First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Act quickly, since fresh blood comes out far more easily than blood older than 24 hours.
- Use cold water only, because hot water sets blood.
- Blot with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel instead of rubbing.
- Pretest any remover on a hidden spot and stop if color transfers.
Blood is a protein stain, and hot water is the fastest way to make it set into the fabric. Cold water and enzymes do most of the work, so an aged mark usually needs a longer soak rather than more scrubbing. Whether the fabric is washable or dry-clean only decides which products you can use.
To get blood out of clothes, turn the garment inside out so you push the mark out rather than deeper into the weave. Keep it out of the dryer until no trace is left, since heat sets whatever remains. Period blood stains on clothes need the same patience, and a prewash stain remover helps on stubborn marks.
7 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Liquid laundry detergentIt rubs into the stain and also works as a soak. Bar soap can set blood. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white cloth or paper towelsYou blot the stain up instead of rubbing it in. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme presoak or enzyme detergentIt's the right choice for dried or old stains. (opens Amazon)
- 3% hydrogen peroxideUse the mild drugstore antiseptic strength for a stain that still shows. (opens Amazon)
- Chlorine bleach (optional)Only for white cotton or linen where the care label allows it. (opens Amazon)
- Wash basin (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme cleaner (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
7 steps
How to get blood out of clothes
Step 1 of 7
Rinse the fresh stain in cold water
Hold the stained area under cold running water, working from the back of the fabric so the blood pushes out rather than deeper in. Rub a little liquid detergent into the spot with your fingers, then rinse again and repeat until little color comes out.
Tip. Keep the water running so the stain keeps flushing away.
Careful. Never rub a fresh stain with bar soap; soap can set it.
Step 2 of 7
Soak the item in cool water
Submerge the stained part in a basin of cool water so the fabric stays covered. Leave it for at least 30 minutes, then check the spot in good light before you go on.
Tip. If the spot is still visible, move on to the enzyme soak.
Step 3 of 7
Soak dried stains in an enzyme presoak
If the stain is dried or still shows, soak it in lukewarm water with an enzyme presoak or enzyme product, using the amount on the label. Leave it for 30 minutes or longer, then rinse thoroughly.
Tip. Dried blood usually needs the full time, so don't cut the soak short.
Careful. Keep the water lukewarm, since hotter water can set the stain.
Step 4 of 7
Rub detergent into what remains
Work a little liquid detergent into any stain that's still there, then rinse with cool water. Repeat once if color is still coming out.
Step 5 of 71 to 3 minutes
Dab on 3% hydrogen peroxide
If the stain still shows, put a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide directly on it and let it sit for 1 to 3 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with cool water so none is left in the fabric.
Tip. A medicine dropper gives you a small, exact spot.
Careful. Peroxide is a bleach, so skip it on colored fabric that isn't colorfast.
Step 6 of 7
Launder and air-dry the item
Wash the item as its care label directs, using cool water for as long as any stain is left and warmer water only once it's gone. Then air-dry it and check the spot, and if it still shows, repeat the cold soak and the enzyme soak.
Tip. Hang it outdoors or on a rack and check it in daylight.
Step 7 of 7
Bleach white cotton or linen only
If a stain remains and the care label allows it, use chlorine bleach on white cotton or linen only. Mix 1/2 cup bleach with 2 cups water and add it 5 to 6 minutes into the wash cycle, after every earlier product is fully rinsed out.
Careful. Undiluted bleach can weaken the fabric so it tears sooner.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for blood
Look for a liquid laundry detergent or an enzyme presoak, plus 3% hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore antiseptic shelf. Oxygen bleach is a backup for colorfast fabric, and chlorine bleach is only for white cotton and linen.
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
ECOS OXO Brite Stain & Odor Remover Pre-Wash Spray
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Blood on every material
Bedding & linens4
Carpet & rugs1
Clothes & laundry5
Furniture & upholstery2
Leather & suede2
Kitchen & bath6
Shoes & accessories2
Walls1
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
Fresh blood should look paler and feel looser after the cold soak, often before any product touches it. Check the spot while the fabric is still damp, and if a faint trace remains, soak and wash again rather than drying it. If the spot stops lightening after two rounds and the fabric feels stiff there, the stain has set, so move on to the enzyme soak.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
White shirts and whites
Whites start in cold water like everything else, because warm water cooks blood into cotton even on sturdy fabric. Once the spot is nearly gone, it can go through a regular wash to lift the last of it.
Chlorine bleach comes last, and only on white cotton or linen whose care label permits it. Dilute it (half a cup of bleach in two cups of water) and add it five to six minutes into the wash cycle. Make sure every other product has been rinsed out first.
Colors and denim
Jeans and other colored clothes get the same cold-first steps, but leave chlorine bleach out of them. If a trace remains after the wash, oxygen bleach is the option, and only on colorfast fabric.
