How to Remove Blood from Carpet

By Matt Oden | Comments | Bodily Fluids Stains → Blood | Carpet and Rug Stains

This guide to remove blood from carpet contains the cleaning supplies and techniques that you will need to accomplish this challenging, but achievable task. The main thing you'll need to keep in mind is not to get squemish and fantasize about horror movies and you'll be A-OK during the stain removal process.

Questions to Ask Before You Start to Remove Blood from Carpet

There are a few things to point out concerning this specific stain removal process that might not be obvious.

Ask yourself these questions related to removing blood from your carpet:

Is the blood wet still or has it dried?
Do I have access to a shop vacuum or a steam cleaner (rent from grocery store)?

Depending on what your answer is will determine which of the following sections to follow. They share some similarities, but not all things are equal when trying to get blood stains out of carpet amigos!

Remove Blood from Carpet that has Dried

If the blood has already dried on the carpet, then you will have a bit more work on your hands, but don't worry because you'll be OK in the long run.

What you'll need once the blood has dried on the carpet:

A scraping tool
Oxygen Bleach (possibly and if appropriate)
Baking Soda
A Steam Cleaner
Cold
Boiling Water
Shop Vacuum (optional and if no steam cleaner)

Steps to remove dried blood from carpet:

Scrape away all blood from the carpet that has dried.
Vacuum up the excess blood scrapings that have become loose.
Depending on the color of the carpet, you'll want to apply a mixture of cold water and oxygen bleach. You may be able to locate some color-safe bleach.
Apply cold water to the area and bot as many times as you can until the stain has been removed. You'll want to exhaust this option before using any hot water, as this might set the blood stain into the carpet.
Use a steam cleaner to clean effected area. If you don't have a steam cleaner, then you can apply boing hot water and use a shop vacuum to immediately remove the water.
Repeat as necessary
You may want to apply some baking soda to the area once it has dried and vacuum to remove any remaining blood on carpet smell.

Remove Blood from Carpet that is Still Wet

If the blood on your carpet is still wet, then you'll want to take the following approach to removing the blood from your carpet.

What you'll need for wet or fresh blood on the carpet:

Oxygen Bleach (possibly and if appropriate)
Peroxide (possibly and if appropriate)
Baking Soda
A Steam Cleaner
Cold
Boiling Water
Shop Vacuum (optional if no steamer)

Steps to remove fresh or wet blood from carpet:

Start by blotting the area with a damp rag or paper towel; absorbing all the excess blood stain you can.
Apply a light layer of baking soda to the area and immediatly clean using a steam cleaner, but try and use the steam cleaner on a COLD WATER SETTING. If you don't have a steam cleaner to remove the blood stain from carpet, then proceed to the next step.
Apply a mixture of cold water and baking soda to the effected area. Make sure to USE COLD WATER first, as hot water will cause the stain to set in.
Vacuum the area using a wet/dry shop vacuum to remove all the water and baking soda.
Repeat as necessary as many times as possible until the stain has been removed.
When all cold water options have been exhausted, then use the steam cleaner on hot settings to remove the blood stain from carpet.

Let us know if you had success or any other tips you might have for blood stain removal in the comments below.