How To Get Blood Out Of A Mattress (Dried Stain Removal)

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There’s nothing worse than a situation where your mattress ends up looking like a prop from a Dracula movie. You want nothing more than to get it cleaned right away but it’s your first time. We get it, we’ve been there before and now we’re here to help you out. In this article, you’ll learn about the different methods for getting blood out of a mattress and how you can prevent it from happening in the future.

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Different methods for how to get blood out of a mattress

You can get FRESH blood out of your mattress by using:

• Cold water
• Baking soda and vinegar
• Meat tenderizer (yep, meat tenderizer)

Notice that I emphasized the word “fresh” above. That’s because you’re going to use different methods for cleaning fresh blood and dried blood stains. If your mattress has a blood stain that’s been there for more than two days, you can bypass this part and go straight to the “how to get dried blood out of a mattress” section.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I’m going to give you a little disclaimer. The methods that I’m going to share with you aren’t instant, magical things that will get blood stains out in five seconds. There’s just, unfortunately, no such thing.

Removing blood stains from your mattress will definitely take some elbow grease, time, and of course, the right materials. So without further ado, let’s get to it! Try the topmost method first and move on to the next one if the first method doesn’t totally remove the blood stain.

Before anything else though, make sure that your mattress does not come with a removable and washable cover because if it does, then IMMEDIATELY chuck it in the wash using cold water and a gentle detergent and you’re good to go. If it does not come with a removable cover, then the following methods must be followed.

Cold water

While it isn’t going to completely remove a blood stain by itself, cold water can help rinse it out and make it easier to clean. DO NOT use hot water unless you want the stain to stay there forever.

Why is using hot water bad for blood stains? It’s because hot water cooks the protein in blood (biology, duh) and causes it to seep deeper into the mattress. And nobody wants that to happen.

So, you’re going to dab the stain with cold water to absorb any excess blood. Be careful with this ok? You don’t want to drench your mattress because as we all know by now, moisture and foam is a bad combo. A damp cloth dipped in cold water is the way to go. Don’t rub the stain though, just dab, dab, and dab again until you get rid of as much excess moisture as possible.

At this point, two things could happen. The stain is pretty small and cold water is enough to get rid of it completely; or it’s one of those stubborn stains and cold water alone couldn’t dissolve it. If you experienced the latter, then we have a little more work to do. Move on to the next method below.

Baking soda and vinegar

The cold water method didn’t work out for you, but it did succeed in flushing out the stain. It’s time to try the classic baking soda and vinegar method for removing blood stains.

Assuming you’ve already tried the cold water method and gotten rid of any excess blood, go ahead and sprinkle baking soda on the area of the blood stain. The next step is to mix equal parts of water and white vinegar and pour it into an empty spray bottle. Mist the stain with the water and vinegar solution and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

Then, you’re going to vacuum the area to get rid of any remaining baking soda. If this worked and the stain is gone, let your mattress air dry completely before putting any bedding on it. However, if it’s still no good don’t worry, we still have one more method that you can try.

Meat tenderizer

Most blood stains can be removed using the baking soda and vinegar method. But the toughest blood stains are going to need a stronger and more effective stain remover: meat tenderizer. Yes, it’s a bit unusual, but it works wonders. Follow the steps below on how to use meat tenderizer to remove blood stains.

First, prepare the meat tenderizer. Go to the grocery store and get some if you don’t have any at home. Make sure to get unseasoned meat tenderizer powder. Seasoned meat tenderizer will make the blood stain worse. Trust me, I’ve tried it.

1. Combine one part meat tenderizer with two parts water in a bowl. Mix the ingredients until it turns into a paste.
2. Rub the paste on the blood stain and leave it for at least 1 hour. Then, get a damp cloth and wipe away the paste. Afterwards, blot the area with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
3. Lastly, let your mattress air dry completely before sleeping on it again. This method should remove any fresh blood stain. It’s worked many times for us, and we highly recommend it.

At this point, you should know all about removing fresh blood stains from a mattress. If you want to learn how to get rid of older blood stains, I talk about the different methods in the next section.

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How to get dried period blood out of a mattress

You can get dried blood out of your mattress by using:

• Salt, cornstarch, and hydrogen peroxide
• Enzyme cleaner
• Ammonia

It’s hard enough to remove blood stains when they’re fresh, but it’s a tad bit more grueling to get dried blood out of a mattress. Before you go and replace your mattress because of a 2-month old blood stain, I said “grueling” not “impossible”. You’ll need to spend more time, effort, and you’re going to use some additional materials to get rid of dried blood on your mattress.

