Tips and Tricks on How to Get Blood Out of a Mattress

Last Updated on February 24, 2023

If you’re wondering how to get blood out of a mattress, you’re not alone. The reality is that we spend around a third of our lives sleeping, and during that time, all kinds of stains can develop on our mattresses and bedding. Bloodstains are surprisingly common on mattresses because it’s easy to accidentally knock a scab while sleeping or cause an old wound to open up.

It’s also possible for stains to form for many other reasons. You might accidentally scratch yourself during the night or get your “time of the month” before waking up. Bloodstains can even result from a kid with a bloody nose climbing into your bed for a bit of comfort.

Unfortunately, though blood stains are typical on a mattress, removing blood stains is easier said than done. We’ll give you some top tips on how to clean blood stains right here to keep your mattress looking as good as new.

Before Blood Stain Removal: Preparation

Preparing your mattress for cleaning is one of the most important steps in ensuring the mattress doesn’t stain forever. It’s generally a good idea to begin treating the stain as soon as you can in order to prevent it from penetrating the deeper mattress fibres, but this isn’t always achievable with items (like period stains) you’re not completely aware of.

To avoid allowing the stain to spread onto your bedding, as soon as you notice it, remove everything else you can from your bed, including mattress protectors and duvet covers. Next, make sure you have all of the tools you need to work on removing tough stains from your mattress in your bedroom. Running up and downstairs for different materials will give the blood more time to dry.

Here are some quick tips which should help you successfully remove blood from your mattress:

• Be Careful with Using too Much Water: Using large amounts of water can be a bad idea, allowing the stain to seep into your mattress even further. It’s also worth noting certain a kind of mattresses can respond poorly to moisture. For instance, soaking a memory foam mattress will cause the foam to warp, even if you successfully remove excess blood.
• Wash Accessories Separately: Don’t try to wash your bed cover at the same time as you scrub your mattress. You’ll need to wash other stains separately, one at a time. Please remove all of your bedding and put it in the washing machine as quickly as you can while you work on getting your mattress clean.
• Dab Instead of Rub: Don’t rub any stain on your mattress. Rubbing increases the chances that you’ll spread the excess blood around the mattress and make the stained area worse. Instead, dab at the location gradually to remove the stain. Remember, use a spray bottle and small amounts of water.

Depending on your situation, it might be worth checking if any washing instructions are included on your mattress or mattress protector labels. Sometimes, a memory foam mattress will recommend avoiding certain products, like enzyme cleaner or hydrogen peroxide.

Method 1: How to Get Fresh Blood Out of a Mattress

After learning how to remove blood stains from a mattress, your method will depend on many factors, including whether the stain is completely dry or brand-new. If the stain is new, you might have an easier time removing the mess, as dried stains can be more stubborn.

Remove all bedding from your mattress, and take a gentle approach when cleaning. Blood should dissolve quite well in cold water, so this should be your go-to strategy.

Step 1: Dab the Stain

Take a cold cloth and dip it in water, then use the wet cloth to dab at the stain. Don’t just rub the stain deeper into the mattress. Dab, then remove the cloth and rinse it out before dabbing again.

Don’t submerge the cloth in water, as you don’t want the cloth soaked. Just a little moisture should be enough, or you can use a spray bottle to wet the mattress instead of the cloth.

Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda

Once you’ve removed as much of the blood as possible, be careful not to spread the stain. Then sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the remaining mess. Let this homemade stain remover sit on the blood for around 30 minutes.

Remember to use cold water to prevent any reactions in your mattress’s memory foam or other materials.

Step 3: Dab Again and Repeat

Clean the baking soda from the mattress by dabbing it with your wet cloth, relying only on cold water. You may need to go through this process a few times before you see the stain start to lift.

Method 2: How to Remove Dried Blood Stains

To get rid of dried blood on a mattress, you’ll need to work harder. The process can be particularly difficult with a memory foam mattress, as hot water is more likely to remove dried stains, but it will damage your memory foam.

Instead of relying just on cold water this time, mix a small amount of table salt with some hydrogen peroxide. Don’t simply pour hydrogen peroxide onto the mattress, as this will soak through the layers of your mattress and take a long time to dry. It’s best to use a thick paste instead.

Step 1: Dampen the Stain

Dampen the stain with cold water using your spray bottle, ensuring you get the entire stain without drenching the material.

Step 2: Make a Paste and Apply It to the Stain

Make a thick paste for your cleaning solution using half a cup of hydrogen peroxide, a tablespoon of salt, and half a cup of corn starch. Apply your paste using a spatula, spoon, or soft-bristled toothbrush. Don’t use any hard-bristled brushes, as this can harm the mattress materials.

Step 3: Wait for the Bubbles

Allow the mixture to sit for about 30 minutes. You can place a paper towel over the top to help it dry if needed. The paste may begin to bubble over time.

When the hydrogen peroxide starts to bubble, dab the stain using a damp, clean cloth to remove the solution and the stain.

Make sure your mattress is thoroughly dry before you apply any bedding.

How to Remove Period Stains From a Mattress

One of the most common reasons you may need to remove blood from a mattress is if you end up getting your period during the night. A foam mattress can easily soak up blood, pushing the stain deeper into the various layers through the night. This kind of blood usually makes for one of the most common mattress stains among homeowners.

If you have issues with period blood staining your mattress, don’t be embarrassed – it’s easier to clean the stain than you think. The most crucial thing you can do is make a plan for immediately removing any blood from your mattress before it has a chance to set.

