1. Treat the stain as soon as possible. Fresh blood is much easier to remove than aged blood.
2. Presoak the garment in cold water (warm or hot water can set fresh blood stains) as soon as you notice the bloodstain. If the spot is really fresh, you can run the area under cold running water.
3. Spot clean by rubbing laundry detergent into whatever remains of the blood stain. If detergent is not available, hand soap or dish soap can be used as alternatives. Next, scrub the stain by hand in cold water. You can gently rub the sides of the fabric against one another or use a soft brush to do this. Then rinse the fabric under cold water.
4. Wash the garment as soon as possible in cold water using a enzymatic, cold-water optimized detergent like Dirty Labs Bio Laundry Detergent.
For aged blood stains:
1. Pre-soak the stain using a mixture of cold water and a detergent that contains proteases, like Dirty Labs Bio Laundry Detergents. Because blood is a protein-based stain, proteases will help break it down.
2. Bleach it: Extra stubborn, older dried blood stains call for a secret weapon in your laundry arsenal: oxidizing bleach. Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster is both an oxygen bleach and contains a brand new enzyme specifically designed to break down biological stains like blood and sweat. You can add our booster to your pre-soak mixture and use the same detergent plus booster combination when washing in a cold wash and rinse cycle.
The Takeaway
Fresh blood stains are easiest to remove. Avoid using warm or hot water when treating fresh blood stains—cold is best.Proteases—or protein-targeting enzymes—can help to remove aged blood stains.In a pinch, you can use saliva to treat a blood stain.Use our Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster to remove aged blood stains. Learn more about blood stains.