How to remove blood stains from carpet (2023)

Carpet is an important investment. It's also one of the most striking things in any room. That's why it's so painful when blood sticks to it. (Also, of course, whatever mishap caused the bleeding.) Luckily, all is not lost in this case—quite the contrary. You just have to knowhow to remove stainsand the magic formula for getting blood out of a carpet, which is a slightly different process than removing blood from ityour clothes,your sheets, Dieall other household items.

The most important thing is to act immediately, although with a little more strength and patience you can also remove dried blood from a carpet. "Blood can stain carpets very quickly," notes Leo Grover, owner of restoration company Pinnacle Emergency Management. "So the sooner it can be wiped and removed, the better." Here's what you need to know -- and what to have on hand -- to keep those bloodstains out of sight.

What will you need?

• White clothing

• Liquid dishwashing detergent

• hydrogen peroxide

• Carpet stain remover to break down enzymes

• Ammonia

  See Also

  From Red Wine to Pet Stains: The Ultimate Guide to Removing Stubborn Stains from CarpetHow to keep mosquitoes out of your room - pest controllers recommend these 10 tricksHypertension at high altitude - ANGONO

• Backpulver

• Salt

How to remove fresh blood stains from carpet

Regardless of which stain treatment you use, the steps for removing blood stains from carpet are the same.

1. Dampen a white cloth with cold water. Never use warm or hot water for this task as it can set the stain in the carpet.
2. Clean the area by moving the cloth up and down instead of rubbing it back and forth. Resist the urge to scrub or rub the affected area. This will only push the blood stain deeper into the carpet pile and possibly embed it in the fibers of your carpet. It also runs the risk of crushing the pile and spoiling the texture of your carpet.
3. Repeat this erasing process with clean portions of the cloth until no more blood is transferred to the cloth. Then wipe the area with a dry, white cloth. If you solved the problem quickly enough, or your carpet has an excellent built-in stain guard, this may be enough to remove the stain.
4. Use a stain treatment if water alone does not remove the stain. (See below for details, depending on the product used.)
5. Blot the stain with a clean, white cloth until the blood has completely transferred from the carpet to the fabric.
6. Rinse the area with cold water to remove any remaining solution.
7. Finally, wipe the area gently with a dry cloth.

Alaina DiGiacomo/rd.comHow to use stain remover

Big jobs require a lot of stain removal, right? Incorrect. When it comes to your carpet, less is more. "One of the biggest dangers of using too much detergent is that you can remove the stain but leave a residue behind," explains Grover. Debris left on your carpet can trap dirt or weigh down your carpet, causing it to flatten and become tangled.

"Another problem with using too much detergent is that the stain may reappear -- that's because of the soap residue left behind," adds Jotham Hatch, vice president of education at Chem-Dry. "Although the treated area may look fine at first glance, the stain will come back because the soap scum continues to attract dirt." Ah! An easy way to avoid falling into this trap is to apply the stain remover to your cloth instead of directly to your carpet. This gives you more control. Here are morecleaning errorshould definitely be avoided.

The most effective blood stain cleaners

Believe it or not, you might already have everything you need. A few common household items will often do the trick, but for really stubborn stains you may need the added impact of a store-bought solution.

hydrogen peroxide

There are manyUses of hydrogen peroxideout there, and stain removal is one of them.hydrogen peroxideIt is actually a mild bleach with excellent cleaning and disinfecting properties. In most cases, it is completely safe to use on carpets. However, since this is not a matter of course, you should first carry out a field test. (This is a good use for leftover carpet scraps, if you have any. If not, the back corner of a closet is a good test spot.) If no discoloration occurs, it's safe to use on your carpet.

Then dampen a white cloth with hydrogen peroxide. Then wipe off, don't scrub, just like with the cold water. Once you've managed to get blood from the carpet onto your cloth, wipe the area with cold water to remove the hydrogen peroxide. Then wipe with a dry cloth.

Liquid dishwashing detergent

There are fewThings you should never clean with dish soap, but carpet is not one of them. In fact, both Grover and Hatch say it's their favorite household blood removal product. Mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of cold water and soak a white cloth with the mixture. Then follow the same steps as above and wipe away the blood stain until the stain transfers from your carpet to the fabric. Then wipe with cold water to absorb the remaining rinsing liquid. When finished, wipe gently with a dry cloth.

Ammonia

If you try the dish soap method and the stain doesn't come off, repeat the process by adding a tablespoon of ammonia to the dish soap and water mixture. Then follow the above steps again. Note: Ammonia has a strong odor, so it's best to open the window to improve ventilation when working with it. Also, it becomes toxic when combined with bleachNever mix these two products.

Salt

Salt does more than popcorn! It can actually be used to remove blood stains, especially if you prefer to use natural cleaning solutions in your home. When the stain is fresh and still damp, blend itSaltand cold water, mix together until you get a thick paste. Then spread on the carpet until the stain is completely covered. Salt has strong absorbent properties and draws blood into the paste. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Then carefully scrape off the remains of the paste with a spoon. If the carpet is still stained, repeat the process if necessary, and follow up with another stain treatment if needed. When finished, vacuum the area to remove any salt particles. FYI, here's moreClever uses for saltthat have nothing to do with cooking.

Stain removal in store

To remove particularly stubborn blood stains, you may need to resort to a store-bought stain remover such as Kids 'N' Pets Instant All-Purpose Stain Remover & Odor Remover. This product features an enzyme formula that breaks down proteins in blood, grass, pet stains and more, making them easier to remove. It's good to have on hand as it works in the many types of accidents that are common in busy households. Grover says that if you're using an enzyme formula, you should check the label to make sure it's recommended for carpet. Then follow the instructions on the packaging. To be on the safe side, it's always best to do a field test first.

How to remove dried blood from carpet

Wondering how to remove dried blood from carpets? The process isn't much different from the guide above, with one big exception: first, you need to scrape off as much dried blood as possible.

1. With the back of a spoon, gently "comb" the affected area to break up hard deposits. Do not use a brush, fork or any other object that may clog or fray the fibers of your carpet. This is particularly important with loop pile carpets.
2. Vacuum up the dirt. Don't skip this step. Otherwise, the dried blood will become liquid again when wet, and you'll continue to stain your carpet.
3. Then use a stain remover. To make your own concoction, mix the following ingredients in a spray bottle: 1 cup cold water, 1 cupVinegarand 2 tbspBackpulver. Then spray the mixture directly onto the stain. For particularly stubborn stains, a store-bought stain remover is probably your best bet. Here are morehomemade carpet cleaneroptions to consider.
4. Leave the pre-treatment on the carpet for 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Blot the stain with a clean, white cloth until the blood has completely transferred from the carpet to the fabric.
6. Rinse with cold water to remove residual solution.
7. And last but not least: gently clean the area with a dry cloth.

Now that you know the secrets to removing blood stains, turn to the other stubborn spots in your home. Next: learningHow to remove red wine stains from your carpet. And don't forget to read about itBissell Little Green Machineand how it helps keep carpets clean.

Sources:

• Leo Grover, its ownerPinnacle Emergency Management
• Jotham Hatch, Vice President for Education atDry dry
• COIT cleaning and restoration: "How to remove blood from carpets and upholstery"
• Ege carpets: “How to remove blood from carpets – expert advice”