How to Remove Blood Stains

Accidents happen, but you don't need to worry about blood stains on clothes or other fabrics with this simple advice from Tide. Banish fresh blood stains easily with our blood stain removal tips. And, if your blood stain has had a chance to dry, don’t worry, because Tide has a solution to help remove dried blood stains as well. Using Tide's stain-removal know-how, a little bit of blood doesn't have to ruin your day, or your best shirt. The steps below can help remove the stain and return your favorites to like-new condition.

Removing Blood Stains

Step 1

Remove Excess

Rinse the garment with cold water.

A person rinsing a white garment with cold water
Step 2

Pre-treat

Soak the garment in a solution of liquid detergent and cold water, like Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid. Allow the garment to soak for up to 5 minutes, weighting the item with a white towel to keep it totally submerged.

A person pretreating a denim jacket with Tide liquid laundry detergent and water
Step 3

Dose

Use the cap to ensure you use the right amount of detergent, and pour it into the detergent dispenser if you have an HE machine, or directly into the drum before loading the clothes if you have a non-HE machine.

A person pouring Tide liquid detergent into the detergent dispenser
Step 4

Load

Without rinsing off the detergent, place the garment into the washer with other items. Leaving the detergent on the stain will give your wash that extra boost of cleaning power.

A person loading white clothes into the washing machine drum
Step 5

Wash

Wash on the usual cycle in cold water. Do not use hot water, as this will set the stain. Always check the instructions on the garment’s care label.

A hand showing how to select the wash cycle and water temperature on your washing machine
Step 6

Unload

When the cycle is complete, unload the garments immediately.

A woven laundry basket full of neatly folded, white garments

For alternative steps and extra tips on how to remove blood stains, watch the following video for other blood removal tips.

 

 

Advanced Care for Dried Blood Stains

You’ll want to act fast to remove blood stains, preferably when the stain is still fresh. This is because the hemoglobin in the blood begins to clot when exposed to air and can cling tightly to fibers, too. But, you don’t need to worry if your stain has had time to dry, because Tide Ultra OXI High-Efficiency Liquid laundry detergent helps remove stains. Its built-in pre-treaters are formulated to lift stains from deep within the garment’s fibers in just one step.

On-the-Go Tips for Removing Blood Stains

To remove blood stains from clothes, first rinse the garment with cold water and blot the stain. If available, use Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover.

  1. Remove the excess residue from the stain.

  2. Press the tip of the Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover onto the stain several times to release some of the stain remover solution.

  3. Rub the tip gently across the stain to remove it. If necessary, add more liquid, and continue to rub gently.

  4. Important: If the treated area is exposed to direct sunlight, then wipe with a damp cloth or a napkin to remove excess solution.