How to Get Dried Blood Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

You found a shirt at the bottom of the laundry basket with a dried blood stain from days ago. You remember cutting your finger while wearing it, but you forgot to treat the stain. Now the blood has dried and bonded with the fabric fibers. Fresh blood comes out easily with cold water, but dried blood is harder to remove because the proteins have had time to bond deeply with the fabric. It’s not impossible, though. With the right treatment, even dried blood stains can be lifted from most washable fabrics.

Dried blood stains on clothes are marks caused by proteins in blood that have bonded with fabric fibers over time. Unlike fresh blood, which sits on the surface and responds to cold water, dried blood has penetrated deeper into the fibers and requires stronger treatments to break the protein bond.

To get dried blood out of clothes, soak the stain in cold water, apply hydrogen peroxide to break down the proteins, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wash in cold water with an enzyme detergent. For stubborn stains, use a baking soda paste, meat tenderizer, or OxiClean. Never use hot water on blood stains, as heat sets the protein permanently.

The Best Method: Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is the most effective home treatment for dried blood stains. It breaks down the proteins in blood through oxidation, which dissolves the bond between the blood and the fabric.

Step 1: Soak in cold water. Soak the stained area in cold water for 15 to 30 minutes. This rehydrates the dried blood and makes it easier to remove.

Step 2: Apply hydrogen peroxide. Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain. You’ll see it bubble on contact as it breaks down the proteins. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 3: Blot with a clean cloth. Blot the stain with a clean white cloth to lift the dissolved blood. Don’t rub, as rubbing pushes the blood deeper.

Step 4: Rinse with cold water. Rinse the stained area with cold water from the back of the fabric.

Step 5: Wash in cold water. Wash the garment in cold water with an enzyme detergent like Tide Free and Gentle. Check before drying.

Step 6: Repeat if needed. Dried blood stains may need 2 to 3 treatments. Don’t put the garment in the dryer between treatments.

Important: Test hydrogen peroxide on an inconspicuous area first, as it can lighten some fabrics. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide on silk or wool.

Alternative Treatments

Baking soda paste. Mix Arm and Hammer Baking Soda with water to form a thick paste. Apply to the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with cold water and wash. The mild abrasion helps lift dried blood from the fibers.

Meat tenderizer. Meat tenderizer contains enzymes (papain or bromelain) that break down proteins. Make a paste of meat tenderizer and water, apply to the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water and wash.

OxiClean Max Force Spray. OxiClean Max Force Spray contains enzymes that break down proteins. Spray the stain, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash in cold water with enzyme detergent.

Dish soap and ammonia. For stubborn stains on white or light cotton, mix 1 tablespoon of Dawn Ultra Dish Soap with 1 tablespoon of ammonia. Apply to the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water and wash. Don’t use ammonia on wool or silk.

Salt paste. Mix salt with cold water to form a paste. Apply to the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with cold water and wash. Salt helps draw out the blood from the fibers.

Dried Blood on Different Fabrics

Fabric	Best Treatment	What to Avoid
Cotton	Hydrogen peroxide, OxiClean	Hot water
Polyester	Hydrogen peroxide, OxiClean	Hot water
Denim	Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda paste	Hot water
White cotton	Hydrogen peroxide, ammonia	Hot water, chlorine bleach on colors
Wool	Cold water soak, professional cleaning	Hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, OxiClean
Silk	Cold water soak, professional cleaning	All chemical treatments

What Not to Do

Never use hot water on blood stains. Hot water cooks the protein and bonds it permanently. Always use cold water, even for dried blood.

Don’t rub. Rubbing spreads the blood and pushes it deeper. Blot gently.

Don’t put the garment in the dryer. Dryer heat sets blood permanently. Always air dry and check first.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored fabrics. Use oxygen bleach or hydrogen peroxide instead.

Don’t use hydrogen peroxide on silk or wool. Peroxide can damage protein fibers.

Don’t use ammonia on wool or silk. Ammonia damages protein fibers.

Don’t give up after one treatment. Dried blood stains often need 2 to 3 treatments.

FAQ

How do you get dried blood out of clothes? Soak in cold water for 15 to 30 minutes, apply 3% hydrogen peroxide, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, blot, rinse with cold water, then wash in cold water with enzyme detergent. Repeat if needed. Never use hot water.

Does hydrogen peroxide remove dried blood from clothes? Yes. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down the proteins in dried blood through oxidation. Apply 3% peroxide to the stain, let it bubble for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse with cold water and wash. Test on an inconspicuous area first.

Can you get old blood stains out of clothes? Yes, but it’s harder. Soak in cold water, apply hydrogen peroxide or OxiClean, and wash in cold water with enzyme detergent. You may need 2 to 3 treatments. Don’t use hot water or put the garment in the dryer.

Does cold water remove dried blood? Cold water alone doesn’t remove dried blood, but it rehydrates the stain and makes it easier to treat. Soak in cold water first, then apply hydrogen peroxide or another treatment to break down the proteins.

Can you use bleach on dried blood stains? Chlorine bleach can remove dried blood from white cotton, but it strips color from dyed fabrics. Use oxygen bleach or hydrogen peroxide for colored fabrics. Don’t use chlorine bleach on wool or silk.

How many treatments does it take to remove dried blood? Dried blood stains typically need 2 to 3 treatments. Don’t put the garment in the dryer between treatments. Air dry, check, and repeat until the stain is gone.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Blood Stains from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Remove Dried Blood Stains.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “How to Get Dried Blood Out of Clothes.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. OxiClean. “Blood Stain Removal Guide.” oxiclean.com.