Unexpected periods and scrapes that haven’t quite healed can have you waking up with startling stains on your sheets. We tapped experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab for tips on how to remove blood from sheets.
Like many other types of stains, blood stains are easier to remove from fabrics when they’re fresh. That said, pros say it’s often possible to get dried blood out of sheets using the right products and methods. Many of the products experts recommend using are things you likely already have on hand, like hydrogen peroxide and laundry detergent. Pros also recommend keeping laundry stain removers on hand so you’re ready for tough messes—think paint stains, ink blots, or other unsavory splotches.
If experts want you to know one thing about this type of stain, it’s that patience is key. Getting your sheets stain-free can require long periods of soaking and it may take a few attempts before the stain is gone for good.
Ahead, experts share step-by-step guides on removing blood stains from sheets and mattresses. For more advice on tough messes, read what pros say about getting blood stains out of clothes and what experts really think about laundry stripping.
How to get fresh blood out of sheets
If you wake up to spots of blood on your sheets, don't delay. Carolyn Forté, former executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, says you should head to your medicine cabinet and laundry room to gather the necessary supplies. Always check the care label first to make sure it's safe to use either chlorine or all-fabric bleach on your sheets. Once you get the go-ahead, follow this step-by-step guide.
- Soak the stain in cold water as quickly as possible for about 15 minutes. If the stain is super fresh, place it under cold running water to flush out as much of the blood as possible.
- Sponge the stain with hydrogen peroxide or rub bar soap into the stain and scrub by hand in cold water.
- Apply laundry pre-treater or rub in liquid laundry detergent, and wash the remaining stain in warm water with a fabric-safe bleach until the stain is gone.
- Avoid the dryer. Refrain from putting the sheets in the clothes dryer until the stain is completely removed. Heat will set the stain and make it harder to remove.
How to get dried blood out of sheets
More often than not, a blood stain dries overnight, leaving you with a hard-to-remove mess in the morning. While it may take more time and elbow grease to remove than a fresh stain, this three-step method will help remove even the most set-in stains.
- Soak the stained area in a mixture of cold water and laundry detergent or a pre-soak stain remover. (FYI, this may take several hours or even overnight, depending on the severity of the stain.) Every so often, give the stain a scrub by hand.
- Rinse well once soaking has removed as much of the stain as possible. Work in a stain pre-treater or some liquid detergent and launder the sheet using fabric-safe bleach.
- If this still doesn't work, mix 1 quart of water with 1 teaspoon of laundry detergent and 1 tablespoon of ammonia, and soak the stain again until removed, scrubbing often. Or, rub with a laundry bar soap and rewash.
How to get blood out of a mattress
If you haven't covered your bed with a mattress protector (you learned the hard way, didn't you?), follow this how-to guide to make your mattress look new again.
- Thoroughly sponge the stain with cold water and blot out as much as you can. Make a solution by mixing an oxi-presoak with warm water according to package directions and apply it to the stain with a clean cloth. If you don't have an oxi-presoak on hand, sponge the stain with hydrogen peroxide.
- Continue dabbing and blotting until the stain is gone. Rotate the cloth as it absorbs the stain. If needed, work a little bar soap into the stain with your fingertip and blot.
- Rinse thoroughly with a cloth dipped in clear water and allow the mattress to air dry.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
