how to get blood out of carpets

How To Get Blood Out Of Carpets – A Complete Guide

By Maria Hernandez / December 18, 2020 / 1 Comments

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    Some carpets feature a stain-resistant treatment, but there are some substances such as makeup, oil, and blood that leave stubborn marks that seem impossible to remove. Blood is one of the most difficult substances to clean off of any type of material. Luckily, there are many techniques to get blood out of carpets.

    If you use the correct methods, tools, and detergents, you’ll be able to lift the blood from the fibers of your carpet so that it doesn’t leave a permanent stain. I recommend using safe detergents that are designed for the type of carpet you have. Some natural carpets are sensitive to certain cleaning aids, so make sure the detergent you pick won’t destroy your flooring.

    If you’re looking for a variety of ways to remove fresh blood or old blood stains from your carpets, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ll be giving you a few tips and tricks that will help.

    How To Remove Blood From Carpets Using Cold Water

    Accidents can happen around the house, such as cutting your hand on a piece of broken glass or stepping on something sharp. When these accidents occur, you may bleed, and potentially make a difficult-to-clean mess. For some people, spilled blood on white carpets is their worst nightmare because of how difficult it is to get rid of the stain.

    How To Remove Blood From Carpets Using Cold Water

    Fortunately, fresh blood is easier to clean than dried blood. The most important thing you have to remember is to use cold water instead of warm water to clean the mess. Since blood is a protein stain, warm water will set the stain into your carpets rather than remove it.

    Therefore, the first step is to fill a spray bottle with cold water either from the fridge or your tap. Spray the cold water onto the affected area then use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the water or use a dry towel to blot the mess.

    To dry the area, you may use your hairdryer on the cold setting. Alternatively you can use a fan to dry excess moisture from the washed area. Once dry, go over the area with a vacuum cleaner to remove any residue that was left behind. Repeat the cleaning process until the stain is completely gone.

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    Removing Blood From Carpets Using Detergent And Water

    There are some cases where people don’t realize blood came into contact with their carpet, in which case it dries and creates a brown stain. For this type of cleaning task you’ll need water and detergent to remove the blood stain from the area.

    The best cleaning aid for the task is dishwashing liquid because there’s no bleach in it. This will work well on dyed carpets. The first step is to fill a small bucket with cold water and add one and a half teaspoons of dishwashing solution to the water. Soak a cloth into the mixture and then use it to drench the affected area.

    Next, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the area. Use your wet cloth to wipe and blot the soap and blood from the carpet. Repeat these steps until the blood stain is completely removed.

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    Hydrogen Peroxide To Remove Blood From Carpets

    If you have a thick dark stain caused by a large blood spill, then you’ll have to turn to hydrogen peroxide, which is a common household bleach.

    Hydrogen Peroxide To Remove Blood From Carpets

    Unfortunately this method might not work well if you have carpets that are dyed multi-colored because the cleaning aid will bleach the area. It will work on white carpets or flat colors because you may be able to re-dye the area when you’re done.

    So to start, use a dropper to pour the peroxide directly onto the stain. The area will start to bubble, but don’t panic because this is normal. Simply place a paper towel over the area and put a heavy item over it such as a plate or book. Leave it for at least six minutes before removing the paper towel from the area. Blot the area until the stain is completely gone.

    On a side note, you should do a blood stain removal test first when you use the hydrogen peroxide method. If it damages the test patch, then avoid using this method. If hydrogen peroxide doesn’t work to remove the stain, then try the other blood stain removal techniques below.

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    How To Use Ammonia To Get Blood Stains Out Of Carpets

    Some blood stains might have been left on your carpets for several months or even years. Old blood stains are particularly difficult to remove from carpets so you may need a stronger cleaning aid. You’ll need to make a water and ammonia solution for the task.

    It should be noted that you must never mix bleach and ammonia together because doing so  will create a hazardous gas that can be detrimental to your health. Additionally, don’t use ammonia on natural carpets such as wool because the acidity levels will damage your flooring permanently.

    First, mix warm water and two teaspoons of ammonia in a glass. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and then spray the blood stained area with the mixture. Let the solution soak into the blood-stained area for at least six minutes. Blot the area with a clean, dry towel until the blood stain is completely gone.

