How to Get Blood out of Mattress

It is not uncommon to see blood stains on mattresses because one can see them occasionally in one’s house every once in a while. Blood stains may appear on mattresses because of a bleeding nose, a scraped knee, monthly menstrual periods, or due to any other unexpected instance. As the appearance of the blood on the mattress is awful and gives a notorious look, knowing the solutions how to get blood out of mattress, or how to remove blood from mattress or even how to get blood out of sheets gain significance.

In this article, we will be discussing appropriate tools and techniques to remove the blood stains from the mattress without causing any damage to your mattress so that its lifespan is extended and its pristine appearance is maintained.

Why Methods of Removing Blood from Mattress be learnt

Off course, you may be frustrated seeing blood on mattress because it is unpleasant and uncomfortable and now you have the challenge to tackle them expertly otherwise the blood might spread and the mattress can potentially be damaged in the cleaning process.

Getting rid of the blood stains may be challenging, but you should be proactive in dealing with them because it will be more difficult to remove them later. Fortunately, you do not have to cast away your favorite mattress when such an incident occurs because blood stains can be removed from a mattress with surprising ease.

Suggested Reading: How to Remove Deodorant Stains from Black Shirts

Is it Possible to Get Rid of Blood without Loss?

Yes, it is but with a right approach and some effective methods, you can remove blood stains from your mattress successfully and restore the original and clean state of your mattress. Your success largely depends on immediate action as it is advisable to remove blood stains when they are fresh.

These are some practical solutions that you can follow easily at home whether the blood stains are fresh or dried. We will delve into the specifics of how to remove blood from a mattress in this article without causing any damage to your mattress so that its lifespan is extended and its pristine appearance is maintained.

Useful Tips about Removing Blood from a Mattress

It is always a good idea to be prepared for a situation where you have to remove blood from a mattress. Most of the time, you will encounter blood on your mattress unexpectedly. So, if you are already prepared for it, both mentally and with necessary materials, removing blood stains will be a surprisingly easier task.

Some useful tips about removing blood from a mattress are as follows:-

1) Immediate Action to get blood out of mattress

You should act immediately as soon as you see blood on your mattress. Taking urgent action is the key in this process. It is because stains coagulate outside the body with the passage of time which makes it difficult and challenging to remove later. In addition, leaving the blood stain is a biohazard and may make your home more susceptible to disease transmission. Try to remove the stain within two to three hours for the best results.

2) Assess the Blood on the mattress

Determine whether the blood is fresh and new or dry and somewhat old before treating the stain. Blood will start to dry out and coagulate outside of the body. You should be watching out for two key characteristics i.e., the color of blood stain and viscosity. If the blood stain is less vibrant red and is more viscous like gel then it is an old stain.

3) Gather Necessary Supplies to remove blood from mattress

You will need various cleaning tools depending on the type of fabric, age of the stain, and type of blood. Fresh stains typically require cold water, whereas warm water should be preferable when removing dried stains. This is not a one-size-fits-all situation.

A cleaning rug, gloves, a knife are necessary. Some other kitchen tools may also be required to make cleaning pastes or mixtures. Moreover, some stain removers like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, ammonia, cola, or enzymatic cleaners should also be procured beforehand so that you do not have to scramble when the time comes.

4) Getting Cold Water to get blood out of sheets

Using hot water in the washing machine instead of cold water is actually more effective when using enzymatic stain removers. This is very impractical when attempting to remove a bloodstain from a mattress or sheet. Thus, when in doubt, use cold water instead and err on the side of caution.

5) Blotting and Dabbing – No Rubbing

Do not rub or brush the mattress prior to applying your cleaning solution and beginning the cleaning process. It is like a process of cleaning carpets where brushing or rubbing the stain may cause it to become more difficult to remove by discoloring or fusing it to the mattress. Blotting and dabbing is the only way to go. Avoid removing the stain with force or vigor. However, patience is the key.

6) Removing all the Bedding to Wash Them Separately

Fresh blood can be removed by taking off all mattress covers and putting them in cold water. The fabrics can then be pre-treated with a stain remover, allowed to soak, and then washed in the washing machine as usual.

7) Drying the Wet Mattresses before Using

Make sure to allow the wet mattress to air dry to prevent the development of mold and harmful microorganisms. Open the windows or use a fan to accomplish this.

How to Get Fresh Blood Stains Out of Mattress

In order to remove blood stain from a mattress, immediate action is the first prerequisite. You must act swiftly as soon as you see blood spillage on your mattress. Use the following methods easily at home to try to remove blood stains from mattresses.

