Confused about how to remove blood stains, especially when they are dry, from fabrics, whether it's your underwear, clothes or mattresses? Don't worry: here are 6 quick, easy and above all effective solutions to fix the problem!
Menstrual blood, a small cut or scratch can very quickly stain your clothes or furniture. To avoid making the stain bigger and get rid of it quickly, check out all the solutions that will allow you to react effectively at the time or once the blood has dried.
As with any other task, the rule does not change: the sooner you act, the better! As soon as you notice the presence of a blood stain, immediately take one of the following methods to get rid of it.
1. Use cold water and soap for fresh blood stains
To remove fresh blood stains, never use hot water unless you want to achieve the opposite effect by fixing it to the fabric! Always use cold water, immediately wetting the fabric. It is best to rub the stain down, so that the blood slides off and does not get into the fabric. In the luckiest cases, especially if you act quickly, water will be enough to remove the stain.
Most of the time, however, it will help to use soap as well. A simple Marseille soap will do very well, no specific product is necessary for the treatment. Rub a little soap on the stain and let it act for a few seconds before rinsing it off. If you have the impression that there is a halo left or the stain has not completely disappeared, do a cold wash in the washing machine.
Marseille soap Marius Fabre, € 9.98 on Amazon
2. Remove dried blood stains with carbonated or oxygenated water
Carbonated water can be very useful in removing stains from fabrics: its carbon dioxide bubbles work by promoting the dissolution of blood in the fibers. This can be a quick and convenient solution if you are outside, perhaps in a bar, and have nothing else available.
Hydrogen peroxide works more or less the same way, but it is much more powerful and efficient: its oxygen acts on the fibers allowing the detachment of the blood, even dry! Be careful, however: avoid using it on very delicate fabrics, as this could alter the color. It is always best to check its effectiveness and the resistance of the garment first on a piece of fabric, or remember to always dilute it with 50% water.
In general, hydrogen peroxide should be avoided on silk and wool, but can be used on cotton. It is very effective, for example, on sheets, which often end up stained during menstruation.
Disinfectant Oxygenated Water, AIESI®, € 7.90 on Amazon
3. Remove stains with ethyl alcohol or baking soda
Dreadful for cleaning, ethyl alcohol can also be useful and effective in removing blood stains from tissue: it has the ability to remove encrusted blood very quickly. More delicate than hydrogen peroxide (to be preferred in the case of delicate clothes therefore), it can still discolor the fabric: it is better to do a small test first in an invisible area of the garment to be treated! To remove alcohol, use sparkling water and rinse thoroughly with cold water.
Baking soda can also come to your aid in removing stains from fabrics: it is very effective against blood! Take a basin and soak the stained garment in a solution of baking soda and water, gently rubbing the stain. Then rinse, again, with plenty of cold water.
Baking soda, Maison Net, € 3.83
4. Use water and salt
Another great way to remove blood stains is to use a salt and water preparation. Just mix a little water with kitchen salt and make a paste. After you have rubbed the mixture well on the fabric, you will notice how the salt granules are able, thanks to their abrasive and dehydrating power, to eliminate the blood. Then rinse it off with cold water. If the stain has not completely disappeared, put the garment in the washing machine in cold water.
This tip is ideal for menstrual blood stains on clothing or underwear. You can use an old toothbrush to rub the mixture into the fabric.
5. Toothpaste to remove blood stains on fabrics (and also on mattresses)
It can be difficult to deal with a blood stain on a mattress. You cannot put it in the washing machine, rub it vigorously or soak it in a basin! The solution: use toothpaste to remove the stain. This will also prevent the mattress from absorbing a lot of liquid.
The toothpaste should be applied directly to the area where the blood is present. Spread it out and wait for it to dry. Then perform a cold water rinse. Then wash the treated area with soap and rinse again until the stain is completely gone.
6. Opt for enzyme-based cleaners
If none of the solutions discussed below work, the final solution to removing blood stains involves the use of enzyme-based detergents (like Soft, on Amazon at around € 2), capable of destroying the organic proteins contained in it. in the blood. These products are also effective when the stains are dry.
Prepare a bowl with cold water, spread a teaspoon of the product on the stain and let it soak for a day, rubbing from time to time. The next day, you will wash your garment normally.
Be careful though: these products should not be used on delicate fabrics such as linen, silk or wool, which could be damaged! They are however very effective on resistant fabrics, such as jeans for example.
Washing machine cleaner, formula reinforced with enzymes, Soft, € 2.70
Read also:
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