Blood stains can be difficult to remove – especially those on a mattress. However, there are some simple steps you can follow to clean a blood stain. All you need are some everyday substances from your kitchen pantry and a little know-how. Here’s how to remove a blood stain from a mattress.
HOW TO REMOVE A BLOOD STAIN FROM A MATTRESS
There are many innocent and natural reasons for blood stains getting onto mattresses. Whether someone cuts themselves and accidentally bleeds on the bed or mother nature arrives unexpectedly – either way you may have a blood stain on your hands and some cleaning to take care of.
Mattress blood stains can be difficult to shift. Especially, if the blood has been allowed to dry in. Others are easy – especially if you tend to them quickly. There are however some golden rules you need to follow when cleaning blood from a mattress.
And, there are some excellent tried and tested methods you need to be familiar with. Check out our guide below for everything you need to know about how to remove a blood stain from a mattress.
CONTENT OVERVIEW
- Top Tips for Mattress Blood Stains
- Prepare Your Mattress
- Cold Water Method
- Cold Water & Baking Soda
- Vinegar & Baking Soda
- Meat Tenderizer Powder
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Enzymatic Cleaners
- Ammonia
TOP TIPS FOR REMOVING BLOOD FROM A MATTRESS
Here are our top tips for cleaning a blood stain on a mattress. Before we run through each method, you need to understand the fundamentals of how to remove blood from a mattress.
ACT QUICKLY
Time is critical when it comes to removing blood from a mattress. The sooner you deal with the problem the better. If you can get to the blood before it has had a chance to dry in, you’ll have a much easier job removing it.
USE COLD WATER
This is the most important point to remember when it comes to cleaning up a blood stain. Always, always use cold water. Never use warm water to clean up blood. Warm water will interact with the proteins in the blood and help them bind to the fabric in your mattress.
USE A DABBING MOTION
When cleaning up a blood stain you need to use a dabbing motion with your cleaning cloth. Gently dab the affected area to soak up the stain. Rubbing will cause the stain to spread out and you will be left with a bigger problem than you started with.
ALLOW TO FULLY AIR DRY
Drying is a step that is often overlooked when cleaning a mattress stain. When you are finished cleaning, allow the mattress to completely air dry before replacing the bed sheet and blankets. Opening a window and placing in direct sunlight can speed up the drying process.
MATTRESS CLEANING PREPARATION
The first stage in cleaning a blood stain on a mattress is preparation. Careful preparation is key and will boost your chances of success if you carefully plan ahead. The first thing you need to do is strip the bed. Remove all the pillows, blankets, and bed sheets.
Anything that is dirty and needs cleaning can be put through the laundry. Once your mattress is completely free of bedclothes and pillows you are ready to get started. First up we will run you through the most practical ways of removing blood from a mattress.
These methods use common everyday household items and more often than not will do the trick. However, if you find they have been ineffective – you can try the more heavy-duty methods using commercial cleaning products.
COLD WATER METHOD
The first step in cleaning blood from a mattress is to use cold water – and nothing else. If you are lucky enough to get to the stain before the blood has had a chance to dry there’s a good chance you’ll be able to clean it using just cold water.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Cold Water
- Clean Cloth or Paper Towels
Grab a clean white cloth or some white paper towels. Wet them using clean cold water and gently dab the affected area. Remember to use a dabbing action and avoid rubbing the blood as this will spread out the stain and add to your problem.
Cold water and gentle dabbing may completely remove the blood from your mattress. Also, we recommend using white towels as this will prevent color transfer from the cloth onto your mattress surface.
For best results, aim to use as little water as possible. This way drying will be easier. And, some mattress types such as memory foam can be difficult to dry. You’ll want to add as little water as possible. If you’ve tried dabbing with cold water and the stain remains, try adding some baking soda – see below.
COLD WATER & BAKING SODA
Next up is the cold water and baking soda method. If plain old cold water didn’t remove the blood stain you should try using some baking soda. The best way to remove blood from a mattress using baking soda is to start with dry soda powder.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Cold Water
- Baking Soda
- Clean Cloth or Paper Towels
Simply sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the blood stain and leave for 30 minutes. Baking soda is a great substance for removing moisture and stains naturally. If the blood is still wet it will draw it out of the mattress fabric. Once the 30 minutes are up remove the baking soda.
