How to Wash Blood Out of Sheets

Instructions

1. Act Promptly

   Fresh blood stains are much easier to remove than older stains. Remove the sheets from the bed as soon as you discover the stains. If the blood has soaked through to the mattress protector or the mattress, it should be treated promptly as well.

   Tip

   If you discover a blood stain on bed sheets and don't have time to treat it immediately, fill a bathtub, large sink, or washer with cold water. Add an enzyme presoak product or some laundry detergent. Submerge the entire sheet and allow it to soak until you can treat the stained area.

2. Flush the Blood-Stained Area

   Hold the blood-stained sheet area under a faucet running full-force with cold water. This will help force the blood out of the fabric fibers. If the stain is large, focus on one area until most of the blood is removed, and then move on to the next area by shifting the fabric.

   Warning

   Never use hot water as the first treatment for a blood stain on any textile. While blood contains many components, the high temperature can "cook" the proteins in the blood, causing them to adhere to the fabric's fibers. This makes removing the stain much more difficult.

3. Pretreat Blood Stains

   Use an enzyme-based stain remover or a dab of heavy-duty laundry detergent to pretreat the stained area for fresh blood stains. Use a soft-bristled brush to work the stain remover into the fibers. Place the sheet aside and let the stain remover work for at least fifteen minutes before washing the sheet.

   Or, fill a large sink, bathtub, or washer with cold water and add oxygen-based bleach powder. Follow the label directions of how much powder to use per gallon of water. Add the blood-stained sheet and submerge it completely. Allow it to soak for at least two hours. It is fine for it to soak longer, even overnight. If the blood has dried when you find the stain, brush off any solid, crusted matter with the soft-bristled brush.

4. Select the Washer Settings

   Select the regular washer cycle and water temperature that you use for the bedding. Be sure to inspect the pretreated sheets before adding them to the washer. If the stains are still visible, do not use hot water.

5. Wash the Sheets

   Wash the sheets using your regular laundry detergent.

6. Add a Laundry Sanitizer

   If the blood stains are large or you are concerned about infectious diseases, add a laundry sanitizer to the wash cycle. For white cotton sheets, use chlorine bleach. Choose pine oil or a phenolic-based sanitizer for colored sheets or sheets made from bamboo, silk, or synthetic materials (Lysol).

7. Inspect the Sheets

   After washing, inspect the sheets carefully for any remaining discoloration. Repeat the pretreatment and washing steps if there is still evidence of the stain. Do not dry the sheets, especially in the high heat of an automatic dryer, until the stain is removed.

8. Dry the Sheets

   The stain-free sheets can be dried as usual in your automatic dryer, hung from an outdoor clothesline, or dried on an indoor-drying rack.

Treating Stubborn Blood Stains on Bed Sheets

One of the best stain removal methods for sheets with older, set-in stains is using common household ammonia. Mix a solution of half water and half ammonia. It has a strong odor, but it gets the job done effectively.

Wear gloves when working with ammonia and work in a well-ventilated area. Moisten cotton balls in the solution and dab the stain, rubbing the solution into the stain. Repeat with a new cotton ball; the stain should start to dissolve. If not, substitute the cotton ball for an old cleaning toothbrush. Dip the toothbrush into the solution, gently working on the stain. Once the stain begins to disappear, start using a moistened cotton ball again to soak it up.

Ironing

If you like to iron your cotton sheets after washing, do not iron them if any blood stains remain. The high heat of the iron will make removing the stains very difficult.

Tips for Washing Blood Out of Sheets

• Dry your clothes in the sunshine if possible. The sun has wonderful stain-removing properties, especially with protein-based stains like blood. 
• If you have a steam cycle on your washing, this cycle works well to remove blood stains.
  
• You can use chlorine bleach on white fabrics; however, don't use it too frequently. Chlorine bleach can weaken fabric fibers.