Instead of spending a fortune on a brand new mattress, try these three methods first and you’ll be surprised with the results.

Salt, cornstarch, and hydrogen peroxide

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of salt, 1/4 cup of cornstarch, and 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. It should have the same consistency as the meat tenderizer paste mentioned above.
2. Before applying the paste, use a damp cloth and dab the stain with cold water. Now, gently apply the paste onto the stained area with a spoon. Rub the paste around the stain with a toothbrush, preferably one with soft bristles to prevent damaging your mattress surface.
3. Then, let it sit for 30 minutes. The hydrogen peroxide should have produced bubbles at this point. Once it stops, blot the stain with a clean dampened cloth to get rid of the stain completely.

Before putting any bedding back on, let your mattress air dry first. We recommend leaving it out in the sun to further disinfect it as well.

Enzyme cleaner

If you’re looking for another type of stain remover, you should try out enzymatic cleaners. They are super effective at removing not only blood stains but also other stains too. Make sure to get one that is suitable for fabrics and mattresses to avoid damaging your mattress.

To use an enzyme cleaner, spray a small amount on a clean cloth or paper towel and gently dab the stain. Be very careful with this. Don’t spray or pour it directly on your mattress.

Once you’re done, let the mattress air dry first and you can use a vacuum to get rid of any residue.

You can find enzyme-based cleaners at the laundry aisle of most grocery stores or you can easily find one online.

Ammonia

If nothing worked for you so far, this means your stain is very old and very stubborn. Because of that, it’s time to unleash the most powerful stain remover of all: ammonia. Before you try this, be sure to use gloves and have all your windows open as ammonia is really strong. It’s also best to wear a mask too. You could also do this outside if you don’t want the ammonia smell to spread inside your house.

1. First, mix 1 cup of water and 1 cup of ammonia. (This is for dried blood stains. If the stain is fresh, you can use 1 tablespoon of ammonia and 1 cup of water.)
2. Dip a cloth or disposable towels into the mixture and start dabbing the stain. Keep on repeating this until the stain disappears. Reminder: Be careful not to overly soak the mattress to prevent mold growth.
3. Once you’ve successfully removed the stain, let your mattress air dry and voila, your mattress is (almost) as good as new. I’m sure that took at a lot of work, but it sure is worth it don’t you think?

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How to get blood out of mattress toppers

But what if I got blood on my mattress topper? There’s no need to worry! Each of the methods that I mentioned above can also be used to get blood out of mattress toppers. That being said, the first thing you should is check whether your mattress topper is machine-washable. If it is, go ahead and machine-wash it and make sure to check the label for specific instructions.

If your topper isn’t machine-washable, you can go ahead and try the methods above. Start with the gentlest method (cold water) and work your up to the more heavy-duty methods like using meat tenderizer or ammonia.

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How to get blood out of sheets

If you got blood on your mattress, there’s a high chance that you got some on your sheets too. Luckily, getting blood out of sheets is much easier than cleaning your mattress. Just follow the steps below and your sheets will be spotless in no time!

1. Blot the stain with a dry cloth (if it’s fresh) to remove as much moisture as possible. Then, soak the sheets in cold water overnight.
2. The next step is to grab your fabric cleaner or your homemade hydrogen peroxide and water mixture and pour it on the stain. Let it sit for 24 hours.
3. The stain should be gone by now and you can go ahead and wash your sheets according to its label instructions. And finally, hang them to air dry. Or tumble dry on low as per your sheet care instructions which can usually bee found on the label.

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How to prevent stains in the future

Now that your mattress is all clean, I highly recommend that you get a waterproof mattress protector so that you never have to go through this ordeal again.

Mattress protectors are inexpensive, and they are a really good way to protect your mattress from period blood, cat pee, or any other kinds of spills and stains.

Alternatively, you can also get a mattress topper that’s machine-washable or has a waterproof cover. Mattress toppers are another great way of adding extra protection to your mattress and also prolonging its lifespan.

Another tip: to help extend the lifespan of your mattress while keeping it clean and fresh at all times, do a bi-monthly mattress cleaning and rotate your mattress every 6 months.

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FAQs

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Conclusion

Great job! You now know how to remove blood stains from a mattress whether it’s fresh, old, easy to remove, or extremely stubborn. It’s all about using the right materials and putting in the time and effort to get the job done.

To prevent this from happening again, go ahead and get a mattress protector for your bed. They’re affordable and they offer a lot of benefits to make your life easier and worry-free.

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Next step: If you’ve tried everything to remove the blood stain from your mattress and nothing is working, it’s time to get a new one. Read our guide to the most durable mattresses for some long-lasting options.

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