How to Remove Blood Stains from a Mattress

By Matt Oden | Comments | Bodily Fluids Stains → Blood | Furniture and Upholstery Stains → Mattress

Mattresses can often become stained with blood. Knowing how to remove blood stains from a mattress can help you save an expensive item that could otherwise be ruined.

Blood functions as a type of protein. This means that the blood will quickly cling to the fibers in your mattress. The faster you tend to the stain and work to remove the blood from the mattress, the easier the process of removing blood stains from mattress will be. The best thing you can do is take preventative measures and invest in a mattress pad.

Removing Blood Stains from Mattress Materials

The first thing you should do when you are removing blood stains from mattress materials is gather clean rags, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, dishwashing detergent, and a small brush.

Begin working on the stain as soon as you discover it. The longer you wait, the more effort it will take.
Using a clean rage, blot any of the excess blood. Then lightly press the cloth onto the stained area to absorb any of the fluid. You want to make sure that the fluid is not pushed deeper into the fibers of the mattress.
Add two tablespoons of ammonia to cold water and mix them together.
Dampen the area with the mixture using a spray bottle. Try to avoid spreading the stain by only dampening the affected area and not leaving a puddle.
Be careful not to create a runoff of the stain with the cold water.
Begin blotting the affected area using a clean towel. Try to soak up the remaining liquid.
If your stain is very small and not very deep, you can repeatedly spray and blot the area to bring the stain to the surface.
If your stain is very deep and/or very wide, then you should blot the area initially. After you have done this squeeze a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent onto the affected area.
Using a small brush, lightly work the dishwashing detergent into the affected area.
Blot the affected area with a clean towel and try to absorb as much of the excess moisture as possible.
Spray the affected area with water to rinse it off.
Should this still not work to adequately remove the stain, continue to apply small amounts of the dishwashing detergent, rubbing it into the stain, blotting the stain, and then rinsing the stain.

Removing Stubborn Blood Stains from Mattresses

For more intense stains or broad stains, apply a small splash of hydrogen peroxide. Allow the hydrogen peroxide to foam and bring the remaining bacteria to the surface.

Once this is done, blot the peroxide with a clean cloth. After this spray the area with water and rinse it out.

Blot away any remaining residue. By adding hydrogen peroxide, you can pull the stain out as needed.

Absorbing Mattress Blood Stains

If you want to quickly absorb the stain to remove blood stains from mattress materials you can place meat tenderizer on the affected area to remove the stain. Be sure to always dab and/or blot the affected area when you need to remove blood stains from mattress materials. If you rub or scrub at the stain it will likely spread it to other areas. It is easiest to remove blood stains which are fresh.

As soon as you notice a blood stain, be sure to remove blood stains from mattress materials as quickly as you can. You should avoid hot water. Hot water will set the bloodstain just as a hot dryer cycle sets other stains in clothing. Use cold water to dampen the affected area when you immediately need to remove blood stains from mattress materials.

Blot the area with paper towels. When you do use hydrogen peroxide, the color of the mattress may fade. If you remain unhappy with the stain removal process to remove blood stains from mattress materials, you can always turn the mattress over. This will help to avoid making potential guests uncomfortable who might see the stain while using the mattress.