How to get old dried blood out of sheets

Bloodstains happen, including on bedsheets. They are notoriously difficult to remove, especially once they're dry.

But there are plenty of options to try. The most important things to remember are to act quickly and never use hot water or heat on a bloodstain. Products like hydrogen peroxide and oxygen and enzyme cleaners can help, too. 

We'll help you get rid of bloodstains, old and new, whether they're from a nosebleed or period.

How to get bloodstains out of sheets

What you'll need:

• Cold water
• A clean cloth
• Hydrogen peroxide (check for color-safeness first)
• An enzyme cleaner
• An oxygen cleaner

Use cold water

"A lot of this depends on how fresh the bloodstains are on your sheets," said Jessica Samson, cleaning expert with The Maids. For fresh stains, use cold water as quickly as possible.

"If you act quickly, the water may get most of the blood out," said Corinna and Theresa Williams, co-founders of the eco-friendly laundromat Celsious, in an email. Saturating the stain may cause it to spread, so first try dabbing with a cloth before rinsing in the sink.

Quick tip: Never wash a bloodstain with hot water. The heat causes the stain to set, making it more difficult to remove.

Try hydrogen peroxide

If the stain persists, you'll need some extra supplies. For white sheets, you can try hydrogen peroxide. "Cover the stained area with hydrogen peroxide and blot with a clean towel," the Williams sisters said. 

You can also test an inconspicuous part of the fabric to see if the hydrogen peroxide bleaches dyed or patterned sheets. 

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Try an oxygen cleaner 

If you're worried about using peroxide on colorful sheets, the Williamses suggest an oxygen cleaner. You can spot-treat smaller stains or soak sheets with larger or older stains overnight. 

Some powdered oxygen cleaners may need warm or hot water to activate, so you'll want to add cold water to the resulting mixture before applying it to the stain.

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Try an enzyme cleaner

Enzyme cleaners, like those used for pet stains, can also be effective in cleaning bloodstains. Be sure to read the label, as they're not safe for all fabrics, like silk. 

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Quick tip: Enzyme cleaners shouldn't be used on wool or silk.

Bleach works for white sheets but has drawbacks

Bleach is a cleaning staple for many because it works well for bloodstains and kills germs. However, it can be harsh on fabric and lead to discoloration if you use too much. Also, it will ruin colorful fabric. 

How to get blood out of sheets without washing them

Bloodstains can be stubborn, so it's best to pretreat them before putting your sheets in the washer. Use hydrogen peroxide (for white sheets), oxygen cleaners, or enzyme cleaners, and cold water to either spot-treat or soak the sheet. 

"If the stain persists, repeat the process until the stain is removed," said Samson.

Can you remove bloodstains with baking soda?

While baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can remove odors and some stains, it's not as effective for blood as an oxygen cleaner with sodium percarbonate, said the Williams sisters. 

"Sodium percarbonate works by releasing oxygen once it's exposed to water," they said. "This release of oxygen lifts stains and dirt off whatever you're cleaning."

Four things you should never do to remove bloodstains

Never use hot water

"Hot water sets the bloodstain and makes it difficult to remove," said Samson. While hot water works for a lot of stains, it makes it much more difficult to remove blood.

Don't leave a bloodstain to dry if possible

"Don't ignore your bloodstain and let it set," said the Williamses. The faster you can treat it with cold water, the easier it will be to remove. 

If you don't have time to deal with the stain, let the sheets sit in cold water with some hydrogen peroxide (if it won't bleach the fabric), oxygen cleaner, or enzyme cleaner.  

Never rub a fresh bloodstain

You'll want to be gentle as you're cleaning a fresh stain. Rubbing it could push the stain further into the fabric. Start by blotting, then run it under cold water. 

Older stains may require more elbow grease, but you should try soaking them several times instead of vigorously rubbing them.

Don't dry your sheets until you're sure they're clean

As with hot water, you want to avoid the dryer's heat if there's still blood on your sheets. "If the blood doesn't come out in the wash and goes into the dryer, that's likely going to set your stain," said the Williams sisters. "You'll have a really hard time getting rid of it after that."

Insider's takeaway

Time is of the essence when it comes to bloodstains. You'll want to immediately blot the sheet then rinse with cold water to remove as much of the stain as possible. 

For dried blood or stubborn stains, you can use hydrogen peroxide (though you'll want to test to make sure it doesn't bleach) or oxygen or enzyme cleaners. You may need to repeatedly soak your sheets for long periods of time to fully remove the bloodstain.

Remember that heat will set the stain, so don't use hot water or put the sheet in the dryer until you've fully removed the blood.