fbpx
Header burger open
Search Logo

Jump To

Currently Viewing:

How To Get Blood Out of A Mattress, Pillows & Sheets?

a profile image of TSA author Alex

Written By Alex Petrović

Certified Sleep Consultant

blood-stains-from-sheets-FI

14 June 2024 7 min read

Bloodstains are one of the most persistent. Beside classic mattress cleaning you can do (or maybe take it to the professional cleaning?), you can try some of the solutions we are sure you can obtain very easily. Here is how to get blood out of a mattress as well as out of a pillow and sheets.

If you have visible stains on the mattress, pillow or sheet, it is best to remove them immediately after they occur. Since they are usually made of protein, do not remove them in any way with hot water, it will only fix them to the substrate.

Soak a cloth in cold water and tap the stain, never rub in a circle. This will rub the particles into the fibers of the material. If the stains are stubborn and difficult to remove, make a mixture that helps in these situations

For these purposes, you will benefit from cleaning supplies such as baking soda, detergent, vinegar, etc.

What cleaning supplies will you need?

There are several useful ways to remove all types of stains and dirt from the mattress. Unfortunately, you can't just take the cover off the mattress and just wash it. It is definitely necessary to do that, but it is also necessary to dedicate yourself to removing persistent stainssuch as blood stains. So, whether you cut yourself while shaving or had unexpected nosebleeds, blood stains can threaten to ruin your mattress.

It is important to know how to remove blood stains as soon as possible before they dry. It is also important to repeat the process if necessary, because sometimes the stain will not go away so easily no matter how aggressive an approach you use. That is why it is important to choose the means that will do this job well, and the thing will be even easier if the blood stain is relatively fresh.

How to get blood out of a mattress using baking soda?

Baking soda method is super easy. Sprinkle it on the surface of the mattress, leave it to act for as long as possible. This will neutralize unwanted odors and prevent some microorganisms from spreading. Either way, you can mix one part baking soda with two parts cold water. After that, the mixture should be applied to the mattress with a cloth.

Baking soda should generally stand for about 30 minutes before being removed from the mattress, and this is done by rinsing with another cloth or towel. The technique of trampling, not rubbing, is also used. After that, it is necessary to dry the place with a clean cloth and let it dry naturally in the air with an open window or fan.

How to get blood out of a mattress using salt, cornstarch and hydrogen peroxide?

an image of a man cleaning a mattress

So, sometimes it is not as easy to get rid of a stubborn stain as a blood stain. Especially if the stain has affected a larger area and if the blood has dried out. Then you may have to repeat the process several times or use this combination. Salt, cornstarch and hydrogen peroxide are the most effective mixtures used for this purpose. Of course, you can also use hydrogen peroxide on its own, but the mattress will only absorb it and you will create unnecessary moisture.

Instead, first mix all the ingredients to create a stain removing paste. Use a spoon to apply the paste on the affected area, and when the paste dries, simply remove it by scraping and vacuuming. Then start dabbing with a clean cloth. To remove the remnants of the stain, use one tablespoon of ammonia with one cup of water, which you will apply to the stain.

How to get blood out of a memory foam mattress using a meat tenderizer?

Meat tenderizer works on a very simple principle. So, you will use it if you want to make your meat even tastier by using it to break down proteins to tenderize. Since proteins in the blood are responsible for the formation of stubborn stains, this product is an appropriate cleanser for this purpose. You need to apply the product on the stain, cover it and leave it to stand for one hour. After that, the moisture is soaked with a dry towel, and you can use a vacuum cleaner for the rest of the stains. Finally, make sure you remove the hydrogen peroxide and ammonia residues so as not to damage the mattress.

How to remove blood out of a pillow?

Although blood stains originally formed on your mattress, they can easily end up on other parts of the bedding. That is why it is useful to know how to remove blood stains from them as well. Of course, you can easily replace dirty pillows with new ones, but other parts of the bedding can be quite expensive and unnecessary to replace. Especially if there is an almost imperceptible or very small stain of blood. In this case, you can use several commonly used strategies.

