How to Get Rid of Dried Blood Stains
How to Remove Dried Blood From Fabric: A Brief Guide
Trying to remove dried blood stains from fabric can feel like an impossible task. Before you even begin, consider a few questions: What kind of fabric am I dealing with? Fabrics containing different fibers require different stain removal techniques. How big is the stain? You may be able to handle the safe cleaning of very small dots of blood, but larger amounts of blood may require the fabric to be thrown away.
6 Tips On How to Remove Dried Blood Stains From Fabric
Note: these tips are intended for very small amounts of blood only.
- Soak for an hour in cool water.Soaking blood stained fabric in cool water can help break up the stain and make it easier to remove.
- Wash as usual. Sometimes, soaking blood stained fabric and then washing it in the washing machine is enough to remove a dried blood stain. However, it is recommended that you air dry the fabric rather than dry it in a dryer. If a stain still remains after washing, heat can set the stain.
- Scrub with soap and water. This method works especially well on sturdy fabrics like cotton and linen.
- Turn the fabric inside out. By turning the blood stain face-down, the water and cleaning solution can attack the stain from the back, loosening the blood and pushing it off the fabric.
- Have patience. You may not be able to remove a blood stain on the first try. The trick to removing dried blood is trying a simple method (soap and water) and moving on to more complicated methods if needed. If at first you do not succeed…
- Use an enzymatic cleaner. If soap and water do not adequately remove the stain, move on to an enzymatic cleaner, which will biodegrade the stain. You might consider purchasing or making your own enzymatic cleaner. Note: Do not use enzymatic cleaners on wool or silk.
Why are Blood stains So Difficult to Remove from fabric?
The hemoglobin in blood causes it to clot when exposed to air. This clotting ability helps heal wounds more quickly and helps prevent profuse blood loss. Unfortunately, this clotting ability also binds it to any surface on which it is spilled, making it difficult to remove from fabric and clothing. These 6 tips can help remove dried blood from fabric.
"Cleaning a fresh blood stain is always preferable to a dried one. Usually, a quick rinse or soak with cold water will do the trick before the stain sets in. But many times, blood will set long before you even know there is a stain."
Don't Clean Large Blood Stains on Your Own
To clean blood spills properly, is recommended that you seek assistance in a professional bioremediation company. Why? Blood can contain harmful pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, MRSA, or C. Diff that can infect those who have direct contact with it.
People Also Read:
- 5 Myths About Cleaning Blood
- 10 Steps to Clean Up Blood
- What to Know Before You Begin Cleaning Blood
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Sources:
OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_BloodborneFacts/bbfact01.pdf
Wikihow: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Enzyme-Cleaner
LoveToKnow: http://cleaning.lovetoknow.com/Dried_Blood_Stain_Removal
Mrs Clean: http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/how-to-remove-dry-blood-stains.html
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How to Get Rid of Dried Blood Stains
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