First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Act fast; fresh blood lifts far more easily than blood that is more than 24 hours old.
- Rinse from the back of the spot with cold running water.
- Blot with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Don't rub, because that spreads the stain and can damage the fibers.
- Test any remover on a hidden spot first and stop if the color moves.
Blood on sheets is a protein stain, and every hour it sits in the weave makes it tougher to lift. A fresh spot often comes out in a single round, but a dried one can take several soaks and an enzyme presoak before the shadow fades. Colored sheets change the plan a little, because bleach and peroxide can shift dye, so the fabric sets the limit on what you can try.
Rinse the back of the spot before it reaches the washer, so the blood pushes out instead of settling deeper. If you're trying to get blood stains out of white sheets, a 3% peroxide spot after the enzyme soak is the next step to add. Stop if the fabric starts to thin under your hands, because heavy scrubbing will do more harm than the stain.
Before you start
What sheets, towels & table linens can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Clean white cloths or paper towelsBlotting lifts the blood without transferring dye. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid detergentIt loosens the blood when rubbed into the spot. (opens Amazon)
- Basin or tubIt holds cool water for the soak. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme presoakEnzymes break down the protein in blood. (opens Amazon)
- 3% hydrogen peroxideIt handles a shadow that survives the soaks. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Rinse the stain with cold water
Hold the back of the stained area under cold running water so the blood pushes out the way it came in. Keep rinsing until the water runs mostly clear, then blot the spot with a clean white cloth.
Tip. Slip a towel under the sheet so the rinse water doesn't carry the blood onto the mattress.
Step 2 of 6
Work in liquid detergent
Rub a small dab of liquid detergent into the stain with your fingertips, working gently rather than scrubbing. Rinse it out with cool water and repeat until the stain stops lifting.
Step 3 of 6
Soak the sheet in cool water
Put the stained section in a basin or tub of cool water and make sure the whole spot is under the surface. Let it soak for 30 minutes or longer, and longer if the stain is large or still dark.
Step 4 of 6
Enzyme presoak for stubborn spots
If the stain is still there after the cool soak, dissolve an enzyme presoak in lukewarm water and soak the spot for 30 minutes or longer. Enzymes break down protein stains like blood, so this is the step to lean on for dried marks. Rinse the sheet thoroughly afterward.
Tip. Follow the presoak's own mixing directions and check the care label before you start.
Step 5 of 61 to 3 minutes
Dab on 3% hydrogen peroxide
If a shadow remains, put a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide directly on the spot and let it sit for 1 to 3 minutes. Then rinse the area thoroughly so no peroxide is left in the fibers.
Careful. Colored sheets that are not colorfast can lose their dye to peroxide, so skip this step on them.
Step 6 of 6
Launder and check the spot
Wash the sheet as usual with your normal detergent, using the water temperature its care label allows. Once it's out of the wash, check the spot in good light, and if a shadow is left, repeat the detergent rub, soak and peroxide before drying.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for blood on sheets, towels & table linens
Look for an enzyme presoak made for protein stains, and buy 3% hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore. For colored sheets, test a hidden seam first, since bleach and peroxide can shift dye.
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 sheets, towels & table linens, 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 →How to tell it's working
A fresh spot should look lighter after the first soak, and the sheet should lose its dark edge after the first wash. Check it while it's still damp, in a bright room, and treat it again instead of drying it if you see any trace. A spot that stays the same shade after two rounds, with crusty edges, has set and needs the dried-blood section.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
Period or menstrual on sheets
Period blood is still blood, so the same cold-first order works, and the sooner you start the better. It can soak through to the mattress pad as well, so check underneath and rinse from the back of the sheet.
If you only notice it after it has dried, start with the enzyme presoak and give it more soak time before you reach for peroxide.
White or colored sheets
White sheets can take every step here, including the peroxide spot treatment. Colored sheets follow the same order, but test a hidden corner first and stop before the peroxide if any color moves.
If a shadow survives the enzyme soak, repeat that soak once before moving on to any peroxide.
Hotel sheets or from a nosebleed
Nosebleed blood is the same protein stain, so a quick cold rinse and blot is still the first move. Hotel linen usually has no care label you can read, so treat it as an unknown fiber: start with the cool soak and skip the peroxide until you've tested a hidden spot.