This refers to the use of products that most people already have in their household, such as hydrogen peroxide, laundry detergent, etc. Always be careful when dealing with something that has to do with blood. If it is someone else's blood, you risk getting blood-borne diseases and therefore avoid touching other people's blood with your bare hands. Always wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap after touching the blood. Also, make sure you know which types of pillows you can wash.

Hydrogen peroxide

a plastic container with hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a well-known cleanser and is also effective in removing blood stains. Be sure to wash the fabric carefully after use. Dip a cloth with a little hydrogen peroxide, then dab it directly on the stain, and rinse well under water. Then put it in the washing machine normally, as you would otherwise.

This technique should work best on white or light material, because hydrogen peroxide could fade the color from the pillow. You can also place a cloth on the work surface and pour hydrogen peroxide directly on the blood stain. A 3% solution is usually sufficient. It only takes a few minutes for the chemical to react to the blood stain and break it down. Wash the pillowcase, as usual, in cold water.

Laundry Detergent

an image of a yellow laundry detergent

Choose the detergent you need based on the type of fabric. Remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the labels. Cleaning blood stains is relatively easy if the blood is fresh. The first thing you need to do is rinse the stain with cold water. This will remove most of the stain.

Pay attention to the water temperature, because it is not recommended to use a hot spot. It will cause the stain to soak into the bedding. After that, use a small amount of detergent and leave it to act for 5 minutes, then wash the fabric and check if the stain is gone.

How to remove blood out of sheets?

Bloodstains are permanent if they stick to the fabric. It is extremely important to remove them before the stained piece of fabric is washed and dried. In that case, the home remedies you have at home can be as effective as the ones you buy. You also need to soak the stain in cold water as soon as possible. This way you will be able to wash off most of the stain if the blood stain is fresh.

However, you can also wipe it off with hydrogen peroxide or rub it with soap and grate it by hand in cold water. There are several other ways that have proven effective in situations like this. For example, it is salt that you can apply directly to the bedding or mix it with cold water. Shampoo, white vinegar and Coca Cola can be equally effective choices when it comes to removing blood stains.

Salt water

To get an effective blood stain remover, you need to mix one teaspoon of salt with one cup of cold water. After that, the stain should be wetted. In that case, we recommend using a clean towel that you have previously moistened with water. When you do that, let the surface stand in that state for about 10 minutes.

After that, you can freely wash the bedding with cold water. You can also opt for a slightly different approach. For example, you can soak sheets in a large basin of salt water. Bedding should stand in water for a couple of hours before spot-cleaning.

Salt & dish

The use of salt is a very effective method of removing blood stains. Because salt is a natural element, it does not damage the material, such as discoloration. Fill a sink or bucket with cold water. Place the pillowcase so that it is completely saturated. Hold areas of the pillow near the blood stain with each hand and rub against each other to ease the blood. 

Place the pillowcase on the workspace. Apply with a blood stain, and let it stand for about 20 minutes. Rinse the fabric with cold running water. This usually removes a lot, if not all, of the blood from the tissue.

Shampoo

Whether you cut yourself while shaving or had unexpected nosebleeds, blood stains can completely ruin your bedding. Pour a small tablespoon of shampoo over the stain. Hold areas of the pillow near the blood stain with each hand and rub against each other to ease the blood. Rinse the fabric with cold running water. When the blood stain is completely gone, wash the surface with cold water.

Then put it in the washing machine and wash it as always. This procedure works especially well with bedding made of cotton material. However, it is not recommended to experiment with bamboo sheets, linen sheets, or silk sheets.

White Vinegar

a bottle of white vinegar

Another method for removing blood stains from fabrics is white vinegar. With this you will not need expensive cleaning and washing products. Instead, remove with natural remedies that do not contain harmful ingredients. Wine vinegar also has strong antibacterial properties, so it has long been used as a folk remedy for diseases and injuries. It is also known for its anti-inflammatory or antiseptic effect. It was also used as a means of disinfection, rinsing wounds.

Either way, combine three parts white vinegar and one part cold water. To remove the stain, use an old toothbrush and pour a little salt on the stained area. Then scrub the surface with light movements so as not to damage the fabric. After that soaking your sheets for a few hours.

