How to Get Blood Stains Out of Clothing

If they have time to soak into the fabric, blood stains can be easily removed. There are a few methods that you can use to get rid of them. This is what to know.

How to remove blood stains

Every method of getting blood stains out of clothing has the same thing in common: taking action as soon as possible. The quicker the blood sets, the harder it will be to remove. There are a few ways to do it.

Soap and cold water

If you can get to work on the blood stain quickly, you can use soap and cold water. Run cold water through the other side of the stain while holding it under the faucet.

Rub a bar of soap on the stain. Rub the fabric against itself to get rid of the stain. Cold water is the best way to wash the stain. If needed, repeat the process. The item should be put in the laundry when the stain is gone.

Other methods

There are other ways to do the job if soap and water don't work. Start by running cold water through the side of the blood stain that you don't like. Give one of these a try.

• Hydrogen peroxide: Peroxide may bleach some fabrics, so do a small test on the inside of the garment first. If everything looks OK, pour some peroxide on a white or light-colored cloth, then dab it on the blood stain until it’s removed. Rinse with cold water, then launder as usual.
• White vinegar: Pour a small amount of white vinegar onto the blood stain and let it sit for 10 minutes. Next, blot the stain with a paper towel. Rinse the area with cold water, repeat if necessary, then launder as usual.
• Cornstarch: Make a paste of cornstarch and cold water, then spread a thick layer over the blood stain. Allow the garment to dry—ideally in the sun. When it’s dry, brush the cornstarch off, rinse with cold water, repeat if necessary, then launder as usual.
• Enzymatic stain treatment: Pretreat the stain with enzymatic stain treatment, using a laundry brush to scrub it in. Then launder as usual.

After washing the garment, it's a good idea to check the spot where it used to be. Put the stain in the dryer to set it and make removing it even more difficult.