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    How To Use A Salt Paste To Get Blood Out Of Carpets

    Here is another method to clean up fresh blood spills on your carpet. All you have to do is make a salt paste. This cleaning method can be done 11 to 16 minutes after blood has been spilled on your carpet. Additionally, a salt-water paste is ideal to use on delicate fibers.

    How To Use A Salt Paste To Get Blood Out Of Carpets

    To start, add three tablespoons of salt into a large cup and then pour a small volume of water in until you’ve made a thin paste. Spread the salt paste over the affected area and let it sit for six minutes. Then take a paper towel and blot the area until the stain is gone.

    If there’s any salt residue left over, you can use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean it up. You may need to repeat the process a few times until the blood stain is completely removed.

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    Using Baking Soda To Remove Blood From Carpets

    Many people use baking soda to maintain their wall-to-wall carpets. Some use it as a carpet deodorizer while others use baking soda to remove excess moisture from the fibers. You can also use baking soda to remove stubborn blood stains from your carpets.

    The baking soda separates the proteins in the blood, making it easier to clean. Baking soda is also a disinfectant, which is ideal when you’re cleaning up blood stains. This method is similar to the salt paste method because you have to make a paste using water and baking soda.

    Add three tablespoons of baking soda into a cup and combine with a bit of water, stirring until it forms a paste. Spread the mixture over the affected area and leave it to sit overnight. Then take a clean cloth and blot the area without scrubbing the blood stain until it lifts.

    Pour a small amount of water over the area and use your cloth to continue blotting the blood stain. This helps to remove excess baking soda from the carpet. Once you are finished, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any moisture or residue from the area.

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    FAQs

    What Is The Best Way To Get Blood Out Of Carpet?

    The best way to remove blood stains from carpets is using the dishwashing liquid and water technique. This method is ideal for both new blood spills and old blood stains. Make sure that when you use this technique to wash blood stains out of carpets, you use cold water.

    Additionally, make sure the dishwashing liquid includes some lemon extract because this will help to remove the stain effectively. You must also be sure to use regular hand dishwashing liquid and not automatic detergents.

    What Removes Blood Stains?

    Blood is an enzymatic stain and so are grass and chocolate. Enzyme-based agents will help break down fats, proteins, and starches by separating large insoluble molecules into smaller soluble molecules.

    You’ll need an enzymatic cleaner that has proteases, lipases, and amylases in the solution. Lipases break down fats, proteases break down proteins, and amylases break down starches. Essentially, enzymatic cleaners are macromolecular biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions. This process removes stains easily without damaging surfaces.

    There are enzymatic cleaners on the market designed to clean pet messes or wine spills specifically. But if you want a powerful cleaning aid that’s specifically designed to remove blood stains, then I recommend Gonzo Natural Magic stain remover. This cleaning detergent is a powerful enzymatic cleaner with surfactants that rapidly changes water-insoluble stains into water-soluble ones.

    Additionally, you can use Gonzo Natural Magic on other types of stains such as wine, coffee, grass, pet urine, and vomit. You’ll also appreciate that this product is organic and non-toxic so it’s safe to use around pets and children. Gonzo Natural Magic is fragrance-free so it doesn’t affect the scent of your home.

    The Gonzo Natural Magic enzymatic cleaner comes in a 8-ounce bottle and it’s a gel formula. Squeeze the gel onto the blood stain and blot away the mess. You can use Gonzo Natural Magic on upholstery, cloths, delicates, and even vinyl.

    Will Vinegar Remove Blood Stains From Carpets?

    Yes, vinegar can remove blood stains from carpets because it is very acidic. Vinegar also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. You can either use vinegar and water or use vinegar in a water and baking soda mixture. Use white vinegar for this process.

    For the water and vinegar mixture, pour a mix of one cup of vinegar and two cups of water onto the blood stain. Then use a clean cloth to blot the area until it’s damp, and leave it to air dry.

    Or you can mix two cups of water, two cups of white vinegar, and four tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well and then spray the solution over the blood stain. Let it sit for at least five minutes. Then blot the area with a clean cloth and leave it to air dry.

    Does Baking Soda Remove Blood?

