How to Remove a Bloodstain
Contents
– Removing a blood stain from leather
– Cleaning a blood stain from fabric or clothing
– Removing a blood stain from wood
– Removing a blood stain from a floor or wall
– Cleaning blood stains from smooth surfaces
– Removing blood stains from metal
– Removing a blood stain from stone
– List of detergents for cleaning blood stains
Never clean bloodstains with hot water because blood coagulates and attaches to the fabric!
Here are some tips for removing a blood stain depending on the stained material.
Removing a blood stain from leather
To remove a blood stain from leather:
– Warm some white vinegar in a saucepan.
– Dab the stain with a sponge soaked in the vinegar.
– Dry with a hairdryer.
Another effective detergent is acetic acid.
On suede
– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in diluted ammonia.
– If the stain resists, rub it with a cloth containing hydrogen peroxide.
– Apply the cloth to the cleaned area to absorb the detergents.
Other effective detergents: tartaric acid, saline solution, cornstarch ©, and starch.
On nubuck
– Rub the stain with tartaric acid.
– Wash with a slightly damp cloth.
Other effective detergents: ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, saline solution, talc, and starch.
Cleaning a blood stain from a piece of fabric or garment
To remove a blood stain from a garment, first check the material (synthetic, cotton, etc.) by looking at the garment label.
On cotton
– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in peroxide.
– Finish the cleaning with a cloth soaked in diluted ammonia.
– Machine wash.
Other effective detergents: tartaric acid, saline solution, cornstarch ©, and starch.
On jeans
– Dilute starch in water (or use potato cooking water).
– Rub the stain with a sponge soaked in the mixture.
– Run your washing machine at 40°C.
Other effective detergents: tartaric acid, saline solution, talc.
On linen
– Sprinkle the stain with Maïzena ©.
– Wait a few hours.
– Remove the powder with a brush.
– If traces remain, repeat the operation until the stain disappears completely.
Other effective detergents are tartaric acid, saline solution, and starch.
On silk
– Gently rub the silk with a cotton pad soaked in methylated spirits.
– Dilute a pepsin tablet and apply the solution to the stain with a sponge.
– Wash the sponge and rinse the garment.
Note: Pepsin is an enzyme sold in pharmacies and creameries. It is used to make yogurt and other dairy products.
Other effective detergents are white vinegar and ammonia with hydrogen peroxide.
On satin
– Sprinkle the fabric with flour.
– Wait for the blood to come off and settle into the powder.
– Sweep it up.
– If the stain persists, repeat the cleaning.
Other effective detergents are tartaric acid, saline solution, and starch.
On goat or sheep hair or skin
– Put talcum powder on the stain.
– Let it act for several hours.
– Pick up the powder with a brush.
– If the stain has not completely disappeared, repeat the stain removal process.
Other effective detergents: are tartaric acid, saline, starch, and ammonia.
On synthetic fur
– Rub the mark with a damp sponge soaked in ammonia.
– Gently massage the area with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
– Squeeze an absorbent cloth to remove detergents.
– Rinse off.
Other effective detergents: are tartaric acid, saline, starch, talcum powder.
On waxed cloth
– Rub the stain with a sponge soaked in saline.
– Wash the sponge and rinse.
– Wipe clean.
Other effective detergents: are tartaric acid, flour, starch, and ammonia.
Removing a blood stain from wood
The faster you act, the easier it will be to remove a blood stain from wood.
On white wood
If you react immediately, the stain will come out faster!
– Gently soften the stain with sandpaper.
– Then apply a cotton ball of hydrogen peroxide in dabs.
– If the stain persists, rub it with a cloth impregnated with sodium thiosulfate in 5% dilution.
– Rinse.
On waxed wood
A cloth soaked in ammonia will remove a blood stain on waxed wood. Rinse.
Another effective detergent is hydrogen peroxide.
On painted wood
If the stain persists :
– Rub it out with sandpaper.
– Paint the area again.
Another effective detergent is hydrogen peroxide.
On teak
Rub the stained area with a damp cloth.
Removing a blood stain from a floor or wall
The methods differ according to the support to clean a bloodstain on a floor or a wall.
On carpet
– Remove the excess with the abrasive side of a sponge.
– Rub with a cotton pad moistened with white vinegar.
– Rinse.
Other effective detergents are hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
On lino
– Rub the stain with a damp sponge soaked in vinegar.
– Spray with a cloth containing diluted pepsin.
– Wash the sponge and pass it over the stain.
Another effective detergent is soda crystals.
On tiles
– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in potato cooking water (which contains starch).
– Rinse with a damp sponge.
Other effective detergents: tartaric acid, saline solution, Maïzena ©, and ammonia.
On terracotta or brick
– Place an absorbent cloth on the stain.
– Rub with a damp sponge.
Other effective detergents: are hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
Cleaning a bloodstain on smooth flooring
Smooth upholstery is pretty easy to clean if stained with blood.
On plastic or rubber
– Wash the stain with clean water; you will remove all or part of the stain.
– Dab with a cloth moistened with hydrogen peroxide.
On a window, glass, or crystal
Rub the stain with an abrasive sponge soaked in soapy water.
On ceramic, earthenware, or porcelain
Rub the stain with a scraper soaked in dishwashing liquid.
On enamel
Rub the stain with a cloth moistened with liquid soap.
Removing a blood stain from metal
Blood can be easily removed from metal.
On stainless steel
Soap the stain thoroughly.
On copper or brass
Apply vinegar to the stain and rub with a sponge.
Removing a blood stain from stone
To clean a bloodstain on stone:
– First, try scrubbing with clean water (if the stain is fresh, this should be sufficient).
– If the result is not satisfactory, mix some scouring powder with a few drops of bleach.
– Brush the stain with the mixture.
– If the stain persists, apply a cloth soaked in caustic soda.
– Place a damp cloth on top.
– Wait for the solution to work (a few minutes), then remove the cloth.
– Scrub with a cloth soaked in acetic acid.
– Remove detergents with clear water.
Warning: this cleaning involves wearing gloves to protect yourself from harmful detergents to your skin and eyes.
List of detergents to clean blood stains
– Tartaric acid can
– Saline solution
– 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Cream
– Box of cornstarch © (Maïzena)
– Starch spray
– Hydrogen peroxide
– Sodium hyposulfite, sodium thiosulfate
– Sodium hydroxide
– Bag of soda crystals
– Baby powder
– Sandpaper
– Sachet of wheat flour
– Soap
– Dishwashing liquid
– Caustic potash
– Scouring powder
– Can of bleach
– 60% acetic acid
– Bag of modeling plaster
– Ammonia
– White vinegar
