How to Get Blood out of Cotton

Co-authored by Filip Boksa

Last Updated: February 25, 2023 Approved

Ever have a really bad nose bleed while wearing your favorite white cotton shirt? This article will give you some tips to remove the stain, without sending it to the cleaners.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Rinsing and Preparing the Stain for Treatment

1
Turn the water on to the coldest possible setting and do it as soon as possible. Let it run for a few minutes, especially if it is a hot day, so that the water can cool down some more.
- Never use hot or warm water, or you might end up making the stain bond with the fabric.
2
Hold the fabric taut between your hands. Gently grip the garment, keeping your fingers to either side of the stain, and pull. The fabric should be stretched out, like the top of a drum. Don't pull so hard that you risk ripping the garment, though.

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3
Place the stain under the running water. Hold it for a few minutes until turning it over. Most of the blood should have come out.
- Over time, blood will react with oxygen in the air and will get bound to the fibers more strongly. If you've found a fresh blood stain, go ahead and put it under water as fast as you can.
4
Rub the stain with your finger and rinse it some more. You can also use an old toothbrush, but be careful not to scrub too hard, or you will risk setting the stain into the fabric.
5
Put some soap onto the stain and continue scrubbing it. You can use any type of soap, including liquid and bar soap. You can use basic hand soap or even a small amount of laundry detergent.
6
Rinse the soap off the stain. Be sure to keep scrubbing the stain until all of the soap is gone. Most of the blood should be gone by now. The stain will likely still remain, however.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Removing the Stain

1
Know what you can use. There are many products available that can remove blood stains. Some of these products are simple household products that you may already have in your bathroom cabinet or pantry. This section will show you how to use these products.^{[1]
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Research source} Keep in mind, however, that some stains may have permanently set into the fabric, and you may still have some slight residue.
2
Try using some salt. Simply sprinkle some salt over the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub it with your finger or an old toothbrush. Rinse the stain well with cold water.
- If you don't have any salt on hand, but you happen to wear contacts, try using some of the saline solution you use for your contacts.
3
Make a paste using water and aspirin. Crumble a few aspirin pills in a small dish and mix them with just enough cold water to create a paste. Spread the paste over the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight before rinsing it off.
4
Make a paste using water and baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda into a small dish and add in a few drops of cold water. Mix until you get a paste, then spread the paste over the stain. Wait 30-40 minutes or let it sit overnight before rinsing the garment off with cool water.
- You can also add some lemon juice to lighten the stain.
5
Try treating lighter colored fabrics with hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice. Simply pour some hydrogen peroxide (the same kind that comes in a brown bottle and that you can find in the first aid section of a drug store) or lemon juice over the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out using water. Be sure to scrub the stain with you finger or an old toothbrush.
- Both hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice can lighten fabric, so they are not recommended for bright or dark-colored garments.
6
Try using some vinegar. Simply pour some white vinegar over the stain and let it sit for five to ten minutes before rinsing it out.
7
Keep commercial stain removers in mind. Simply spray or pour the stain remover onto the fabric and leave it on for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer; this is usually around five to 20 minutes.
8
Consider using an enzyme-based detergent. These types of detergents are great at breaking down proteins, which is what blood is made out of.^{[2]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Knowing What to Do and Avoid

1
Act fast. Try to get the stain out as soon as you see it; the longer the blood sits in cotton, the harder it will be to get out.
2
Always use cold water instead of hot. The hot water will set the stain into the fabric, making it almost impossible to remove. When using cold water, try to make it as cold as you can. Turn on the tap to the coldest setting and let the water run for a few moments until it becomes really cold.
3
Use bleach with care. Bleach can remove almost anything, including blood stains. Unfortunately, it can also remove color, so it is not recommended for colored garments. It is also very harsh and can eat away the fibers in fabric, creating holes and tears. Lastly, bleach does not react well with hard/well water, and it can worsen the blood stain.^{[3]
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- Avoid mixing detergents when using bleach, or you may cause a chemical reaction and create dangerous fumes.
- Be careful using bleach even on all-white garments, since it can create an uneven yellow look.
- Always test bleach in an inconspicuous part of the fabric to make sure it's safe to use.
4
Avoid using dryers and air dry the garment instead. Even if the garment looks clean and spotless after you have washed it, there might still be some residue, which won't show up until after everything is dry. Instead, hang the garment in a well-ventilated area, preferably in the sun. If you toss it into the dryer, you will risk setting the stain, making it nearly impossible to remove.^{[4]
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- If you are in a rush and it is gloomy outside, consider turning a fan on and pointing it at the garment.

Warnings

Peroxide does foam when it comes into contact with blood, and it can get warm when doing so! Please take the necessary caution when using it.

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Do not mix bleach with other cleaners, and avoid getting it on your skin.

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