Most people will have to deal with blood stains on their sheets at some point, whether they come from nosebleeds, accidents, menstruation, or minor injuries. These stains can be hard to get rid of, especially if you let them sit for a while, but the good news is that with the right approach and prompt action, they can be removed. Knowing how blood stains work and which household products work best can save you money and keep your linens from getting ruined.
Why Cold Water is Crucial
The key to removing blood stains lies in understanding what blood is made up of. Blood contains proteins that, when exposed to heat, bind tightly to fabric fibres, which makes the stain permanent. This is why cold water is so important when treating blood stains. To remove blood stains from clothing, sheets, bed linen and towels, the secret is to always rinse the stain with cold water before soaking (as this helps the blood break down and dissolve). Warm or hot water will set the stain, making it less manageable and nearly impossible to remove.”
When you find blood on your sheets, resist the urge to use hot water, no matter how tempting it might be for hygiene purposes. Instead, rinse the area right away with cold running water from the tap. The water pressure will help get rid of as much blood as possible. The best way is to remove the sheet from the bed, hold it under a cold tap with the stain facing downward so the water pushes the blood away from the fabric rather than through it.
Treating Fresh Blood Stains
For fresh blood stains, speed is your best friend. As soon as you notice the stain, strip the bed and begin treating it. Start by blotting the stain with a clean, absorbent cloth or paper towel to lift any excess blood from the surface. Never rub it. If you rub the fabric, the blood can go deeper into the fibres and spread the stain, making it bigger and harder to get rid of.
After you’ve blotted up any excess blood, soak the stained area in cold water for 15 to 30 minutes. This initial soak helps break up the blood proteins and gets the fabric ready for further treatment. If the stain is really hard to get rid of, you can put liquid laundry detergent directly on it and gently rub it in with your fingers or a soft brush.
After the pre-treatment, wash the sheets in a washing machine on a cold or cool cycle using your regular detergent. Check the care label on your sheets first to ensure you’re using appropriate washing settings. Do not place the sheets in the dryer until you’re absolutely certain the stain has been completely removed. The heat from the dryer will set any remaining traces permanently.
Tackling Dried or Set-In Blood Stains
Dried blood stains require a little more time and effort, but they’re not necessarily permanent. Rehydrating the stain is the most important step so that cleaning agents can get into the fabric. Start by soaking the whole sheet, or at least the part that is stained, in cold water for 30 minutes to several hours, depending on how old and stubborn the stain is.
There are several household products you can use to get rid of dried blood stains. Persil UK recommends using a salt solution. Their experts recommend “soaking the garment in a bucket of cold, salted water (we recommend one or two tablespoons of salt for every litre of water) for several hours before washing as usual.”
You could also make a paste by mixing baking soda and water in a 2:1 ratio. Apply the paste directly to the stain and leave it there for up to 30 minutes. Then, carefully blot the area with a damp cloth and rinse it well. The mildly abrasive properties of baking soda help lift the blood particles from the fabric fibres without damaging the material.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide for Stubborn Stains
If normal methods don’t work, hydrogen peroxide can be a good choice, especially for white or colourfast sheets. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidising agent that breaks down blood stains through a chemical reaction. Apply a small amount directly onto the stain and let it sit for about five minutes. You might see some fizzing, which means the peroxide is working to break down the blood proteins. After five minutes, blot the area with a paper towel and rinse thoroughly with cold water.
But be careful with hydrogen peroxide, especially on coloured fabrics. Always test the product on an inconspicuous area of the sheet to check for colour fastness, as peroxide can have a bleaching effect. For coloured sheets, stick to milder treatments or use a colour-safe oxygen bleach product instead.
The Role of Enzyme Detergents
Blood is a type of protein or enzymatic stain, which means that detergents that work with enzymes are especially good at breaking it down. Enzymes are biological catalysts that break apart protein bonds in a specific way. This makes them great for getting rid of blood stains. When shopping for laundry products in the UK, look for detergents labelled as “biological” or “bio,” as these contain the necessary enzymes.
To get the most out of an enzyme detergent, put it right on the blood stain while it’s still wet before washing. Allow the detergent to sit on the stain for 10 to 15 minutes. This is important as it gives the enzymes time to break down the proteins. After that, wash the sheets like you normally would, but on a cold cycle. If you have really tough stains, you can soak the sheets in a mix of enzyme detergent and cold water for up to an hour before washing them.
What Not to Do
Knowing what to do is just as important as knowing what not to do. Never use hot water on blood stains, as this will permanently set the stain into the fabric. Don’t put sheets in the dryer until you’re sure the stain is completely gone, as heat will make any remaining traces permanent. Don’t scrub or rub too hard, as this can damage the fibres in the fabric and spread the stain. Finally, don’t use chlorine bleach on coloured sheets, as this will cause discolouration and potentially weaken the fabric.
