How to get blood out of clothes
Whether it’s a scraped knee after soccer practice or a cut finger during meal prep, blood stains on your clothing can be frustrating. Accidents happen, but the good news is there are methods to help tackle the challenge of removing blood from various fabrics.
Use this guide to learn how to help get blood stains out of your clothing to try and keep your family’s clothes looking fresh.
What helps take blood out of clothes?
When spot-treating a blood stain, you may already have a reliable cleaning product stocked in your laundry room. Enzyme laundry detergents (both liquid and powdered) target stains and help them dissipate in cool water.
For extra stain-fighting power, you can wash your spot-treated garments in cold water with oxygen bleach.
How to help remove blood stains from clothes
When treating a blood stain, act as fast as you can, soak it in cold water, spot-treat it if needed, and wash it in the washing machine with cold or cool water. Stick with proven, trustworthy cleaning products and follow the step-by-step guide below when trying to remove blood stains from clothing.
NOTE: Avoid using warm water as this may set the stain and make removal even more challenging.
Supplies
- Cold water
Enzyme detergent
Oxygen bleach
Tools
Washing machine, like the Whirlpool® 4.8 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with Pretreat Station
Step 1: Act fast
Rinse fresh blood in cold water as soon as possible—do not wash in warm water, as it may cause the stain to set. The sooner you address the stain, the easier it can be to remove.
NOTE: Always check the care tag on the garment before you begin cleaning.
Step 2: Soak it up
Fill up a basin or sink with cold water. If washing polyester, spandex or nylon, add an enzyme detergent. If the fabric is wool, silk, linen, rayon or acrylic, use a gentle detergent. Soak the affected clothing for at least 30 minutes, or longer for stubborn stains. Be sure to check the care tag of any garment before washing.
Step 3: Spot treat and wash
If any stain is still present, add a small amount of detergent directly on the area. Gently work it in. Then, use an oxygen bleach and wash the garment in cool or cold water.
Also, be sure to hold off on tossing your clothes in the dryer until the stain is gone—heat can lock in stubborn stains. Instead, let your garment air dry completely and check the stained area again. If the stain persists, repeat the cleaning process before attempting to dry your garment in the dryer.
Tips for removing blood stains
Whether it’s fresh or dried—on jeans or even your white shirt—you can help get rid of blood stains with a few tricks, like turning clothes inside out. These simple tips will help you tackle those stubborn stains.
How do you get blood out of jeans?
To treat stains on jeans, soak the stain in cold water and mix in an enzyme detergent for 30 minutes or longer. If the stain is still there, blot detergent directly on the stain and then wash your jeans. It’s typically easier to get fresh blood out of your denim rather than waiting until it dries, so as soon as you notice the stain, try to get it out.
How do you get blood stains out of white clothes?
When you get blood stains on white clothes, it is important to run it under cold water immediately, apply a stain treatment and wash the item in more cold water. Avoid using chlorine bleach, because it may cause a chemical reaction that can deepen blood stains.
NOTE: Be sure to wash white clothes separately from colored clothes to help prevent further staining.
How do you get dried blood out of clothes?
If the stain has dried on your clothes, don’t worry, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s permanent. Pretreat the garment in cold water with liquid laundry detergent or a stain remover—repeat if needed.
How do you get blood out of sheets?
If you notice a blood stain on your sheets, you can try to remove it by pretreating the stain with a cold water soak and applying an enzyme detergent before washing your sheets in cool or cold water. Try to treat the stain as quickly as possible for best results.
How do you get blood out of washable throw rugs?
You can typically remove blood stains from your washable throw rugs with one tablespoon of liquid dish soap and two cups of cold water. Use a clean cloth to blot the stain with this mixture until the stain’s color begins to fade, then clean away the dish soap by gently dabbing it with a clean cloth soaked in cold water. Repeat until sufficiently faded.
Explore Whirlpool® Washers
You have enough to worry about when caring for your family, so Whirlpool® Washers are here to help laundry day run smoothly, including top load and front load options. With features on select models like the Automatic Presoak Option to help tackle stains without a trip to the sink and Adaptive Wash technology with Active Bloom™ wash action that senses the size of each load to adapt water levels and wash actions, you can help keep your family’s clothes looking fresh without breaking a sweat.
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