Use around a tablespoon of salt, half a cup of hydrogen peroxide, and half a cup of corn starch to make your paste mixture, then use a spray bottle to wet the stain with cold water. Apply your paste mixture, and wait until it starts to bubble before using a wet cloth to remove the blood and the paste simultaneously. You may need to work on this process a few times to get the best results.

How to Remove Blood Stains From a Mattress: Other Options

While the solutions above should work for most people searching for a blood cleaning method, there are other options. If you want to ensure you have as few limitations on your cleaning strategies as possible, here are some quick ways you may be able to get blood out of your mattress.

Enzyme Cleaner

Most fabric cleaners are enzyme cleaners, so if you have liquid detergent at home, you’re already in a good position to start cleaning a memory foam mattress or mattress protector. These substances work by breaking down the stain, so it’s easier to remove. However, it’s worth looking for an enzyme cleaner approved for upholstery.

Add some cleaner to cold water in a spray bottle, or apply a combination of the two to a clean cloth to dab stubborn blood stains out of your mattress. Don’t simply pour the cleaner directly onto the stain, as you want to avoid as much excess moisture as possible.

Ammonia

If baking soda and other standard stain removers don’t work, ammonia might be an option. Ammonia is usually recommended if you need to learn how to get blood out of a mattress and deal with a heavy-duty bloodstain.

To use this method, mix a tablespoon of ammonia with a cup of cold water, and dip a damp cloth into the mixture to dab at the stain. It’s a good idea to open a window and wear gloves, so your damp cloth doesn’t harm your hands.

Meat Tenderizer

Compared to more common methods like cleaning with baking soda and cold water, using tenderising meat powder might seem odd, but it can be more helpful than you’d think. Create a paste of cold water and meat tenderiser, place it on top of the stain, then cover the mixture and allow it to air dry for around an hour or so.

Then, use a clean cloth to remove the meat tenderiser paste and the stain simultaneously. The meat tenderiser should work to break down the proteins in the bloodstain, making it easier to remove.

Unusual Products to Remove a Blood Stain

While we’ve already looked at several ways to remove a blood stain, from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to enzyme cleaner and ammonia. You can also try other products if the stain remover options above aren’t suitable for you.

Some slightly less common options include:

• Coca Cola: Coca-Cola is a powerful stain remover when used correctly. This substance’s phosphoric acid and carbonation can help break down stains, but it could lead to stickiness and ants if you’re not careful. We wouldn’t recommend using this method with a memory foam mattress as it will be difficult to remove the cola from the mattress entirely.
• Shampoo: Sometimes, a little shampoo on the bloodstain for cotton sheets and coverings on your mattress can help remove some mess. Rinse away the cleaning solution when you’re done and pat it with a dry towel before allowing the bed to air dry.
• White Vinegar: White vinegar is a powerful stain remover and a great tool for use all around the house. To make a cleaning solution, mix equal parts of water and white vinegar, and use a towel or cloth to dab the stain with your mixture. Use a dry towel or dry cloth to remove the mixture and rinse with cold water when you’re done.
• WD-40: An interesting and handy household item for removing blood stains, WD-40 can be more powerful than you’d think. It would help to spray the stain with the WD-40 until it’s saturated, then launder your sheets or bedding. This works better with a mattress or accessories you can wash thoroughly.
• Aspirin: Crush aspirin and mix it with cold water until you create a thick paste, then apply it to the bloodstain on your sheets and leave it for about 30 minutes. When the paste is fully dry, launder the sheets as usual, or use a spray bottle and cloth to remove the mixture.
• Hairspray: While this might not work for everyone, it could be worth a shot if you’re having difficulty removing blood stains from your bedding. Spray the stain, let it sit, and then blot your stain using a wet cloth or towel. Use a clean towel to rinse the area afterwards.

Remember, after using any method for cleaning your bed, it’s important to allow the mattress to air dry thoroughly before you apply any new bedding.

Protecting Your Mattress From Future Stains

Apart from knowing how to get blood out of a mattress, you should also know how to avoid it. Since you can’t always predict when you might bleed at night, buying a waterproof mattress protector would be the best strategy.

A mattress protector will provide an extra layer of protection, so you don’t have to worry about retrieving the baking soda and cold water whenever you get blood on your bedding. If you get blood on sheets and mattress protectors, you can throw them in the washing machine.

Another option could be to use a mattress topper, so you have even more protection against stains and blood. However, it can be just as difficult to get stains from a topper to remove them from a full-sized mattress.

Cleaning Blood Stains Effectively

Are you surprised to know that there are plenty of ways you can do to get blood out of a mattress?

Knowing which products you can use when you need to learn how to remove blood stains from mattress surfaces and accessories is important when you want to make your bed last as long as possible. For instance, you should never use chlorine bleach on a mattress, as it can harm the fibres, and you should avoid dish soap as this can cause blood to spread further into your mattress.

Furthermore, keep in mind to stick to cold water over warm or hot water, and always allow your mattress to air dry completely after you’re done cleaning. Don’t just pat the area with a dry cloth before adding new bedding.

You also need to make sure that bloodstain accidents won’t happen again in the future to avoid complications. How? You can place a mattress protector or a mattress topper on your mattress by getting a mattress topper.

Have you tried any of the methods above, and do you have some extra tips? Please share them in the comments!