If the dry baking soda method didn’t work, it’s time to add some cold water. Mix one part baking soda with two parts water to form a paste. Then dab the mixture onto the blood stain using a clean cloth or a paper towel. Allow the paste to sit on the blood stain for 30 minutes and then clean it up using a clean cloth.
Baking soda is a highly effective substance for cleaning a mattress. This method will shift most blood stains. For more information on how to clean your mattress, check out – How to Clean a Mattress Using Baking Soda.
VINEGAR & BAKING SODA
If the stain is proving stubborn and you need to step it up a notch – reach for the vinegar. This method involves mixing vinegar and baking soda.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Cold Water
- Spray Bottle
- Clean Cloth or Paper Towels
To remove blood from your mattress using the vinegar and baking soda method – begin by sprinkling a generous helping of dry baking soda over the blood stain. Then, mix one part white vinegar with one part water and place in your spray bottle.
Spray the vinegar mixture onto the baking soda and allow it to work its magic for 30 minutes. During this time you will notice the soda bubbling as it reacts with the vinegar. When the time is up, remove the mixture using a clean cloth. Repeat the process until the blood has been removed from the mattress.
MEAT TENDERIZER POWDER
Meat tenderizer powder is on cheap cuts of meat to make them more tender. It is a common staple of food pantries around the world. The powder contains enzymes that break down proteins found in meat. These enzymes also work on blood and can help remove a stubborn blood stain from your mattress.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Meat Tenderizer Powder
- Cold Water
- Clean Cloth
First up you need to make a thick paste. Add two teaspoons of cold water to one tablespoon of meat tenderizer powder and mix. Once you have formed a thick paste add it to the blood-stained areas of the mattress.
Allow the meat tenderizer paste to rest on the stain for at least one hour. The paste should be completely dry at this stage. Remove the paste and dab the area with a clean dry cloth to remove any lingering moisture. The meat tenderizer should have removed the blood stain. Repeat the process if necessary.
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CLEAN BLOOD STAINS USING COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
If you’ve tried all the above methods and you still haven’t removed the blood stain from your mattress – it’s time to turn to more heavy-duty commercial cleaning products.
The methods we have run through up to now are gentle approaches that use common household products. Below we’ll run you through how to remove a blood stain from a mattress using specialist cleaning products.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
If you still haven’t been able to remove the blood from your mattress your next tool is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful chemical and to clean your mattress blood stain we’re going to mix it with salt and cornstarch.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Salt
- Cornstarch
- Clean Cloth or Paper Towels
- Toothbrush
We recommend mixing half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with half a cup of cornstarch. Then mix in a tablespoon of salt. Work the mixture together until it forms a thick paste. Then add it to the blood stain on the mattress surface.
For stubborn stains, you can use a toothbrush to gently work the solution into the mattress fabric. But remember to dab and avoid rubbing. Allow the cornstarch to rest on the stain for 30 minutes before removing it with a clean cloth.
ENZYMATIC CLEANERS
Enzymatic cleaners are powerful solutions for stain removal. If you’re having difficulty cleaning your blood stain you should try using an enzyme cleaning solution. They are often called fabric cleaners and you’ll find them in your local grocery store.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Enzymatic Cleaner (Fabric Cleaner)
- Clean Cloth
First up, make sure your enzymatic cleaner is suitable for use on a mattress. Check that it is labeled for cleaning upholstery and furniture. Once you’ve got the right type of enzyme cleaner – you’re good to go.
Spray some of the cleaning solution onto a clean cloth. Never add it directly to the mattress. Then, dab the blood stain with the cloth. Enzyme cleaners have special properties that break down the blood at a molecular level. This chemical reaction will make it much easier to use.
As the blood begins to break down, dab it with a clean cloth to draw it away from the mattress. Repeat the process as often as you need to remove the blood stain.
AMMONIA
Ammonia is a powerful substance and if you’re having difficulty getting rid of your blood stain it might just do the trick. If the blood stain has tried in and is proving stubborn reach for some ammonia and follow the instructions below.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Ammonia
- Cold Water
- Gloves
- Clean Cloth
Ammonia is a toxic substance. So, wear gloves and handle carefully. Do not mix it with any other chemicals and open a window for ventilation. Read the label on the side of the ammonia container, follow all instructions, and always exercise caution.