Don't wait until you get home, because fresh blood responds best to the cold rinse.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Small fresh spots usually clear with the first cold rinse and a dab of detergent, so you rarely need more. Old blood is harder, so expect to go through the soak more than once. Scrape or brush off any crusted matter before you soak, because the water can't reach blood trapped under a crust.
For dried blood, an enzyme-dampened pad kept on the spot for 30 minutes is a good next step, and aged stains can need several hours of soaking in lukewarm water with an enzyme product. Enzymes are the main tool here, so give them the time they need.
Once a stain has been through the dryer, the heat may have set it for good, and it can be impossible to remove completely. If a shadow still shows after the enzyme soak, repeat the 3% peroxide spot once and rinse well. Dried and old stains may need several rounds before they're fully gone, so count on repeat treatments.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on blood on sheets, towels & table linens?
Plenty of home remedies float around for blood, but most of them are built for other stains. Some suit blood and some don't, and only the ones that do belong in the wash.
Works1Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bar soap on the spot
Soap sets many stains, and a fresh blood stain is no exception. Liquid detergent is the safer choice for every rub, so keep the bar out of this job.
Don't leave peroxide on past 3 minutes
Three minutes is the longest it should sit, and the stronger hair-bleaching kind is too much for sheets. Peroxide is a bleach, so a longer soak can lighten the fabric or the dye around the spot.
Don't rub a fresh spot on the sheet
Rubbing drives blood deeper into the weave and spreads it onto clean fabric around it. Blot with a clean white cloth or white paper towel, working from the edge toward the center so the stain doesn't grow.
Don't skip the seam test on colored sheets
Chlorine bleach can strip dye from a colored sheet, so a hidden seam is where you find out before the stain ever sees bleach. If the care label rules bleach out, stick to the cold soak and the enzyme presoak.
Don't use vinegar as your first move
Vinegar is an acid, and it can weaken cotton and rayon or change their color. Run the cold-water soak first, and only try anything acidic on a test patch.
When to call a professional
A dry-clean-only sheet should go to a dry cleaner quickly, and tell them the fiber content along with the word blood so they can plan the treatment. A washable sheet that is large, bulky or delicate is also worth handing over if the spot is still visible after a couple of home rounds.
Questions
Will blood come out of sheets?
Usually, yes, especially when it's fresh and you start with cold water. Old or heat-set blood is harder and may take several rounds of soaking before it's gone.
Why are there blood stains on my sheets?
Most sheet blood comes from a period, a nosebleed or a small wound. Once it dries it turns brown and can look like an old mark, so treat it as soon as you spot it.
How to not stain your sheets on your period
You can't always prevent it, but a dark or patterned towel under you cuts down on the mess. If you do catch a leak, rinse it cold right away, because the treatment is much easier while it's fresh.
Can I spot clean blood without washing the sheet?
Yes, for a small fresh spot. Rinse it under cold water and blot, then rub in a little liquid detergent and rinse again. If a shadow is left after that, you'll need the soak.
What if I already washed it in hot water?
Hot water may have set the stain, so don't assume it's gone for good. Start over with the cold rinse and the cool soak, then move to the enzyme presoak if the shadow stays.
Can I put white sheets with blood on them in the hottest wash?
Not until the stain is gone, since hot water can lock the protein in and leave a shadow that's harder to lift. Once the spot is lifted in cool water, wash the sheet at the water temperature its care label allows. If any shadow remains, run another enzyme presoak and keep the sheet out of the dryer until it's gone.
Is it safe to use bleach on colored sheets with a blood spot?
Only if the sheet is colorfast and its care label allows chlorine bleach. Run a hidden seam test first, and if the dye moves at all, stop there. A 3% hydrogen peroxide spot is the step to try on colors before chlorine, though it should also be tested on that hidden seam.
Can a blood-stained sheet soak overnight?
Yes, in an enzyme laundry presoak, since enzymes are made to break down protein stains such as blood. Presoak for at least 30 minutes, or for several hours if the spot is old. Keep hot water out of the bucket, and skip any soaking liquid the label says not to leave on.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Blood on other materials
Other stains on sheets, towels & table linens
Start from the bigger picture
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.