The first step in how to get blood out of sheets is cold water, as soon as you notice the stain. Hold the spot under cold running water, rub in a little bar soap or liquid detergent, and rinse again. If a mark is still there, an enzyme presoak comes next. Keep the sheet away from heat until the stain is gone.
Key Takeaways:
- Rinse with cold water first, since heat sets blood stains.
- Rub in bar soap or liquid detergent, rinse, and repeat.
- An enzyme presoak in lukewarm water is the next step when a cool soak isn’t enough.
- A few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide can lift what’s left, once you’ve tested it on a hidden spot.
Why cold water works on blood stains
Heat sets blood. The University of Georgia Extension’s guide to blood stains puts it plainly: stains set by heat will be difficult to remove. A hot wash, the dryer, and an iron all count as heat.
That’s why every step below uses cold, cool, or lukewarm water, and why the dryer waits until the stain is gone. UGA also says to treat blood right away. The sooner you start, the better your odds.
How to remove blood stains from sheets, step by step
These steps follow UGA Extension’s method for washable fabric. Read the care label first, and test each product on a hem.
- Rinse the stain under cold running water.
- Rub bar soap or liquid laundry detergent into the stain, then rinse and repeat.
- Soak the sheet in cool water for 30 minutes or longer.
- If the stain remains, soak it for another 30 minutes or longer in lukewarm water with an enzyme presoak product.
- Rinse, rub a little detergent into any leftover mark, and rinse again.
- If you can still see it, put a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide on the stain for one to three minutes, then rinse well.
- Wash the sheet as usual, but skip hot water.
- Check the spot in good light before it goes in the dryer. If you still see a trace, air dry the sheet and go again.
UGA says to pretest every product on a hidden spot to make sure the color holds. With a spray stain remover, follow its label and still start with cold water.
Check the mattress or mattress protector under the stain too, and blot that spot with cold water before it dries.
How to get dried blood out of sheets
Dried blood on sheets takes more patience. Start with the same cold rinse and a long cool soak, then give the enzyme presoak extra time. For old, stubborn stains, UGA suggests a few drops of household ammonia before you wash again.
Never use ammonia on a spot that has had chlorine bleach on it. The CDC warns that bleach and ammonia can release gases that damage your lungs when they mix.
If the stain has been through the dryer, expect to repeat the steps. UGA lists bleach as a last resort, so use one the care label allows. For a faint yellow tint on white sheets, try the oxygen bleach soak in our post on how to remove sweat stains.
UGA’s fabric method doesn’t call for salt, baking soda, or lemon juice, so stick with the steps above.
Flagging a stain for OrangeBag
If you’d rather not spend the evening at the sink, flag the stain when you book a pickup. Every OrangeBag order has room for stain notes. Everyday laundry goes by the bag at $2.65 per pound, and it comes back sorted and folded in 24 to 48 hours.
Rinse the spot in cold water before you bag it. Every fee is on the OrangeBag laundry and dry cleaning prices page, and the residential laundry pickup page shows how pickup works across Los Angeles.
More on how to get blood out of sheets
How do you get period blood out of sheets?
Treat it like any blood stain. Rinse it under cold water as soon as you can, rub in detergent, and rinse again. Soak it in cool water, and use an enzyme presoak if a mark is still there. Keep the sheet out of the dryer until the stain is gone, since heat sets blood.
Can you remove blood from sheets after washing and drying?
Sometimes, but it’s harder. UGA says stains set by heat are difficult to remove, and a dryer cycle counts. Start with a long cool soak and give the enzyme presoak extra time. On white or colorfast sheets, try the peroxide step too. Air dry the sheet between rounds.
Rather skip the scrubbing?
Note the stain when you book, and we’ll take the sheets with the rest of your laundry. A driver picks up at your door and brings it all back clean.
