Remove a Blood Stain (Fresh or Dried) from Fabric
Blood is scary, but it comes off very well if you respect THE golden rule: never hot water!
Recommended Materials
- COLD Water
- Marseille soap
- Aspirin (tablet)
- Saline solution
Steps to follow
Step 1
Absolute and vital rule: COLD WATER ONLY. Hot water (even lukewarm) cooks the blood (coagulation of proteins) and fixes the stain permanently in the fabric fibers. If you used hot water, it is often too late.
Step 2
Fresh blood: Rinse immediately under a stream of cold water rubbing fabric against fabric. Rub with an ice cube if needed. It comes off by itself in a few seconds. Don't wait for the stain to dry, act as quickly as possible for a guaranteed result.
Step 3
Dried blood (the most difficult):
Step 4
1. Wet the stain with cold water to rehydrate the blood.
Step 5
2. Scrub vigorously with Marseille soap (the real cube). Leave the soap to act for 30 mins.
Step 6
3. The aspirin trick: Dissolve an effervescent aspirin tablet in a very small amount of cold water. Soak the stain with this mixture. Acetylsalicylic acid helps dissolve blood proteins.
Step 7
4. Saline solution (for contact lenses or nose): Very effective on fresh or slightly dried blood, as it has the same salinity as blood.
Step 8
5. Hydrogen peroxide (10 volumes): On WHITE laundry only (risk of discoloration on colors). Dab the stain. It foams white on contact with blood (chemical reaction). Rinse immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
And on a mattress that cannot be put under water ?
Dab with an ice cube (without wetting too much) or make a paste with cornstarch and cold water. Let the paste dry on the stain, it will 'drink' the blood. Scrape and vacuum.
Precautions
- Always test hydrogen peroxide on a hidden part.
- Never iron a blood stain that hasn't gone.
