How to Wash Blood Off Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

You have blood on your clothes and want to wash it off. Maybe you cut yourself, got a nosebleed, or found an old blood stain on your clothes. Blood stains are protein stains that need cold water and the right products to remove. Here’s how to wash blood off clothes without damaging the fabric.

Blood stains are protein stains caused by blood proteins bonding with fabric fibers. The most important rule for blood stains is to use cold water only. Hot water sets protein stains permanently by cooking the protein into the fabric. The key to removing blood is using cold water, applying the right product (OxiClean, hydrogen peroxide, or dish soap), and treating the stain as soon as possible.

To wash blood off clothes, rinse with cold water from the back, apply OxiClean or Dawn dish soap, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, apply hydrogen peroxide for white clothes, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in cold water, add vinegar to the rinse, and check before drying. Don’t use hot water, don’t rub, and don’t put blood-stained clothes in the dryer.

For Fresh Blood Stains

Step 1: Rinse with Cold Water

Rinse the stain with cold water from the back of the fabric. This pushes the blood out of the fibers. Use cold water only. Hot water sets blood permanently.

Step 2: Apply OxiClean

Apply OxiClean Max Force Spray to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes. OxiClean breaks down protein stains.

Step 3: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap to the stain. Work it in gently. Let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 4: Scrub with a Toothbrush

Scrub the stain with an old toothbrush. Work from the outside in.

Step 5: Apply Baking Soda Paste

Make a paste of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda and water. Apply to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush.

Step 6: Wash in Cold Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in cold water. Add half a cup of baking soda to the wash.

Step 7: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for the rinse.

Step 8: Check Before Drying

Check that the blood stain is gone before putting clothes in the dryer. If it remains, treat again and re-wash. Don’t put blood-stained clothes in the dryer.

Step 9: Air Dry

Air dry the clothes. Don’t use the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone.

For Dried Blood Stains

Step 1: Scrape Off Dried Blood

Use a dull edge to scrape off dried blood. Don’t damage the fabric.

Step 2: Soak in Cold Water

Soak the clothes in cold water for 30 minutes. Cold water helps loosen dried blood.

Step 3: Apply Hydrogen Peroxide (For White Clothes)

For dried blood on white clothes, apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the stain. Let sit for 10 minutes. It may bubble, which means it’s working. Don’t use on colored clothes.

Step 4: Apply OxiClean

Apply OxiClean Max Force Spray to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 5: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn dish soap to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 6: Apply Baking Soda Paste

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush.

Step 7: Apply Shout Foam

Apply Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam. Let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 8: Wash in Cold Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in cold water. Add baking soda and OxiClean to the wash.

Step 9: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.

Step 10: Check Before Drying

Check that the stain is gone. If it remains, repeat the process. Don’t put blood-stained clothes in the dryer.

For Stubborn Blood Stains

Use Ammonia

For stubborn blood stains, apply a small amount of ammonia to the stain. Let sit for 5 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Don’t use ammonia on silk or wool. Don’t mix ammonia with bleach.

Use Salt Paste

Make a paste of salt and cold water. Apply to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush. Salt draws out blood.

Use Aspirin Paste

Crush 2 to 3 uncoated aspirin tablets and mix with water to form a paste. Apply to the stain. Let sit for 30 minutes. Wash in cold water.

Use Meat Tenderizer

Make a paste of unseasoned meat tenderizer and water. Apply to the stain. Let sit for 30 minutes. The enzymes in meat tenderizer break down blood proteins. Wash in cold water.

Use Amodex for Ink Mixed with Blood

If the blood stain has ink mixed in, use Amodex Ink and Stain Remover.

Use Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse.

Repeat the Process

Stubborn blood stains may need 2 to 3 treatments. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Clean the Machine After

Clean the washer with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner.

Blood Stain Removal by Fabric Type

Fabric Type	Best Treatment	Water Temp	Notes
White cotton	OxiClean, hydrogen peroxide	Cold	Peroxide safe on whites
Colored cotton	OxiClean, Dawn, baking soda	Cold	Don’t use peroxide on colors
Polyester	OxiClean, Dawn	Cold	Gentler scrubbing
Silk	Cold water, gentle blotting	Cold	Don’t scrub, don’t use peroxide
Wool	Cold water, gentle blotting	Cold	Don’t scrub, don’t use peroxide
Denim	OxiClean, Dawn, baking soda	Cold	Sturdy, can handle scrubbing

What Not to Do

Don’t use hot water. Hot water sets blood permanently by cooking the protein into the fabric. Use cold water only.

Don’t rub the stain. Rubbing spreads the blood. Blot from the outside in or scrub gently with a toothbrush.

Don’t put blood-stained clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat sets blood permanently. Air dry and check first.

Don’t use hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach colored fabric. Use on white clothes only.

Don’t use ammonia on silk or wool. Ammonia can damage silk and wool. Use on cotton and polyester only.

Don’t mix ammonia and bleach. Mixing ammonia and bleach produces toxic gas. Never mix them.

FAQ

How do you wash blood off clothes? Rinse with cold water from the back, apply OxiClean or Dawn dish soap, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, apply hydrogen peroxide for white clothes, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in cold water, and check before drying.

What water temperature should you use for blood stains? Use cold water only. Hot water sets blood permanently by cooking the protein into the fabric. Never use hot or warm water on blood stains.

Does hydrogen peroxide remove blood from clothes? Yes. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down blood proteins. Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the stain, let sit for 10 minutes, and wash in cold water. Use on white clothes only.

Can you put blood-stained clothes in the dryer? No. Dryer heat sets blood permanently. Air dry and check first. If the stain remains, treat again and re-wash in cold water.

How do you remove dried blood from clothes? Scrape off dried blood, soak in cold water for 30 minutes, apply hydrogen peroxide (for white clothes), apply OxiClean, apply Dawn dish soap, apply baking soda paste, wash in cold water, and check before drying. Repeat if needed.

References

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