Before you commit, test any product on a seam nobody sees, pressing a damp white cloth against it to see whether color transfers. If any color comes off, stop there. For period underwear or leakproof garments, skip bleach, hydrogen peroxide and the dryer, since heat and harsh additives break down the leakproof lining.
Silk, wool and delicates
Blood is a protein stain, so cold water is still the first move on silk and wool. Rinse from the back of the fabric and blot with a clean white cloth, never rubbing, since rubbing can damage the fibers and spread the stain.
Chlorine bleach is off the table on these fibers. If you're tempted by an enzyme remover, pretest it on a hidden seam first. If the stain still shows after the gentle rinse, take the piece to a dry cleaner rather than reaching for a stronger product.
Dry-clean-only items
If the label says dry-clean only, blot off what you can with a clean, dry white cloth and leave the rest to a professional. Home stain removers can harm these fabrics, so skip them.
Bring the garment in soon, ideally within a day or two, and name the stain and the fabric when you drop it off. Fresh protein stains are much easier for them to lift than dried ones, so timing matters.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A blood stain that's been sitting for a day or more is harder, but it's often still treatable. Lift off any crusted blood with a blunt edge, then soak it in cold water with detergent or an enzyme presoak. Aged stains can need an enzyme soak of several hours instead of 30 minutes.
For dried blood, soak in lukewarm water with an enzyme product, then launder. Dried and old stains often need several rounds before they're fully gone.
Dryer heat can make the stain impossible to remove, so if the item has been through the dryer, expect only partial results. For blood that stays after the enzyme soak, a damp enzyme pad left on the spot for 30 minutes can loosen more of it. A faint shadow may be the realistic best result.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on blood?
Plenty of home remedies float around for blood, and most of them either don't help or can set the stain. Some of these help, some aren't worth the effort, and some are best avoided, so stick with the ones that help.
Works1Helps1Skip6
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
Chlorine bleach + Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
Washington State's health department says bleach reacts with hydrogen peroxide, and Clorox says not to mix bleach with other household chemicals.
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub the stain
Scrubbing works the blood deeper into the weave and can damage the fibers. Press with a clean white cloth or paper towel instead, which lifts the liquid without spreading it.
Don't leave peroxide on past 3 minutes
One to three minutes is the limit, and longer contact can fade or weaken the fabric. Rinse it out fully before you launder.
Don't wait for the stain to dry
Dried blood can need several rounds of enzyme soaking, and some of it may never fully lift. Treat it while it's still wet, and only switch to the old-stain soak if it has already dried.
Don't use hot water on blood
Warm or hot water sets blood protein into the fibers, so a spot that goes through the washer warm can become much harder to lift. Keep the first rinse and soak cold, and only move to warmer water once the stain is gone.
Don't dry the item before the stain is gone
Dryer heat can lock a faint trace in place so that no product will lift it later. Air-dry the garment and check the spot again once it's dry, and repeat the soak if anything still shows.
Don't mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or alcohol
Chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia gives off toxic fumes, and it shouldn't meet vinegar, rubbing alcohol or other acids either. If you need two products on the same spot, rinse the fabric with plain water after each one.
When to call a professional
Take it to a dry cleaner if the label says dry-clean only, or if the piece is silk, wool or an heirloom you can't risk. Also call a professional if a washable stain survives the cold soak, the enzyme presoak and a full wash. Tell the cleaner it's blood, when it happened, and what you've put on it so far.
Questions
Does blood stain or wash out of clothes?
Yes, blood can stain clothes, but a fresh spot usually washes out completely. Cold water and liquid detergent handle most fresh stains, while dried blood may leave a faint shadow even after several rounds.
How do you get period blood out of clothes?
Period blood is the same protein stain, so use the same cold-water method. Rinse it under cold water right away, and for leakproof underwear keep the garment out of the dryer and off the iron, since heat breaks down its protective layer. Check the care label before anything else.
How do I get blood out of jeans?
Treat jeans like any colored fabric: cold water first, then liquid detergent and a cool soak. Test any peroxide or oxygen bleach on a hidden seam first, since dye can lift.
Do I need an enzyme detergent to remove blood?
Not for fresh blood, but an enzyme presoak or enzyme detergent is the right choice for dried or old stains. Use it in lukewarm water for 30 minutes or longer, or several hours for an aged stain, then rinse.
Is hydrogen peroxide safe for blood stains?
Yes, on white and colorfast fabric, 3% hydrogen peroxide is a useful last step for a stain that still shows. Use a few drops for 1 to 3 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and test a hidden spot first since it is a bleach.
Can I use bleach or oxygen bleach on blood?
Chlorine bleach only works on white cotton or linen where the label allows it, and only as a diluted final wash. Oxygen bleach can help on colorfast fabric as a backup, but test a hidden spot first.
How do I get blood out of a white shirt?
Start with cold water and liquid detergent, then soak in cool water for 30 minutes or longer. If a shadow stays, use diluted chlorine bleach in the final wash, which only white cotton and linen can take.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.