1) Cold Water

Using cold water to remove blood from your mattress is perhaps the most simple and easy way. Take a clean cloth and make it slightly damp using cold water. Now, place it on the stain for a little while (one minute or more) and them dab it gently. Do not rub. Repeat this process until the stain is completely gone.

You can wash the cloth if required or you can use a new but clean one. After the stain is removed, let the mattress dry completely before using. However, this method can only be used on fresh blood stains and it may not guarantee 100% results. Therefore, you can try other methods listed below.

2) Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a good option to remove blood from mattress since it does not pose any risk to the fabric. It is because lemon contains citric acid which breaks down blood stains allowing you to wash them comfortably. To remove blood stain using lemon juice, first you need to gently wipe the stain with cold water. Now, you may soak a clean cloth in lemon juice and dab the stained area. Repeat the process if required. Dry the mattress completely before you use it.

3) Salt

Salt can be used as an effective stain remover because of its dehydrating characteristics. It is why you can use it to remove blood stains from your mattress too. Sprinkle a few tablespoons on the blood stain and leave it as such for an hour. After that use a clean damp cloth to dab the affected area.

The stain should be removed. However, if it is an old stain which cannot be removed from this simple method, you can form a paste by mixing some quantities of salt, hydrogen peroxide, and corn flour. Apply this paste to the stain and you will get better results.

Using cold water, salt, and lemon juice are easier options if you want to remove blood from your mattress. Because these materials are almost always available at home which enables you to employ them a get rid of blood stains as soon as possible. However, these methods cannot guarantee 100 percent success because sometimes a blood stain gets old and becomes difficult to remove with these simple methods. Therefore, we will now explain some more methods by which you can get good results. For these methods, you should always be using cold water and wearing gloves.

4) The Baking Soda Method

Using baking soda is a good and an effective way to remove blood stains from your mattress. If you are taking one part of baking soda, you will have to take two parts of water. E.g., one cup of baking soda will require two cups of water. Use a clean cloth to apply this mixture to the blood stain. Leave it for 30-45 minutes. Now take a different cloth and wipe the area. The blood stain would have been removed. Blot with a fresh cloth until it gets dry.

5) The Hydrogen Peroxide Method

Besides baking soda, you can also use hydrogen peroxide to remove blood stain from your mattress. Take half cup hydrogen peroxide, half cup corn flour, and one-fourth cup salt. Mix them well to make a paste which should be applied to the blood stain. Hydrogen peroxide will cause some bubbles to arise and when they stop, pat the affected area with a clean cloth. The stain should vanish. This method is especially effective in removing menstrual blood from your mattress.

6) Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Mixture

Although baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can be used separately, they may also be mixed in specific quantities to remove blood from your mattress. Take half cup baking soda and half cup hydrogen peroxide. Create a paste by mixing them in a bowl. Take an old toothbrush or a soft-bristled brush and use it to apply the paste to blood stain.

Keep in mind that you should be starting at the outer edges then move towards the center. The reaction of hydrogen peroxide with blood will cause some bubbles to emerge. Wait for half an hour by which time the bubbling should stop. Take a clean cloth, dip it in cold water, and wring it to remove excess water. Use this cloth to blot the paste. Let the mattress dry completely before you can use it. You may use a vacuum to clean any traces of baking soda. This is the best method you can use to remove period blood from your mattress easily.

How to Remove Dried Blood Stains from a Mattress

As we have seen above, removing fresh blood from a mattress is relatively easy and straightforward. But you will not be lucky every time to be able to treat fresh blood. Perhaps, most of the times, you will have to deal with dried blood stains.

Fortunately, there are several methods that you can use to clean your mattress and return it to its original state. These methods include treating blood stains with meat tenderizer, enzymatic cleaners, cornstarch mixture, ammonia, and cola.

i). Meat Tenderizer to remove blood from mattress

Removing dried blood stains from mattress may be difficult but the first method to remove them is by using meat tenderizer. It is equally effective for blood and meat proteins. For this method, take one spoon meat tenderizer and half cup tepid water. Remember that the meat tenderizer is unseasoned. Blend the water and meat tenderizer and apply it to blood stain. Leave it for an hour. Check to see the blood stain removed. Wipe the area with a dry dishcloth and your mattress would appear like nothing ever happened.

