At some point, your mattress is bound to have a variety of stains. One of the most stubborn to get out is blood. The rich red color of blood can seep deep into the fibers of a mattress, leaving a stain that looks unsightly.
You can use various tricks to get blood out of the fabric of your mattress. The good news is most of them involve items you probably already have at home. If you are stuck wondering how to get blood from a mattress, this article will walk you through the process.
How to Remove Fresh Blood From a Mattress
When it comes to any stain on a mattress, the sooner you address it, the better. If you know the blood is there, your job will be easier if you clean it up before it dries. Why? Fresh blood will dissolve in water.
If you have a fresh blood stain on the mattress:
- The first step is to dab cold water on it. Don't rub the water in; just dab it and let it sit for a few seconds.
- Next, put a clean towel over the wet area and absorb as much moisture as possible.
- Sprinkle baking soda heavily over the area. The more you put down, the more moisture the soda will absorb.
- Let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes.
- Clean the baking soda off with a cold, wet cloth.
Repeat these steps until the stain disappears.
How to Get Dried Blood Out of a Mattress
Unfortunately, cleaning a blood stain before it dries isn't always possible. You may get caught up trying to stop the bleeding or not know the blood is there. The process becomes more complicated once the blood dries.
To clean this stain, you'll need:
- Corn starch
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Salt
- Cold water
- Spoon
- Clean towels
The first step is to create a paste using:
- ½ cup corn starch
- ½ cup hydrogen peroxide
- 1 tbsp salt
Mix these three ingredients together to create a thick paste. It should be about the same consistency as toothpaste.
With your paste mixed and ready:
- Dampen the blood stain with cold water.
- Spread the paste over the stain with the spoon. Make sure to cover it completely.
- Let the paste sit and dry for 30 minutes.
- As the paste dries, you'll notice the hydrogen peroxide start to bubble up.
- After the hydrogen peroxide stops bubbling, remove the paste and what remains of the stain with a damp cloth. Make sure to just dab at the stain; don't rub it.
Allow the mattress to dry thoroughly before remaking the bed.
How to Get Period Blood Out of a Mattress
If you are wondering how to get period blood out of a mattress, the process is precisely the same. Period blood will respond to the same cleaning methods as any blood.
If the stain is wet, use cold water and baking soda. If it has started to dry, which is the most likely scenario, use the corn starch and peroxide paste.
What If the Stain is Stubborn?
Blood stains can be some of the most difficult to remove, especially when they dry. If you have tried using the corn starch and it's not working, you might need something more potent.
Enzymatic Cleaners
There are enzymatic cleaners available at your local store that could do the trick. These cleaners contain enzymes that break down organic material like blood.
Ammonia and Cold Water
Another option is ammonia, which is a powerful cleaner. Mix one tablespoon of ammonia with cold water and dab at the stain. You might want to wear gloves when working with ammonia. Also, don't mix ammonia with bleach. Combined, they can create a potentially deadly chemical reaction.
Meat Tenderizer
It might surprise you that meat tenderizer can come in handy when blood is on any fabric. Meat tenderizer breaks down essential proteins to tenderize meat. It can work the same magic on blood stains.
Mix the meat tenderizer with just enough water to create a paste. Spread the paste over the blood stain and let it sit for at least an hour. To remove it, just wipe the paste off with a dry towel.
Protecting Your Mattress From Blood Stains
The best thing you can do to safeguard your mattress from blood or any other kind of stain is to use a quality mattress protector like those offered by Ergomotion. Mattress protection covers the surface of the mattress. So, any stains will hit the protector instead of the mattress.
In most cases, you can treat the stain on the cover and then drop it in the washing machine. That makes the cleanup from an accident like blood much easier.