How To Remove Blood Stains From Sheets

You just put on new white sheets the previous day, but you wake up to find that your bandage fell off your knee at some point in the night.

Now you have blood on your brand new sheets. *Insert panic here* 

At some point in your life, you will need to figure out how to get blood out of your sheets regardless of whether it is a period stain or a small spot from a paper cut. 

No need to panic!

Carefully follow these steps to learn how to remove blood stains from sheets.

What You Will Need:

Step By Step Instructions For How To Get Blood Out Of Your Sheets

Caution: Before you take any of the following steps to remove blood stains from your sheets, you need to check the care instructions for sheets. 

Even if you do not find any special steps for your sheets, you will still need to spot check any cleaning agent on a hidden spot on your sheets to be sure that you will not discolor or in any way harm your fabric. 

Step 1) Determine If The Blood Is Fresh Or Dried

Once you notice there is blood on your sheets, you need to act quickly.

First, look at the bloodstain and determine if it is a fresh or dried bloodstain on the sheets.

This distinction will help you to identify which steps you should proceed with next.

Step 2) Pre-Washing Machine Treatments

Fresh Bloodstain

If you have determined that the bloodstain in your sheets is recent, you need to immediately run the sheets under cold water to get as much blood out of the sheets as possible before proceeding.

On the remaining bloodstain on the sheets, cover the stain with either hydrogen peroxide or dishwashing liquid.

Let the hydrogen peroxide or dishwashing liquid sit and then you can either blot the spot with a clean cloth or paper towel or use your hand to scrub the bloodstain.

Dried Bloodstain

If the blood has dried on your sheets, soak the sheets in cold water mixed with either laundry detergent or a pre-laundry treatment spray such as OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Remover Spray, which get excellent reviews on Amazon.

You may also choose to soak the sheets with fabric-safe bleach.

Depending on how bad the stain is, it may take several hours to get the blood out of the sheets. 

Persistent Bloodstains

If the stain is still there after attempting the methods above, cover the bloodstain with ammonia.

If you are worried about the ammonia smell, try Austin’s Lemon Scented Ammonia.

After applying the ammonia, sprinkle the spot with baking soda.

Let the ammonia and baking soda sit on the stain.

Use a toothbrush to scrub the stain in a circular motion.

Another attempt to treat persistent bloodstains in your sheets is to spot treat the stains with a mixture of 1-quart water, one teaspoon detergent, and one teaspoon ammonia. 

Rinse the sheet with cold water and be sure the bloodstain has been removed from the sheets. 

Once you have ensured you have removed as much blood from the sheets as you can continue to the next step.

Step 3) Use Spot Cleaner

Use a spot cleaner or pre-wash treatment spray and cover the bloodstain on your sheets.

Leave this spray on the spot when you put it in the washing machine.

You may choose to leave this treatment spray on the sheets for some time before washing your sheets. 

Step 4) Wash Your Sheets

Now once you have removed the blood out of your sheets and sprayed any residual stains with the pre-wash treatment spray, you will wash the sheets in the washing machine with warm water. 

If available, you can use fabric-safe bleach in addition to your regular laundry detergent for any remaining stubborn bloodstains.

Step 5) Repeat Steps As Needed

At the end of the wash cycle, if you notice that the stain is still there, you will want to repeat any of the above steps as needed to get the blood out of the sheets.

Do not continue to the next step if there remains any bloodstain on your sheets.

Step 6) Dry Your Sheets

Once you have gotten all the blood out of your sheets, its time to dry your sheets in your dryer.

If you dry them too soon and there remains a bloodstain in your sheets, you will end up setting the stain in your sheet, and you will be unable to remove the bloodstain from your sheets.

Video Instructions

If you are still not 100% sure on how you need to remove bloodstains from sheets, follow this video tutorial to lend you some clarity:

Commonly Asked Questions On How To Get Blood Stains Out Of Sheets

Can I Use Warm Water To Rinse The Sheet And Bloodstain?

Do not use warm water when you get blood out of sheets.

Blood is a protein stain, and if you use warm water, the heat will cause the bloodstain to set in the sheets. 

Can I Use Bleach On Any Sheets?

Even if you use fabric-safe bleach, you still need to test to make sure the bleach is not going to stain.

Identify an inconspicuous spot on the fabric and put a small amount of the fabric-safe bleach on your sheets.

If it does not discolor your sheets, still proceed with caution. 

What if the bloodstain is still on my sheets?

If the bloodstain is still remaining on your sheets, you can repeat all the steps above, with the exception of drying your sheets.

Do not dry your sheets until the stain is gone or faded to a level acceptable to you. 

Conclusion

Have you enjoyed learning how to remove blood stains from sheets?

We surely hope that you have.

As long as you follow the above steps carefully and act quickly, you can get blood out of the sheets!

Now that you have successfully removed all the bloodstains from your sheets, you can enjoy your clean, freshly laundered sheets.

No longer do you need to avoid white or light sheets just because you are worried about dark stains caused by blood!