Blood stains, wine stains, grass stains – which one wants seltzer water? Which gets hot water? When do I use salt? Should you use hot or cold water for bloodstains? There are lots of old wives tales about how to remove blood stains from your sheets and clothes, and some tried-and-true wisdom is passed down through the generations. We’ve taken the best ideas and tested, tested, tested to come up with reliable, repeatable action for stain removal. One in particular that is treated a bit differently from other stains: blood. Because of its makeup and strong protein strands, this is a stain that needs a different approach.

Removing Blood Stains with Simple Stain-Fighting Solutions

The proteins in blood want to bind together, making it difficult to get blood out of clothes or sheets, and completely remove dried blood stains. When blood gets on clothing or linens, the protein strands try to bind to the fabric. Attempting to remove the stain with hot water only helps blood to adhere to the material. Instead, cold water can help remove the blood without “setting” the stain in the process. Aside from the water temperature, the process for removing blood stains is largely similar to that for other kinds of stains. The Laundress Stain Solution, applied directly on the stain, will remove many stains all on its own. For more persistent stains, making a paste with Stain Solution and All-Purpose Bleach Alternative, then working that in with a brush, will do the trick. If needed, you can soak the garment for 30 minutes in a basin filled with cold water and one capful of the All-Purpose Bleach Alternative. Then simply use your washing machine to launder with the recommended water temperature for the best chance of removing the stain altogether!