Aside from being toxic, ammonia is an excellent substance for shifting stubborn stains. Put on your gloves and add a tablespoon of ammonia to a cup of cold water. Dip the clean cloth in the solution and then use it to dab the stain.
The ammonia will get to work quickly and begin breaking down the dried in blood. Repeat the process until you have removed all the blood stain from the mattress.
USE A MATTRESS PROTECTOR
One of the best ways to help prevent getting stains on your mattress is to use a mattress protector. A mattress protector is a soft textile device that lies between your mattress surface and your bed sheet.
It is specially designed to absorb minor spills and accidents and provides a basic layer of protection for your mattress surface. Mattress protectors are breathable to allow heat to escape so they are not waterproof.
However, they provide light padding that absorbs liquid and limits the amount that passes through. If your mattress protector gets stained – all you have to do is whip it off and put it through a laundry cycle. Cleaning a mattress protector is much easier than cleaning a mattress.
WHY ARE BLOOD STAINS SO HARD TO CLEAN?
Now that we know how to remove blood from a mattress, we’ll take a look at – why are blood stains so difficult to clean? Well, it all boils down to the science of blood.
It all comes down to blood clotting. Blood contains tiny molecules called platelets that naturally clot your blood when they are exposed to air. These molecules trigger a process that causes blood to clot. This is vital when you get a cut.
To prevent blood loss, your blood will clot at the site of the wound to prevent excess blood loss. However, this reaction also takes place in blood that has been spilled on the surface of your mattress – for example.
When blood is spilled on fabric, (outside the body), the platelets kick in and cause the blood to clot. This means the blood binds to the fabric it has been spilled on and creates a stain that can be difficult to remove.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – HOW TO REMOVE BLOOD FROM A MATTRESS
Here are the questions we get asked most frequently when discussing how to remove a blood stain from a mattress.
HOW DO YOU REMOVE DRIED BLOOD STAINS?
You can remove dried blood stains by applying cold water and baking soda, vinegar and baking soda, or meat tenderizer powder. More heavy-duty solutions involve the use of hydrogen peroxide or ammonia. Always exercise caution when handling chemicals.
HOW DO YOU GET A BLOOD STAIN OUT OF FABRIC?
To get a blood stain out of fabric try using an upholstery fabric cleaner. These cleaning solutions are specially designed for cleaning fabrics and contain enzymes that break down blood and make it much easier to wash away.
CAN VINEGAR REMOVE BLOOD STAINS?
Yes, vinegar can remove blood stains. Begin by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda over the blood stain. Then apply a mixture of white vinegar and water. Allow 30 minutes for the vinegar and baking soda to do their work before wiping away.
DOES BAKING SODA REMOVE BLOOD?
Yes, baking soda removes blood. You can use baking soda to clean a blood stain. Mix some baking soda with cold water to form a paste. Apply the baking soda paste to the blood stain and leave for 30 minutes. The baking soda will break down and remove the blood stain.
IS HOT OR COLD WATER BETTER FOR BLOOD STAINS?
Cold water is better for blood stains. Never use hot or warm water on a blood stain. The heat will cause a reaction in the blood proteins that binds them to the fabric and make the stain more difficult to remove. Always use cold water to remove a blood stain.
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AUTHOR
Mattress Consultant
Bill is a DIY expert and our resident mattress maintenance and cleaning guru. He’s incredibly capable with his hands and seems to be able to build, repair, or clean just about anything. He has a long history of remodeling and renovation work and has given a facelift to many homes in the New Mexico area over the years.
Bill has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry with a particular focus on woodworking. When he’s not writing for MCG he’s busy working on his last house renovation project. Bill is a native of El Paso Texas and is a keen follower of his local Locomotive FC soccer team.
The best tip for cleaning blood is to avoid using warm water. Most people jump in with warm sudsy water. That’s bad news when it comes to blood.
The best thing is to not get any blood on your mattress at all. You should be using a mattress protector. That way you’ll have zero blood stains.
🙂