How to Remove Blood Stains from Carpet

Blood stains on carpet are usually the result of an unfortunate accident or injury and it’s easy to start panicking more about the stain, than the injury itself.  

Don’t stress! Taking the right steps to treat a blood stain will mean that you can usually remove the stain with a minimum of fuss.  

Step 1 - Remove as much of the blood as you can

Blot up the blood with a clean white cloth or paper towel by putting downward pressure on the affected area. Don't wipe from side to side, as it will spread the stain.

Step 2 - Rinse with cold water and extract out the stain

Rinse and extract the blood with cold water. Use just a little at a time so you don’t spread the stain. Hot water will set the stain, possibly making it permanent, so use only cold water. To perform this step, sponge on cold water, then blot it up with a clean white cloth. Continue this process until the blood ceases to transfer to the cloth. Alternatively, you can suck the solution out with a wet vac, which means less chance of spreading the stain. 

Hint: to effectively blot away the diluted ablood, we recommend folding a beach towel over so that it’s 4 layers thick, placing it over the stain and standing on it. The increased weight will help draw the moisture into the towel and remove the remaining blood.  

RECOMMENDED READING

How To Make A Powerful All-Purpose Cleaner Using Vinegar and Citrus Peel

Step 3 - Remove the remaining blood stains with a solution of dish soap and cold water

Try to remove the remaining stain with a solution of a few drops of dishwashing detergent in a cup of cold water. Work it into the blood stain with a sponge, but be careful not to spread the stain or rub so hard that you damage the carpet fibres. Damaged fibres hold stains. Repeat as many times as is necessary or until there is no more transfer of the stain from the carpet to the cloth or paper towels. Blot up excess water when you are done – we recommend standing on a thick towel. 

Step 4 - If a stain remains, apply a carpet stain remover 

If a stain remains, apply a carpet stain remover. We recommend the Electro 3 stain remover by Electrodry. If you have a fan, leave the fan blowing on the area to dry it quickly. Fast drying ensures any remaining stain deeper in the carpet doesn’t “wick up” to the surface and become visible again. 

You may also have success with soda water to remove blood stains. We recommend using soda water before step 3. It is not easy to predict which stains will come out and which are permanent until you try. This is due to the various types of carpet fibres and other factors. Natural fibres are usually more difficult to remove stains from, for example. 

Large blood stains, or dried blood stain can be difficult to totally remove without professional help. If you’ve treated the stain, but haven’t been totally successful,  call your Electrodry carpet cleaning technician. If the stain has not been subject to heat and it is not too old, your Electrodry technician will generally be able to remove all, or the majority of, the stain.