All it takes is one clumsy handling of a kitchen knife to end up with an injury and bloodstains on your clothes. But don’t panic! It is easy to get rid of them! In this article, we suggest you remove a stain with baking soda. Follow the leader !
Cleaning a blood stain from clothing
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Cleaning a blood stain on clothing – Source: spm
Step 1: Place the garment in cold water
To effectively remove a blood stain, there is a golden rule: Act quickly. As soon as your sheet or clothing becomes stained with blood, you must first wet the stain with cold water.
And we emphasize cold water because hot water will only make the situation worse since it can cause the stain to adhere more to the fibers of the fabric.
Then use an absorbent paper such as a paper towel to dab the stained part of the fabric. The idea is to prevent the trace of blood from spreading to other parts of the fabric.
Step 2: Apply the baking soda
Baking soda is recognized as a reliable ally and it turns out that we can also count on its help to get rid of blood stains.
Before you start
For baking soda powder to reveal its full stain removal potential, it is important to mix it with a little water to form a paste. This will help remove traces of blood while trapping odors thanks to the deodorizing properties of the powder . When you apply it and let it dry on the blood stain, it gradually disappears .
Mixture of baking soda and water
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Mixture of baking soda and water – Source: spm
Cleaning steps
- Prepare the dough
In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water. - Apply the paste to the blood stain
Apply baking paste to the blood stain
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Apply the baking paste to the blood stain. Source: spm
Now that you have obtained a more or less consistent paste, apply it to the previously moistened blood stain and then rub using your fingers. You can also opt for an old toothbrush. - Let it work
Let the paste sit for 1 hour until the stain gradually disintegrates. - Put in the wash
Put the blood-stained item of clothing in the washing machine
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Put the blood-stained item of clothing in the washing machine. Source: spm
All that remains is to wash your garment following the instructions on the item label.
Step 3. What to do if the blood stain persists
Faced with the most stubborn stains, you can also opt for another, slightly more elaborate method.
The hydrogen peroxide and baking soda duo
You can count on baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (oxygenated water) to remove the most stubborn blood stains on clothes or even sheets.
- Soak the garment in cold water
First, fade the blood stain by soaking the item immediately in cold water.
Soaking bloodstained clothing
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Soaking blood-stained clothing – Source: spm
- Rub with hydrogen peroxide
Rubbing blood-stained clothing with hydrogen peroxide
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Rub a blood-stained item of clothing with hydrogen peroxide. Source: spm
Soak a microfiber cloth with 3% hydrogen peroxide then gently rub the stained area. - Scrub with dishwashing liquid
Rub the garment with dishwashing liquid
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Rub the garment with dishwashing liquid. Source: spm
Then rub the blood stain with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. - Clean with baking soda
Cleaning blood-stained clothing with baking soda
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Clean blood-stained clothing with baking soda. Source: spm
Manually wash your clothing or sheet with a baking soda paste. - Put in the machine
Put the blood-stained garment in the washing machine
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Put the bloodstained item of clothing in the washing machine. Source: spm
Has the stain disappeared? Last step, put your garment in the washing machine! Does the bloodstain seem to persist? Apply another wipe of a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide then repeat the operation.
Caution
While hydrogen peroxide remains a safe cleaning product, it can discolor certain fabrics and even irritate the skin. In this case, it is certainly wiser to wear gloves and test the method on an inconspicuous part of the garment or the surface to be treated. Also check the fabric label to see if the product is suitable.
With these grandmother’s tips using eco-friendly ingredients such as baking soda, you will have clean fabrics more often. From now on, bloodstains should no longer make you turn red!
FAQs
Why are blood stains so difficult to remove from fabric?
If the blood is not easy to remove, it is because with exposure to air, its hemoglobin causes it to clot. A beneficial ability for the body certainly, but which remains painful if you want to clean a surface stained with blood. So it’s about being reactive and quickly cleaning a blood stain before it dries. Normally, a soak in cold water or a quick rinse may be enough before it is too late or before the stain becomes difficult to remove.
How to remove a blood stain from upholstery with baking soda?
If you want to use the versatile cleaning ingredient baking soda to remove a blood stain from your upholstery, the principle is similar to the previous tips. Create a mixture of 4 tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of water to form a paste then use it to scrub the bloodstained area. Let it sit for 30 minutes or more then remove the dried particles with a clean cloth. Then wipe with another cloth soaked in cold water to rinse.
How to clean an old blood stain from carpet with baking soda?
Baking soda once again comes to the rescue to clean the carpet from a blood stain! The method :
Start by vacuuming. On surfaces such as carpets, it is advisable to start with this step first to facilitate the removal of dried blood;
Use a damp cloth then dab the blood stain to remove as much as possible;
Mix baking soda with a little water to create a paste then apply it to the problem area;
Spray a little distilled white vinegar on the baking soda paste;
Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. The foam that is produced should do its job to clean the stained part of the carpet;
Blot the area with a clean white cloth then wipe with another cloth to remove any remaining products;
If necessary, repeat the operation until the blood stain disappears.
If you have light-colored carpets, you can use the cleaning properties of hydrogen peroxide to remove the blood stain. Alternative that is best avoided if you have a darker carpet since it will only lighten it.
How to remove a dried blood stain from a mattress with baking soda?
Blood on a mattress is not uncommon. And a dried blood stain is not easy to remove. But it’s not impossible either…Here’s what you can do to clean it.
Start by vacuuming;
Mix dishwashing liquid with baking soda then apply it to the stained area of the mattress;
Leave to act until the baking soda has become completely dry;
Vacuum the area in question to remove the baking soda;
Does the stain persist? Dab it with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide then leave to act for approximately 15 minutes (replace the hydrogen peroxide with white vinegar if you have a dark-colored mattress);
Use a clean cloth to blot the product.
How to remove a blood stain from a concrete floor and a wooden floor?
If the stain is recent, you should start by dabbing it with an absorbent paper towel.
To clean concrete, sprinkle washing powder mixed with cold water and scrub with a toothbrush.
To clean the floor, use soapy water and fine-grained steel wool to scrub and remove the blood stain.