ii) Enzymatic Cleaners

Enzymatic cleaners are ideal for removing blood stains because they can break down protein molecules. You can use them if your mattress is blood stained. According to a study, the best way to remove blood stains is to mix 10 percent protease with detergent powder and use it to clean the stains with water with a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Use this enzymatic cleaner to remove the blood stain. Use a clean cloth to wipe the area. Air dry the mattress before using.

iii) Ammonia to get blood out of mattress

Ammonia is a colorless gas but has a pungent smell. It can be easily dissolved in water and this mixture can be used to remove blood from mattresses. It may be used to treat both fresh and dried blood stains, but it is particularly effective for old and stubborn blood stains. Open the window in your bedroom, and do not forget your gloves. Utilize a cleaning towel and the ammonia mixture. Wipe off the bloodstain. Continue cleaning until the stain is gone. Leave it for enough time in the sunlight or air so that your mattress is completely dry.

iv) Make use of Cola

This option is a last resort and is only appropriate for bedding that can be machine washed because it is based on the notion that the carbonic acids in the beverage can help stains come out of fabrics. If all other options have failed, it might be preferable to seek professional assistance before using cola. Blood stains should be soaked up with a little coke. Take a two-hour break. Wipe it off with a fresh rag. The blood stain will be cleaned.

Precautionary Measures for Safe Keeping of Mattress

In order to protect your mattress, you can use the following recommended techniques:-

Allowing the Mattress to Air Dry

The first thing you can do to protect your mattress from any damage is to leave it to air dry after you have carried out the cleaning process to remove blood stains. You need to leave it for several hours and ideally overnight for it to dry completely. It is done to ensure that no even a trace of moisture is left in the mattress because any amount of trapped moisture will lead to a growth of mold and even attract bed bugs.

You can choose to manually speed up the drying time by putting the mattress in front of a standing fan, put the mattress before sunlight, open the windows to allow fresh air in the room, or you may even use a vacuum to suck the water up.

Vacuuming the Mattress

After you have completely dried the mattress, you may use vacuum the entire surface of the mattress to get rid of dirt particles and extra debris. Your mattress will last longer if you regularly clean it. Vacuum the sides, seams, bottom, and top of the mattress using the upholstery attachment.

Covering the Mattress

Mattress covers shield the mattress from stains, spills, and other mishaps because they are waterproof. For instance, when something is spilled on the mattress, the cover wicks away the moisture and keeps the mattress from getting wet. Mattress protectors are cleanable. Clean the cover in accordance with the care instructions if you spill anything or have an accident. Some of the covers will be machine-washable, while others can simply be wiped down with a wet towel or cloth.

Conclusion

From the foregoing, we can get the following key takeaways:-

• There are certain method to get blood out of mattress or to get blood out of sheet, which need to be applied on immediate basis and also in line with SOP.
• However, a rapid approach is a successful one for all methods. But when cleaning your mattress, it is preferable to move slowly and gently rather than acting rashly or aggressively to remove blood stains from mattress.
• The typical waiting period follows the initial application of a product or mixture and ranges from 30 minutes to an hour.
• If required, go through each step of your selected procedure again. To avoid harmful bacteria, make sure your mattress is completely dry before making the bed.

If you follow the instructions carefully, your mattress will look clean in no time, saving you from having to throw it away too soon. It is a good idea to take proactive measures to stop the problem early i.e., to prevent blood from getting on your mattress. One option is to use a mattress cover, which can shield your mattress in case of such accidents, saving you the time and energy required to remove blood stains later.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get dried blood out of a mattress?

Seek help from a Meat tenderizer, which is considered essential for getting rid of blood stains. You are supposed to mix some meat tenderizer with water to make a paste and rub it into your mattress for some tie. Keep it for an hour before removing it with a cloth soaked in cold water.

Can you get period blood out of a mattress?

Yes, it can be done. It is preferred to use a steamer to remove sweat, urine or even blood from the mattress. In case of using the steamer, have some hot water without applying any other solution. You can also make use of enzyme based cleaners to remove period blood from mattress.

Can vinegar remove blood stains from mattress?

Yes, it is one of the solutions to get blood out of mattress. It has been advised to create a solution with the mixture of half water with half white vinegar, apply the solution like spray on the affected part and keep that to dry for some time.

What spray removes blood stains from mattresses?

Spray containing white vinegar and use of baking soda can help in removing blood stains from mattress. In result, it will cause a reaction that cuts through the blood stains, and remove the blood from the mattress within 30 minutes.