How to Get Blood Out of Clothes
How to get blood out of clothes: rinse a fresh stain immediately under cold running water — never hot — then blot, don't rub, and rub liquid detergent into the stain before rinsing again with cold water. Launder in cold or warm water per the care label, then air-dry and check before drying. For dried blood, soak the item in cold water with an enzyme-based detergent for 30 minutes to several hours, then blot and launder the same way. Hot water sets blood permanently; on leather, only wipe gently with a barely-damp cloth and don't saturate it.
- Rinse immediately under cold running water — never hot.
- Blot, don't rub.
- Rub liquid detergent into the stain and rinse with cold water.
- Launder in cold or warm water per the care label.
- Air-dry and check before drying.
Don’t do this
- Hot water sets blood permanently.
Sources: Tide; King University stain removal guide (PDF); The Spruce
Leather: Wipe gently with a barely-damp cloth; don't saturate. Condition leather afterward.
Carpet and upholstery: Blot only — don't saturate the fabric or the padding/backing; air-dry completely.
How to get dried blood out of clothes
On washable clothes, dried blood uses a cold enzyme soak. Never use hot water first — hot water sets blood permanently. Leather is the exception above: wipe it with a barely-damp cloth and don't saturate it.
- Soak the item in cold water with an enzyme-based detergent for 30 minutes to several hours.
- Blot the stain, then launder in cold or warm water per the care label.
- Air-dry and check before machine-drying.
Don’t do this
- Never use hot water first; never machine-dry until the stain is gone.
Sources: The Spruce
How to get blood out of jeans and cotton
Cotton and denim both use this cold-water treatment — see blood on cotton and blood on denim. Most stain methods apply; always check the care label first. Indigo dye can bleed — always test treatments first. If the blood on jeans or cotton has dried, use the enzyme soak above — never hot water.
- Rinse immediately under cold running water — never hot.
- Blot, don't rub.
- Rub liquid detergent into the stain and rinse with cold water.
- Launder in cold or warm water per the care label.
- Air-dry and check before drying.
Don’t do this
- Hot water sets blood permanently.
Sources: Tide; King University stain removal guide (PDF); The Spruce
How to get blood out of clothes after washing
If the stain is still there and you have not machine-dried the clothes, treat it as dried blood with the cold enzyme soak below. Never use hot water first. Heat sets most stains, so do not put the item in the dryer until the stain is gone. If the dryer already ran, that heat may have set the stain. Use the cold enzyme soak as the dried-blood follow-up, and take a valuable item to a professional cleaner instead.
- Soak the item in cold water with an enzyme-based detergent for 30 minutes to several hours.
- Blot the stain, then launder in cold or warm water per the care label.
- Air-dry and check before machine-drying.
Don’t do this
- Never use hot water first; never machine-dry until the stain is gone.
Sources: The Spruce
Products that help
Product categories named in the steps above.
- Enzyme laundry detergent. The dried-blood method soaks the item in cold water with an enzyme-based detergent for 30 minutes to several hours.
- Liquid laundry detergent. The fresh-blood method says to rub liquid detergent into the stain, then rinse with cold water.
For other materials, use the lookup tool below.
Look up Blood on your material
Pick a stain and material above, then press “Show treatment”.
How to remove blood stains from specific materials
Frequently asked questions
Why cold water for blood?
Heat cooks the proteins into the fibers, setting the stain permanently. Cold water keeps them soluble.
What removes dried blood?
Soak in cold water with an enzyme-based detergent — enzymes break down the proteins. Never use hot water first.
Does hydrogen peroxide work on blood?
It can help on sturdy whites, but it can bleach colors. The enzyme soak is the safer documented method.
How do you get blood out of jeans or cotton?
Cotton and denim both use the cold-water steps: rinse under cold running water — never hot — blot, don't rub, rub in liquid detergent, and launder in cold or warm water per the care label. Indigo dye can bleed, so test first. Dried blood on either fabric uses the cold enzyme soak — never hot water.
How do you get blood out of clothes after washing?
If you have not machine-dried the item, soak it in cold water with an enzyme-based detergent for 30 minutes to several hours, then blot and launder in cold or warm water. Never use hot water first, and do not dry it until the stain is gone — heat sets most stains.
Safety rules for every treatment
- Test every treatment in an inconspicuous area first — some treatments can fade dyes or damage finishes.
- Blot a wet stain; never rub it. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into fibers.
- Check the garment's care label and follow it — skip any step the label prohibits.
- Never put the item in the dryer until the stain is completely gone; heat sets most stains.
- Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach — the fumes are toxic and dangerous.
- Never use chlorine bleach on rust — it can intensify the stain.
- Rubbing alcohol is flammable and can fade some dyes; spot-test first and ventilate the area.
- Acetone dissolves acetate, triacetate, and modacrylic fabrics — check the fabric label first.
- Use cold water first on blood and other protein stains; hot water sets them.
- When in doubt — a valuable, vintage, or delicate item — take it to a professional cleaner instead.