How to Remove Blood Stains

The golden rule: cold water

Blood is a protein stain. Hot water makes the protein bind to the fabric and can make the stain permanent. So always start cleaning blood stains with cold or lukewarm water, and do not use a hot wash, tumble dryer or iron until the stain is completely gone.

How to remove fresh blood stains

• Act quickly: The fresher the stain, the easier it comes out.
• Rinse with cold water: Run cold water through the stained area from the back of the fabric, so the stain is not pushed into the fibres.
• Blot, don't rub: Rubbing spreads the stain; blot it with a clean cloth.
• Wash: Then wash the item on a programme suited to its care label.

How to remove dried blood stains

• Soak: Soak the stained item in cold or lukewarm water prepared with blood stain remover for the time stated on the label.
• Check: If the stain has not come out, repeat the soak.
• Wash as normal: Then wash the item on a normal programme; make sure the stain is completely gone before drying.
• On coloured and delicate fabrics, test first on a small, inconspicuous area.
• The same cold water rule applies to egg stains: how to remove egg stains.

Dried blood stains: the method by fabric type

• Cotton and linen: Soaking in cold water with blood stain remover, then washing at the temperature on the label; on white cotton, a detergent for whites for the shadow left after the stain has gone.
• Denim and heavy weaves: Rinse the stain from the back with cold water and soak in water with blood stain remover; on thick fabric the soak can be repeated once more, and denim is washed inside out.
• Polyester and sportswear: Cold water and blood stain remover; washing at low temperature with an extra rinse, as synthetic fibre sets the protein more easily at high heat.
• Wool and silk: Only cold water and a detergent for wool or delicates, dabbing without rubbing; enzyme products and bleach damage these fibres, and a stubborn stain goes to the dry cleaner.
• Underwear: The stained item is rinsed at once in cold water, soaked in water with blood stain remover and washed on the programme on the label; the steps are in the how to wash underwear guide.
• Leather and suede garments: Not put in water; fresh blood is lifted by dabbing with a damp cloth, a dried stain is removed with a leather care product or at the dry cleaner.

What removes blood stains? Choosing a product

• Cold water and soap: Usually enough for a fresh stain; work in cold water with liquid soap or a little detergent, dabbing rather than rubbing.
• Blood-stain remover powder: A soaking product made for protein stains; it is dissolved in cold or lukewarm water, the laundry is soaked for the time on the label and then washed normally. For dried and old stains it is the first choice.
• Enzymatic stain remover: Contains enzymes that break down protein; it is applied to the fabric and left for the time on the label. Hot water reduces the effect of the enzymes: how to use a stain remover.
• Bleach: Only on white, sturdy cottons and only for the shadow left after the stain has come out; not on colours, wool or silk. Meeting protein directly, it can set the stain.
• What not to use: Hot water, the tumble dryer, the iron and abrasive scrubbing make the stain permanent; do not apply different products at the same time.
• Our product: TETİK Blood Stain Remover Powder 10 kg.

How to remove blood stains from sheets and duvet covers

• Cold water at once: Take the sheet or duvet cover off the bed and rinse the stained area from the back under running cold water; a fresh stain mostly lifts at this step.
• Soaking: For a stain that does not lift, soak the sheet in cold or lukewarm water with blood stain remover for the time on the label; with large items it is enough to put only the stained area into the water.
• Washing: A white cotton sheet is washed with a detergent for whites at the temperature on the label, a coloured duvet cover with a detergent for colours at low temperature; do not move to a high temperature before the stain is out.
• Check: Before drying, hold the stain up to the light; if a shadow remains, repeat the soak. The tumble dryer and the iron set blood that has not come out.
• Mattress protector: For blood that has reached the mattress, a washable protector goes in the machine, while the mattress itself is cleaned in place with little moisture.
• The washing steps for sheets and duvet covers are in the how to wash sheets and how to wash duvet covers guides.

Blood stains on mattresses, duvets and carpets

• On a mattress or duvet that cannot be washed, blot the stain with a clean cloth dampened with cold water; do not soak the item.
• Apply a small amount of stain remover, leave it briefly, then blot it up with a cold damp cloth and let the item dry thoroughly; test on a hidden area first.
• For wool and down duvets, follow the manufacturer's advice or take them to a dry cleaner.
• On carpet, blot the stain with cold water, then dilute carpet shampoo at the ratio on the label, apply a small amount and blot it up with a clean cloth.
• Do not use hot water or hot air; heat sets the protein in blood.
• For general mattress cleaning: how to clean a mattress.
• For what enzymatic cleaners are and how they work: what is an enzymatic cleaner.

How to clean blood off non-fabric surfaces

• Floors, tiles and worktops: Pick it up with paper towel first, wipe with cold water, then clean with surface cleaner and rinse; use a soft brush on grout lines.
• Leather and faux-leather sofas: Dab with a cloth dampened with cold water, do not rub; once dry, apply a care product suitable for leather.
• Car seats and upholstery: On fabric upholstery dab with cold water and a little foam and do not use too much water: how to clean car seats.
• Carpet: Take up the stain from the outside in with a cloth dampened with cold water; apply carpet shampoo in the amount on the label and dry completely: how to use carpet shampoo.
• Wood and lacquer: Use little water; take it up with a damp cloth and dry at once, do not use bleach or abrasives.

For hospitals, clinics and laundries

Blood and protein stains are common on hospital and clinic linen, workwear in meat and food businesses, and hotel textiles. In large-volume washing, using blood stain remover in the pre-wash or soaking stage helps prevent stains from setting in the main wash. In hospital laundries, follow the institution's infection control procedures.

Choosing washing powder

• For whites: Wash white laundry separately from colours, using washing powder for whites.
• For colours: Use washing powder for colours on coloured laundry; separate dark and light colours.
• Hand washing: Dissolve the powder completely in lukewarm water before adding the laundry.
• Dosage: Adjust the amount to the soiling and water hardness, following the label.
• Other stains: for grease, tea and coffee stains see how to use stain remover; for washing steps see how to wash laundry.
• Step-by-step guides for grease and tea stains: how to remove grease stains, how to remove tea stains.
• Hospital cleaning supplies list: corridor, patient room, kitchen and laundry

Pack options

TETİK Blood Stain Remover Powder is sold in 10 kg packs, and TETİK Machine Washing Powder for Whites and for Colours and TETİK Hand-Wash Powder Detergent in 20 kg. For product codes and case quantities, see the powder detergents page; for bulk purchases, you can request a quote.

For whitening white laundry, see our article how to use bleach.