How to Remove Blood Stains From Clothes Safely

Blood stains are easier to deal with when you act before they dry, but even an older stain may improve with careful pretreatment. The most important rule is simple: start cool, check the care label, and do not machine-dry the item until you have checked the stain.

What to do first

If the stain is fresh, blot excess moisture with a clean cloth or paper towel. Do not aggressively rub the spot, because rubbing can spread the stain and work it farther into the fibers.

Rinse the stained area with cold running water, ideally from the back of the fabric so the water helps push material out rather than farther through the cloth. Blood contains proteins, and starting with hot water can make protein stains more difficult to remove.

Pretreat the stain

After rinsing, apply a laundry pretreatment product or a small amount of liquid laundry detergent appropriate for the fabric. Enzyme-containing detergents can be useful on protein-based soils. Follow the product directions for contact time rather than assuming that longer is always better.

For washable white or colorfast items, an oxygen-based, color-safe stain remover may be another option if the care label and product instructions allow it. Hydrogen-peroxide-based products can lighten some dyes, so test an inconspicuous area first when colorfastness is uncertain.

Chlorine bleach is not appropriate for every white garment. Wool, silk, spandex, and other fibers can be damaged by it. Always follow both the garment care label and the bleach manufacturer's directions.

Wash, inspect, then dry

Wash the item using detergent and the temperature permitted by its care label. Starting the stain treatment with cold water does not mean every garment must subsequently be washed cold; the care label remains the best guide for the wash itself.

When the cycle ends, inspect the stained area in good light. If you can still see the stain, treat and wash it again before using a heated dryer. Heat can make a remaining stain harder to remove.

What about dried blood?

Older stains often need more time. A cool-water soak with an appropriate enzyme detergent or stain remover can help loosen remaining soil. Follow the product's soak-time instructions and fabric restrictions. Wash and inspect before drying.

Safety matters

Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar, acids, or other household cleaners. Dangerous gases can form. Use laundry chemicals only as their labels direct.

When to stop DIY treatment

Be cautious with garments labeled dry-clean-only, vintage textiles, silk, wool, leather, embellished clothing, or anything with unstable dye. Repeated home treatment can cause more damage than the original stain.

Quick checklist

1. Blot, do not scrub.
2. Rinse fresh blood with cold water.
3. Pretreat with a fabric-safe laundry product.
4. Wash according to the care label.
5. Inspect before machine drying.
6. Repeat if necessary rather than adding heat to a visible stain.

Princeton Laundry is a locally owned laundromat in Princeton, Texas.