Coca-Cola

In addition to its taste, Coca Cola can serve as a very good tool for removing stains from various surfaces. The reason is the large amounts of acid that this drink has. According to some tests, its acidity is extremely high, because its pH level is 2.5. Therefore, it can clean the traces of blood from clothes and other fabrics.

So, the carbonation and phosphoric acid in this drink can make all the blood stains from the bedding disappear forever. All you need to do is pour a can of drink directly on the stain and let it stand until the blood stain completely disappears. This usually lasts up to two hours depending on the persistence of the stain. After that, simply wash the bedding as you normally do.

Conclusion

For every method of cleaning, one thing is in common – letting the product to air dry well before using it again. Before we wrap up, we would like to note that you can protect your mattress even more if you get a mattress protector. The best mattress protectors will protect it from blood as well as other liquids, but also from accidental food spills that may leave stains on the top layer. Of course, a high quality enzyme cleaner is going to help you, but why not invest a bit in a mattress protector or even mattress topper get a bit more longer lifespan for your mattress?

Spread the word

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet

About the author

Alex Petrović
Sleep Consultant
A CPD certified Sleep Consultant with more than 2000 hours of research into all the different ways we can get a great night's sleep. As a former insomniac, I know how difficult life can be without a nightly recovery and I love that I get to share everything I've learned with you all. So hopefully we can all sleep soundly!
Related Posts

More Guides for a great night's sleep

fall-asleep-in-5min-fi
14 June 2024

How to Fall Asleep in 5 Minutes & Achieve High Quality Sleep?

What most people forget is that preparation for sleep should start much earlier, rather than waiting for the moment you go to bed. If you ar...
Featured image for how can technology help you sleep
27 March 2024

How Can Technology Help You Sleep Better

It's one thing to have a solid grasp of how sleep works and another to have actual sleep data! And having your own sleep device has never be...
Don't Miss Out!
Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…
@thesleepadvisors
'The Luxe Cooling Mattress' by @emmasleepuk  is award-winning!

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Mattress for Side Sleepers'🏆

Click the link in the bio for more 📖🥸

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #emmasleepuk  #mattressreviews
'Award Winning Softness' by @hypniauk 

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Soft Mattress'🏆

Click the link in bio to read the full review 📖🥸

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #hypnia #mattressreviews

#
The Sleep Advisors cover all the benefits of Panda Products 🐼🐼

Click the link in the bio for more🔗

#ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #instareelsdaily #PandaMattress #thesleepadvisorsuk
The awards continue! @silentnightbeds 'Just Breathe Eco Comfort' receives one today 🥳

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Pocket Sprung Mattress'🏆

#thesleepadvisors #silentnightbeds #thesleepadvisors #comfortmattress
Details are key for TheSleepAdvisors... especially for those close-ups 👁

We look at every nook and cranky to capture every detail when reviewing mattress and bedding🎥

For our Latest reviews head over to our website via the link in the bio 🔗

#thesleepadvisors #mattressreview #thesleepadvisorsuk
If you want Luxury check out @nectarsleep Premier Hybrid Mattress!😎

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Luxury Mattress'🏆

Click the link in bio to read the full review 📖🥸

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #nectarsleep #mattressreviews
We know how hard it is to find the best mattress online!🧐

Don't worry, The Sleep Advisors are here to solve your problem and it has never been easier to compare mattresses thanks to our Mattress Comparison Tool!

Click the Link in our bio to find the mattress brand that suits your individual needs 🤩
For all your bedding needs, TheSleepAdvisors have you covered! 😁

From Price to Quality, we look at all aspects to enable you to make the best purchase for your needs.

#ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #BeddingEssentials #TheSleepAdvisors
Sent an embarrassing text? Just say you were asleep 😆

Turns out, our brains can get so wired even while catching Z's that we end up sending messages without even waking up! 

 #funfacts #sleepadvisors #TheSleepAdvisors  #DidYouKnow #DidYouKnowThis
Mattress Toppers are key! 🔑  They can bring your mattress to life. Want to learn more? 

The Sleep Advisors have got you covered!😎

#ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #instareelsdaily #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #reelsofinstagram #MATTRESSTOPPERS
Close button

Don't Miss Out!

Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…

By submitting this form, you are opting into our mailing lists.
See our privacy policy.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.