How To Remove Blood from Carpet
Has someone in the family accidentally cut themselves or suffered a scrape causing blood to spill onto your carpet? Yikes!
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Your first thought (after their safety, of course) is that you’ll never be able to get that up. But fortunately, there are surefire ways to get blood out of carpet using things you likely already have in the cabinet.
So, push up your sleeves and get ready to exert a bit of elbow grease because we’re giving you the steps you need to remove blood from the carpet. And if this doesn’t work, you can always contact us for our blood clean-up services.
But first, feel free to see if you can manage it yourself.
How Do You Remove Fresh Blood Stains from Carpet?
First off, don’t panic. And don’t start rubbing the stain with reckless abandon quite yet. Blood stains are easier to remove than you may think. Rubbing the spot vigorously without the proper tools straight away is only going to embed the moisture deeper into the fibers of the carpet.
Plus, stain removal in carpets is a little different than working with other fabrics, like your furniture, so doing your research first is crucial.
It’s also best practice to use as little cleaning solution as possible. Every type of soap and chemical will leave an amount of residue, and you might find it harder to get rid of what’s left behind than the stain itself.
That residue will become a trap for future dirt and dust, and the build-up will cause the initial stain to reappear over time. Most store-bought cleaners have instructions alongside them.
Having said all of this, you do need to act quickly. It’s easier to remove if the blood hasn’t completely dried. Here’s what you need:
- A white cloth
- Coldwater
- A small dish
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- Carpet stain remover, preferably one that breaks down enzymes
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Ammonia
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Use cold water in a dish to wet your cloth. Don’t ever use hot or even warm water for this.
- Rather than rubbing the affected area, blot the stain with your cloth. Push up and down. Scrubbing and rubbing will embed the stain further. You also risk causing damage and creating a little bald spot in your carpet.
- Keep blotting; this part requires patience. Rotate the cloth, so you’re consistently using clean areas to blot. A white cloth helps you see which parts are clean when blood is involved.
- You know there’s nothing left to absorb from the carpet when your cloth is no longer changing color. This may be your final step if you act fast and your carpet is made to withstand stains. Blot the area with a dry cloth to soak up the remaining moisture.
- For others, now you need to incorporate a stain treatment. Once you’ve tried the gentle approach with cold water as detailed above, spot-test the area with hydrogen peroxide. A good area to spot-test is leftover carpet scraps or the back corner of a closet.
- If you don’t see discoloration, proceed with a small amount on your cloth. Then blot just as you did before. To remove leftover products, blot the area with a fresh, damp cloth, and then with a dry one.
- If this doesn’t work, mix a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap with two cups of cool water. Then follow the same steps as before. Remember that less is more when it comes to cleaning detergents. You don’t want to flood the carpet with soap that mattifies the fibers.
- Again, if the above doesn’t work, you can add ammonia to your soap mix. Just a tablespoon will do it, and repeat the process. Please note that opening windows and doors is advised. Ammonia can have a strong smell and becomes toxic if mixed with bleach. Use with caution.
- Now comes the salt if ammonia and soap didn’t cut it. This is especially useful as a stain remover if you prefer to use natural solutions. Mix salt and cold water together until it makes a thick paste. Now spread your paste all over that stain. Salt is a powerful absorbent material and can absorb moisture in many cleaning situations. Let your paste sit for 5-10 minutes. Then scrape off the remains, vacuuming anything leftover.
- Finally, we’re left with exceptionally tough stains. Stain removal products that contain enzymes work to break down the proteins found in the blood. Check the label first to make sure it’s appropriate for use on carpets.
How Do You Remove Dried Blood from Carpets?
This is where it gets a little trickier. The above steps are still useful, but the cleaning preparation is slightly different.
If you want to make your stain remover using products you already have at home, here’s how. Grab an empty spray bottle and mix a cup of cold water, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. You can spray this mixture straight onto the carpet.
- Scrape and remove as much dried blood as you can. You can use the back of a spoon to scrape the top layer away gently. Do not use anything sharp like a knife, as this can damage the fibers.
- Vacuum up what you’ve scraped away. This is an important step; otherwise, leftover blood will turn to liquid once you add moisture to the area.
- Now it’s time to add cleaning products. You can use a stain remover, homemade or store-bought.
- Allow a pre-treatment to soak in for 5-10 minutes.
- Use a new fresh white cloth and keep gently blotting the stain. The blood has been fully removed when it has fully transferred from carpet to cloth.
- Use a clean cloth again and blot with plain cold water.
- Finally, use a dry cloth to soak up the remaining moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Blood Come Out of Carpet?
The answer is yes. If you work on the stain patiently and use the right cleaning solutions to protect the carpet from further damage, you can remove the stain.
Is Blood Hard to Get Out of Carpet?
Blood can be a real pain to remove, especially dried blood. However, stain removal is possible. If your carpet is cream or light in color, it’s recommended to use professional cleaning supplies.
How Does Baking Soda Remove Blood from Carpet?
Baking soda plus water combine to create a powerful stain remover. The combination can dissolve dirt and grime effectively without further staining.
The trick is to leave the mixture on your stain for as long as possible before manipulating it. Baking soda works by essentially drawing the stain out of the carpet. The soda then, ‘traps,’ the pigment and odor of the stain into the mixture. This is why the longer you leave it to sit, the better it will work.
Still Need Help Removing Blood From Your Carpet? Get in Touch!
The solutions we’ve covered to remove blood can be applied to various stain situations. But often, home remedies, over-the-counter cleaning agents, and basic equipment aren’t enough.
That’s where we come in.
We specialize in blood, trauma, and crime scene clean-up, so you can rest assured our professionals will get the job done right. We’re available 24/7 throughout South Florida for sanitization and extreme cleaning of the smallest and biggest jobs. Give us a call today!
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With Ben’s knowledge, and visionary leadership, All Dry USA has expanded into a national, full-service property damage restoration company with multiple locations across the United States. Ben holds numerous specialty licenses and certifications in restoration and construction.
