gone. Good luck! :) (09/01/2010)
How can I remove a blood stain from a white shirt with part being colored fabric?
By Cherylleigh from E. Palestine, OH
If you have not washed the shirt, pour peroxide on the stain, then rinse. (06/07/2010)
By Ann
Do "not" wash with detergent as this sets the stain. Soak in cold water, rub with a bar of Ivory soap, then hand scrub. I've also heard that you can put the shirt in the freezer, then wash in cold water, but I've not tried that yet. (06/07/2010)
By MddsonMorg
Wet the garment, sprinkle the blood spots liberally with salt. Allow salt to stay on garment for about half an hour. Rinse well, then clean spots with dish soap, such as Dawn or Joy. Rinse and air dry. Repeat if blood is not completely removed. Once the garment is blood free, wash and dry as usual. (06/10/2010)
By tracesof
To remove blood stains from clothing spray with Peroxide, brush or rub in, and rinse, or wash in cold water. I always spray Shout on the blood first if the blood has dried. But the peroxide is what cleans the blood out. Peroxide is what hospitals use to remove blood. It is also very inexpensive. You might do a test spot first but I have not had any trouble with the coloring of the clothes being damaged. This will also work on wash cloths, towels, etc.
Source: I got the idea from my sister-in-law, a nurse.
By Linda from Arlington, Texas
This is not about your question or comment, just wanted to tell you I used to be a Linda Smith too till I married, long time ago. (06/18/2008)
By Linda
Peroxide is a wonderful stain remover .. especially on "protein" stains like blood, grass stains, red wine, etc. It works as well as bleach in many applications including as a mold and mildew remover. It can wreck colors like bleach too so testing on non-color fast materials is helpful .. Peroxide is also what gives Oxy-Clean and other "Oxy" products the power they have and is much cheaper! (06/18/2008)
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