How to Get Blood out of Sheets

How Blood Stains Sheets

Blood is one of the most stubborn stains to get out of sheets. It’s also one of the most common stains that end up on sheets. A bloody nose, a cut, or a mosquito bite that gets itchy in the middle of the night can all cause a blood stain on otherwise great sheets.

The scientific reason why blood is so difficult to get out of fabrics is the same reason why cuts eventually stop bleeding – blood clots together. Once exposed to air, the hemoglobin in blood begins to clot, sticking tightly to fabrics. With blood cells sticking tightly together, getting it out of sheets can become a challenge.

Removing fresh blood from sheets tends to be easier and quicker than if the blood has dried. If the blood stain has dried, however, don’t worry. It’s still very likely the stain will come out, but it might take more time or a few treatment cycles to get stain-free sheets again.

In this guide, we’ll explain several ways to get fresh and dried blood stains out of natural and synthetic sheets.

How to Get Blood Out of Sheets

Removing blood stains from sheets can be done several ways. If one method doesn’t work, another one might be successful.

How to Get Fresh Blood Out of Sheets:

The best time to get rid of blood stains on sheets is when it hasn’t had time to dry. Always use cold water on blood stains. Hot water sets blood stains, so avoid hot and warm water when treating blood stains. Follow these steps:

1. Gently dab off any excess blood that hasn’t soaked in.
2. Dunk the stained area of the sheet in cold water.
3. Choose a method from the list below.
4. After treatment, wash the sheets as your normally would but, again, use only cold water.
5. It’s best to line-dry sheets after laundering to make sure the blood stain is completely gone. Just like hot water sets blood stains, heat from the dryer can do the same.

How to Get Dried Blood Out of Sheets:

If you notice a blood stain after it’s dried, the same methods used to treat fresh blood will work, but they may take more time (soaking, for example) than new blood. Always use cold water on blood stains. Hot water sets blood stains, so avoid hot and warm water when treating blood stains. Follow these steps:

1. Dunk the stained area of the sheet in cold water.
2. Choose a method from the list below.
3. After treatment, wash the sheets as your normally would but, again, use only cold water.
4. If the stain is still visible after washing, treat it again. Dried blood is more stubborn to lift completely.
5. It’s best to line-dry sheets after this laundering to make sure the blood stain is completely gone. Just like hot water sets blood stains, heat from the dryer can do the same.

What Gets Blood Out of Sheets:

Here are some options for getting blood stains out of sheets. These will work on both fresh and dried blood stains.

• Hydrogen Peroxide: This works best on light-colored sheets. Hydrogen peroxide may bleach darker colors. After the sheet has been rinsed with cold water, pour hydrogen peroxide on a small towel and blot the blood stain. After the fizzing stops, gently rub the sheet together to work the blood out of all threads. Rinse with cold water again. If the stain is still around, repeat this process.
• Salt Water: This method is especially useful for delicate fabrics like silk sheets. Make a solution of one cup of cold water with one teaspoon of salt. Wet the stain with the solution, gently rubbing it in. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes before rinsing again with cold water.
• Baking Soda or Cornstarch Paste: Two products that are often already in the house, baking soda or cornstarch can be made into a thick paste by adding cold water to either. Apply the paste to the blood stain and rub gently with fingers or a clean cloth. Leave the paste on for up to 30 minutes. Wipe the paste off and rinse the sheet in cold water before laundering.
• Stain Treatment Product: Most laundry detergent brands sell a stain-removal treatment product. Many of these are specifically designed to target hard-to-remove-stains like blood. To get blood out of sheets, wet the stain with cold water and follow the product’s instructions. Launder in cold water after the treatment.

Conclusion

Clean sheets are an important aspect of good sleep hygiene. Sheets should be washed once every one to two weeks, but blood stains should be treated as soon as possible. The stain may take more than one removal attempt to come clean, but fresh or dried blood stains in sheets will likely come out with one of the above methods. Always use cold water, avoid the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone, and the sheets will be back to stain-free and clean again.