Blood stains are among the toughest to clean. While clothing isn’t immune to cuts and scrapes, adult and children’s mattresses are also affected. From accidental nosebleeds to heavy nighttime periods, how do you remove a fresh or dried bloodstain from your mattress? Is there a miracle home remedy you should follow to the letter? What are the best practices for successfully removing stains from a mattress? Don’t panic—we’ll explain what to do, which products to use, and the steps to follow.
How to Remove a Blood Stain from a Mattress: It's All About Speed
You don't need an ad to know that responsiveness is the top priority. The idea is: don't let the blood dry on the bed! But rest assured, everything can be fixed.
Fresh bloodstain vs. dried bloodstain: What are the differences?
Blood is the enemy of parents and professional cleaners. The reason lies in the composition of blood, which consists of 55% plasma, 44% red blood cells, and 1% white blood cells and platelets. All of these components carry lipids, proteins, hemoglobin, and iron—substances that are very difficult to remove from a mattress once they oxidize and dry. The thickness and color of stains on bedding or sheets depend on the concentration of these substances in the blood at the time of the spill.
Tips for Cleaning a Mattress with Blood Stains
Every minute counts when cleaning a bloodstain from a mattress and its mattress pad. If you notice a fresh bloodstain almost immediately, dab the mattress with a cloth soaked in cold water. If you realize this mishap has occurred when you wake up, clean the bloodstain from your mattress right away. In addition to dabbing cold water on the bloodstain, you can clean it using:
- baking soda;
- a natural product;
- with Marseille soap;
- with ammonia;
- with rubbing alcohol;
- etc.
Stain removal, washing, rinsing, drying: the steps for removing blood from a mattress
When there are too many bloodstains, the only way to clean the mattress is to wash it entirely. Here are the steps to follow to remove large bloodstains from the mattress:
- Stain removal using different solutions depending on the situation.
- Wash the stained areas to dilute the blood.
- Rinse using a washcloth soaked in cold water.
- Dab the mattress with a small towel or washcloth to absorb and remove any remaining diluted blood.
- Dry the mattress with a hair dryer set to warm (not hot).
Top 3 Products for Successfully Removing Blood Stains from a Mattress
Bloodstains on mattresses have been around for as long as beds have existed. As a result, there’s a long list of old-fashioned home remedies and other practical tips for cleaning bloodstains. Here are three options for effectively caring for your mattress at home.
Clean blood off the mattress with cold water
Stop the bad habit of immediately using hot water whenever a stain appears on a piece of clothing, a cloth, or a mattress. Don’t do this with a bloodstained mattress. Why? Because heat causes hemoglobin to react. When it comes into contact with hot water, the molecule coagulates, which practically guarantees that the mattress will remain stained with rust. On the contrary, if the accident has just happened, a mattress stained with fresh blood needs cold water. How should you proceed?
- Have a paper towel or a white cloth handy.
- Soak it in cold, clear water.
- Gently blot the fresh bloodstain on the mattress without rubbing (water and moisture must not penetrate the fabric, or mold may grow).
- Let it dry.
Clean blood off the mattress with baking soda
Baking soda works like magic for removing blood stains from a mattress. Here's how to make this mixture.
- Mix baking soda (1 part) with cold water (2 parts).
- Sprinkle the mixture of baking soda and cold water onto the stained area using a towel, cloth, or paper towel.
- Gently dab the mattress without rubbing.
- Let the cocktail sit for a few minutes.
- Let it dry.
- Dust the mattress with a soft brush.
- Get rid of unpleasant odors in the bedroom by airing out the living room.
How to Clean Blood from a Mattress Using Natural Products
This highly effective recipe, however, requires three ingredients: hydrogen peroxide, salt, and cornstarch (which can be replaced with Maà¯zena, flour, or talcum powder). Gather these ingredients, then follow the steps below.
- Mix 60 ml of hydrogen peroxide, 20 g of salt, and 60 g of cornstarch.
- Apply the paste to the bloodstain.
- Let the dough dry.
- Scrape the mattress with a knife or spatula.
- Vacuum up the residue.
- Repeat the process to ensure your homemade mattress cover is perfectly clean.
A Few Tips for Removing a Blood Stain from a Mattress
Washing a mattress is inevitably more of a hassle than throwing a piece of laundry in the washing machine. So, if you’re looking for a few tips to use depending on the situation, here’s what we recommend.
Fresh bloodstain on the mattress: the ice cube
Quickly rub an ice cube over the stained area of the mattress. An ice cube works better than a cloth dampened with cold water. Then simply blot gently with a cotton cloth.
Old bloodstain on the mattress: ammonia
Dab the area with a cloth soaked in ammonia. Be sure to dilute the liquid before use and protect your hands with gloves and your eyes. To avoid inhaling ammonia fumes, open the windows in the bedroom or living room, and wear an FFP2 mask. Despite its drawbacks, this stain remover is ideal for stubborn dried blood stains.
A small bloodstain on the mattress: household alcohol
If the stain is small and shallow, rubbing alcohol may work just fine. Soak a cloth in cold water and a few drops of rubbing alcohol. Gently dab the dried blood with this stain remover. Then, let it dry. Remove the blood with a cleaning product.
A tip for removing a blood stain from your mattress: everyday cleaning products
In addition to common cleaning agents (such as one tablespoon of borax mixed with two tablespoons of hot water), consider using Marseille soap, black soap, vinegar, or soda crystals. Apply the liquid soap or paste undiluted directly to the area you want to clean. After letting it sit for a while, wipe it off with a simple cloth or a sponge lightly dampened with cold water.
How about some even more surprising formulas?
Stain removal is all about chemistry! Lemon juice works just likeaspirin. Let the tablet dissolve in a glass of lukewarm water, then dab the dried blood. Another method: dampen the stain with cold water while rubbing it with a metal object. One last unusual tip: use a meat tenderizer. And there you have it!
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