    Yes, baking soda does remove blood from linen, carpets, and upholstery. Baking soda is also used to remove sweat stains from clothes, and fruit and wine stains from fabrics. So if you don’t have other products available to remove blood from carpets, baking soda will work well.

    Baking soda is quite versatile because it’s used to deodorize carpets and remove excess moisture from fibers. It’s also a powerful stain remover if you use it correctly. Simply make a paste with three tablespoons of baking soda and a small amount of water.

    Spread the paste over the blood stain and let it sit overnight. The baking soda will lift the blood from the fibers of your carpet. Pour a bit of water over the area and then blot it with your cloth. You can use a vacuum cleaner to remove excess baking soda from the area.

    Does Hydrogen Peroxide Get Blood Out Of Carpet?

    Yes, hydrogen peroxide does work to get blood out of carpets. This method is used to remove big, dark blood stains that are persistent. But hydrogen peroxide is essentially a bleaching agent too so it may not be suitable to use on carpets that are multicolored. So use a peroxide that’s lower than 6%. Ideally you want to use peroxide that’s diluted to 3% but you may still run the risk of destroying the dyes in your carpet. It’s perfect for white carpets though.

    There are mild hydrogen peroxide solutions that you can use, but you should always do a patch test on your carpet first before using the agent on a big area. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide isn’t suitable for natural woolen carpets because it can destroy the integrity of the fibers.

    Peroxide may work on synthetic carpets such as those made of nylon or polyester. Some people use hydrogen peroxide to lighten the color of their carpets, so it’s safe to use on synthetic fibers. Just be sure you don’t leave the solution on the stain for too long, otherwise you’ll run the risk of bleaching your carpet.

    The longest you should leave the peroxide on your carpet is six minutes. You will want to rinse the area using some water and a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

    How Do You Remove Blood From Woolen Carpets?

    Woolen carpets are sensitive to certain types of cleaning aids such as hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. So the best way to remove blood from natural woolen carpets is to use a natural cleaning aid such as white vinegar. White vinegar is fairly gentle and won’t destroy the fibers of your natural woolen carpet, but you must be sure to mix the correct ratios of water and vinegar to ensure effectiveness.

    To remove blood stains from woolen carpets, mix a quarter cup of white vinegar with two cups of water and pour the solution into a spray bottle. Use the mixture to spray the affected area. Then use a cloth to blot the area. Use a soft brush to gently scrub the blood stain out without damaging the carpet’s pile. Then blot the area again and wait for it to dry.

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    Conclusion

    I hope today’s guide provided you with some helpful solutions on how to get blood out of carpets. There are many different types of carpets on the market made from synthetic and natural fibers. Make sure the cleaning aid you’re using doesn’t destroy your carpets. Always do a patch test on a small section of your carpet (or on a carpet sample square, if you have one) before cleaning up the blood stain.

    Always use natural cleaning methods for woolen carpets and mild enzymatic or bleaching detergents for synthetic carpets. When removing blood stains, always blot the area instead of vigorously scrubbing it because doing so can damage the carpet’s pile. Use soft clean cloths to blot the area and make use of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to remove excess residue.

    Are there any particular methods you’ve used in the past to remove blood stains from your carpets? Leave a comment below with the cleaning aids and methods you’ve used. Or let us know if our guide on how to get blood out of carpets helped you.

    About Maria Hernandez

    Senior Floor Critic, 25 years of experience in residential and commercial cleaning

    Maria Hernandez has 25 years of experience in residential and commercial janitorial and cleaning services. From hardwood to carpet to marble floors, Maria has developed a deep expertise in cleaning and maintaining many different flooring types. Visit Website.

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    1 thought on “How To Get Blood Out Of Carpets – A Complete Guide”

    1. Thank you for all your useful information regarding removing blood from my carpets. I used the soap & water system and on fairly fresh blood (my dog licks his paws till they bleed usually during the night when I can’t watch him)
      So, the blood isn’t always fresh when I find it. On the fresh blood it seems to come off well but soaking it brushing a bit then blotting. I had to do this 4-5 times but the blood did come out. On the older stains I did this as well and am now trying the baking soda system to see if I can get all the older stains out.

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